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Zimmer: With rivalry clashes behind them, South Dakota State begins stretch run by routing Murray State

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Zimmer: With rivalry clashes behind them, South Dakota State begins stretch run by routing Murray State


BROOKINGS — After consecutive weeks of hard-fought, down-to-the-wire, heart-pumping, nationally-televised thrillers against rivals North Dakota State and South Dakota, the third-ranked Jackrabbits had something of a reprieve on Saturday at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium when they faced Murray State.

The Racers came in winless in Missouri Valley Conference play this year and with a 5-25 record over the last three seasons. The Jacks were 42.5-point favorites.

So nothing about SDSU’s 52-6 victory in front of 16,376 fans (the Jacks’ first non-sellout of the season) was surprising or especially outstanding. They did what they were supposed to do against an inferior team.

A defense that has been dominant continued to be so. An offense that had scored just 23 points in regulation in their last two games got on track and racked up nearly 600 total yards. They did not turn the ball over and had just 35 yards in penalties.

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So while this win was expected to come easily and did, there’s still value in it, and not just in that coaches were able to empty the bench and give meaningful reps to players who hadn’t seen many.

With the Jackrabbits’ most challenging games behind them, this win should set the tone for the rest of the regular season.

SDSU (7-2, 4-1 MVFC) finishes up at North Dakota, at home against Southern Illinois and at Missouri State. None of these games should be easy, especially the finale against a 7-2 Bears squad. But the Jacks will be favored in all three of them, and none will have the hype or rivalry attachments that the last two games did.

SDSU’s Levi Vanden Bos (57) puts the pressure on Murray State quarterback Jayden Johannsen (7) during the Jacks’ win over the Racers on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.

Jenn Kenyon/Sioux Falls Live

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If the Jacks can replicate the formula from Saturday’s comfortable victory over the season’s final month, they’re probably going to end up right where they want to.

“It started on Monday in practice,” said center Gus Miller. “You can never (disrespect) an opponent because the game will disrespect you. Our coaches are always talking to us, making sure in these kind of games we focus on ourselves, focus on basic techniques and make sure we’re not overlooking anything.”

In that regard, the Jacks certainly took care of business.

They accumulated 595 yards of total offense — 343 of them on the ground. Angel Johnson, Amar Johnson, Chase Mason, Maxwell Woods and Kirby Vorhees all had rushing touchdowns. Mason and Mark Gronowski each threw touchdown passes. The defense kept Murray State out of the end zone and limited them to a mere 236 total yards.

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Davin Stoffel (87) watches as Hunter Dustman’s extra point sails through the uprights in SDSU’s win over Murray State on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.

Jenn Kenyon/Sioux Falls Live

There wasn’t much evidence of the Jackrabbits taking it easy or coming out flat, but coach Jimmy Rogers said even though his team largely executed well, they didn’t have the same pregame fire and excitement to play that he’s used to.

“I’ll watch the film when it comes to the execution, because it felt like there was a lack of energy, just in the entire stadium,” Rogers said. “Just looking at (the players), I see them so much in practice that I kind of know what to expect when I watch them and their energy level. I was happy with how we played but there’s plenty to clean up. We need to be crisper and better next Saturday.”

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That will be against a UND squad that looked strong early in the season but has lost consecutive games, against Youngstown State and, on Saturday, lowly Indiana State. Those two were both on the road, however, and the Hawks are a different team in the Alerus Center, where they’ll host SDSU next week. UND beat No. 8 Montana at home earlier this year.

It’ll be SDSU’s third game against one of their Dakota rivals in the last four weeks, but getting Saturday’s low-stress tussle with the Racers in between should help them.

110224 SDSU Murray Kirby TD Gus.JPG

From left, South Dakota State’s Kirby Vorhees celebrates with Gus Miller after a Vorhees touchdown during a college football game on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings.

Marcus Traxler / Mitchell Republic

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“It was a physical couple of weeks and very close games,” safety Tucker Large said of the games against NDSU (a 13-9 loss) and USD (a 20-17 overtime win). “So this is definitely a confidence booster for our team. It was good for our offense to get those yards and good to see our defense get some young guys in there and flying around, having fun and being themselves.

“Coach Rogers does a great job of making it the Jacks vs. the Jacks, every game, no matter who our opponent is,” Large added. “We want to be our best selves. We know our standard and if we execute that good things will happen.”

