SDSU football primer: Jacks open playoffs with familiar foe Delaware

BROOKINGS — South Dakota State soccer begins its playoff quest for a nationwide championship on Saturday at Dykhouse Stadium, dealing with the College of Delaware, the group it defeated 18 months in the past in the identical venue through the spring NCAA FCS playoffs.

When: 2 p.m. Saturday

The place: Dykhouse Stadium, Brookings.

Data: SDSU 10-1; UD 8-4.

Coaches: SDSU: John Stiegelmeier, twenty sixth season, 195-112; UD: Ryan Carty, first season, 8-4.

Sequence historical past: The Jackrabbits and Blue Hens will meet for the third time on Saturday. Delaware gained the primary matchup in 2010 through the common season, whereas SDSU gained the FCS semifinal contest on Could 8, 2021, in Brookings, a 33-3 Jacks win.

Final day out: SDSU gained 31-7 over Illinois State on Nov. 12 in Brookings after which had the following two weekends off. Delaware gained its Nov. 26 FCS playoff sport in opposition to Saint Francis (Pa.) 56-17 in Newark, Delaware.

Notes:

• Saturday’s matchup will likely be a battle of high FCS defenses, with Delaware rating third within the nation in complete protection (278.5 yards per sport) and fourth in factors per sport at 16.2. SDSU’s protection ranks No. 1 in speeding protection (71.4 yards per sport), No. 2 nationally in complete protection (255 yards per sport) and third in scoring protection (15.5 factors per sport).
• Climate is forecast to be a excessive of 26 and sunny on Saturday, with winds anticipated at 10 to fifteen mph and gusting to twenty mph.
• The sport will likely be broadcast completely on ESPN+.

Concerning the Jackrabbits:

• SDSU is 4-1 all-time in opposition to Colonial Athletic Affiliation postseason opponents, with house wins over Villanova (each house and away), New Hampshire and Delaware and the lone loss in 2017 within the semifinals at James Madison.
• Within the Could 2021 assembly, SDSU racked up seven sacks within the win over the Blue Hens. During the last eight video games this season, SDSU had 27 sacks, with 12 completely different gamers recording a sack this season for the Jacks.
• The second half has informed the story for the Jackrabbits for a lot of the season. SDSU has solely allowed a landing on the primary drive of the second half as soon as (at Northern Iowa) and outscored opponents within the third quarter by an 88-23 margin and once more 82-52 within the fourth quarter. SDSU is 8-0 when main after three quarters.
• The Jackrabbits are an ideal 6-0 at house this season and are on a nine-game house profitable streak courting again to final season. SDSU is 40-7 in house video games since Dykhouse Stadium opened in 2016, together with 8-1 within the playoffs.
• In December video games since becoming a member of the FCS, SDSU is 7-8 all-time.

Concerning the Blue Hens:

• First-year head coach Ryan Carty has nationwide championship pedigree for the Blue Hens. Carty was a quarterback for Delaware’s 2003 nationwide championship group and coached for Sam Houston when it defeated SDSU in spring 2021 for the FCS championship sport.
• Boasting an enormous protection, Delaware has allowed just one opposing passer to throw for greater than 200 yards in a sport this season.
• In its first-round playoff win, Delaware had 9 performs of 20 yards or extra, including to a season-long complete of 54. Seventeen of these performs have gone for touchdowns. Quarterback Nolan Henderson threw for 4 touchdowns within the win and accounted for a speeding landing, as effectively.
• Delaware is 8-1 this season when main at halftime. All-time within the playoffs, Delaware is 25-16 however 7-9 in highway video games.
• Former SDSU punter Ben Dinkel transferred to Delaware earlier than the season. He’s one in every of 12 transfers that joined the Delaware roster previous to the 2022 season. Dinkel is averaging 42.7 yards per punt on 35 kicks this season, with 14 pinned contained in the opponents’ 20-yard line.

Subsequent week: The winner of this sport takes on the New Hampshire/No. 8 Holy Cross winner on Dec. 9 or 10 within the FCS quarterfinals. If SDSU wins, the sport will likely be in Brookings.