Matt Zimmer

Matt Zimmer is a Sioux Falls native and longtime sports writer. He graduated from Washington High School where he played football, legion baseball and developed his lifelong love of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. After graduating from St. Cloud State University, he returned to Sioux Falls, and began a long career in amateur baseball and sports reporting. Email Matt at mzimmer@siouxfallslive.com.

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TBD vs. South Dakota Coyotes – Live Score – March 31, 2026

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TBD vs. South Dakota Coyotes – Live Score – March 31, 2026



TBD vs. South Dakota Coyotes – Live Score – March 31, 2026 | FOX Sports


































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SD Lottery Powerball, Lotto America winning numbers for March 28, 2026

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The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 28, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 28 drawing

11-42-43-59-61, Powerball: 25, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Lotto America numbers from March 28 drawing

15-29-30-32-35, Star Ball: 09, ASB: 05

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Dakota Cash numbers from March 28 drawing

04-08-13-31-35

Check Dakota Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 28 drawing

12-14-17-22-55, Bonus: 04

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Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

  • Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
  • Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
  • Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.

When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
  • Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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7 Most Rattlesnake Infested Areas in South Dakota

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7 Most Rattlesnake Infested Areas in South Dakota


There is only one rattlesnake native to South Dakota: the prairie rattlesnake. Also known as the Great Plains rattlesnake, it has the largest range of any rattlesnake in North America, stretching from Canada to Mexico.

In South Dakota, the prairie rattlesnake’s range crosses through the western parts of the state and lands around the Missouri River. The prairies, badlands, rocky outcrops, and river watersheds make ideal places for it to thrive, and these snakes are most often found in areas where that terrain provides them with room to hide and hunt.

These snakes are not aggressive toward humans, but they will defend themselves if threatened. That is why the areas below stand out, as they combine the kinds of habitat where prairie rattlesnakes are most likely to live with places where people also hike, camp, and explore.

Custer State Park

Herd of buffalo in Custer State Park.

Spanning 71,000 acres, Custer State Park is home to granite mountain peaks, lakes, and grasslands. Set in the Black Hills, its most noteworthy trails are up mountains such as Black Elk Peak, but its Wildlife Loop Road runs for 18 miles through open grasslands home to prairie dogs, bison, and other animals. These grasslands are a prairie rattlesnake’s preferred habitat, as they can slither through undetected and feed on prairie dogs, taking over their colonies.

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Prairie rattlesnakes can be found in other places in Custer State Park as well, including in lower-elevation campgrounds. There have been multiple reports of rattlesnakes wandering onto campgrounds. This can be especially dangerous for guests who wander outside without proper footwear. That’s why it’s critical to always wear good shoes or boots while in these parks to avoid a nasty bite if you accidentally step on one of these reptiles.

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park in South Dakota, USA.
Badlands National Park in South Dakota, USA.

These badlands contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. The area was once covered by a sea, leaving behind many ancient marine creatures, such as the massive Mosasaurus. Mammal fossils are also common here, such as the Nimravid cat and the Brontothere, which likely grew to 8 to 16 feet tall and closely resembled modern rhinos. The badlands still provide rich habitat for wildlife, including prairie rattlesnakes, which are most often found in the prairies below the Badlands National Park’s iconic sedimentary rock formations.

The prairie rattlesnake feasts on a wide variety of prey in the park, from prairie dogs to burrowing owls and ferrets. It uses its heat-seeking pits to track its prey, while its tongue picks up particles in the air to “smell.” However, these snakes are not the only predators here. Red-tailed hawks and Golden Eagles are known to attack and eat these rattlesnakes, along with badgers.

Prairie rattlesnakes are most active from the spring to fall, but they can also come out in slightly cooler weather to bask in sunlight.

Lake Francis Case

Fishing boats on the eastern shore of Lake Francis Case.
Fishing boats on the eastern shore of Lake Francis Case. Image credit Joseph Kreiss via Shutterstock.

Lake Francis Case was formed by the Fort Randall Dam on the Missouri River in the 1950s. It covers 102,000 acres with a maximum depth of 140 feet. Unfortunately, its creation flooded a Native American settlement and forced the community out. The lake is surrounded by prairies, from which hikers have seen prairie rattlesnakes. The lake is also home to a population of prairie dogs, which are prime prey for prairie rattlesnakes.

However, some prairie rattlesnakes can get closer to the shoreline, as Snake Creek Recreation Area is one of the better-known hotspots. They have been spotted hiding in the rocks and bushes by the lake. One trail known as a rattlesnake hotspot is the Shannon Trail, which connects the north and south campgrounds and overlooks Lake Francis Case.

George S. Mickelson Trail

George S. Mickelson Trail in South Dakota
George S. Mickelson Trail in South Dakota. By GeneMJ530, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.

The George S. Mickelson Trail is a 109-mile-long trail along an abandoned rail line across western South Dakota in the Black Hills. It connects to multiple forests, state parks, and privately maintained trails, including areas near Custer State Park. Toward the lower-elevation southern end of the trail, rattlesnakes have been regularly sighted by hikers and South Dakota park authorities.

The southern end of the trail passes through several habitats that support the prairie rattlesnake, such as the lower-elevation Sheep Canyon, where the rattlesnakes can hide among rocks, and the grassy prairies near Custer, South Dakota. Hikers in South Dakota sometimes find these snakes in prairie dog holes, as prairie rattlesnakes occasionally stick their heads out of them.

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Wind Cave National Park

Natural Entrance to Wind Cave, Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota.
Natural Entrance to Wind Cave, Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota.

Wind Cave National Park comprises two distinct ecosystems: a vast cave and an above-ground prairie. The cave was of great importance to the Lakota people because it is central to their emergence story. What makes this park a good environment for rattlesnakes is its mixture of prairies and ponderosa forests. Prairie dogs in particular dig holes known as underground colonies or ‘towns,’ which prairie rattlesnakes often use as ambush sites to hunt prey.

Bison at Wind Cave National Park.
Bison at Wind Cave National Park.

The rattlesnakes can also take refuge in rocky outcrops, both to protect themselves from the elements and to ambush prey. During cooler parts of the year, snakes are more likely to bask in the sun, increasing the chance of human encounters. The Wind Cave National Park is also close to several other rattlesnake hotspots on this list, including Custer State Park.

Missouri River

Historic bridge carrying Interstate 90 over the Missouri River along the Lewis and Clark Trail in South Dakota
Historic bridge carrying Interstate 90 over the Missouri River along the Lewis and Clark Trail in South Dakota.

The Missouri River is the longest river in the United States, flowing for 2,341 miles from the Rocky Mountains of Montana down into the Mississippi River in Missouri. It flows through western and central South Dakota as well, providing water for a large semi-arid watershed. In South Dakota, the drier climate and the rocky bluffs, shorelines, and nearby prairie habitat along the river make this corridor one of the main areas where prairie rattlesnakes are found.

Prairie rattlesnakes are most strongly associated with western South Dakota and the lands around the Missouri River. They are more often found in rocky or grassy areas near the river than in the water itself, though they have been observed swimming and may occasionally enter the water. As a result, people fishing or hiking through the Missouri River valley should stay alert for this snake.

Black Hills National Forest

Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota
Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota. Photo Credit: Mary Key via Shutterstock.

The Black Hills National Forest is a massive area, covering 1.2 million acres of forests and mountains, or 110 miles long by 70 miles wide. It has been called an Island in the Plains, as it rises above the mostly flat landscape of the Great Plains.

The forest contains 1,300 miles of streams, 11 reservoirs, 353 miles of trails, and 30 campgrounds. While exploring this forest, hikers and campers may encounter rattlesnakes, especially in lower-elevation areas or in rocky areas. In hot summer weather, rattlesnakes often retreat from the heat, but during the cooler spring and fall months, they are more likely to bask in the open.

In some cases, hikers may not hear a warning rattle right away, which is one reason caution matters in rocky or brushy areas. These tails don’t provide the support needed for their rattles to make a sound. Wildlife experts believe this is an evolutionary change, since rattlesnakes that make a loud rattle are more likely to be killed by frightened hikers or campers.

Humans are rattlesnakes’ biggest predators

Prairie rattlesnakes face many threats, and encounters with humans are one of them. Rattlesnakes usually try to avoid people when they can, or warn them when someone gets too close. These incidents are often avoidable if you take proper precautions, such as wearing sturdy shoes, staying on trails, and being aware of what lies ahead. These snakes may be intimidating, but they are far more threatened by humans than we are by them.

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