BROOKINGS — Though South Dakota State and North Dakota State were two evenly-matched teams when they went head-to-head in last week's Dakota Marker game in Fargo, there was some sense that the Bison would probably win, if for no other reason than they were due. The Jacks had, after all, beaten them five times in a row.
Sure enough, NDSU escaped with a 13-9 win that could've gone either way. Yes, the Bison made more plays down the stretch to earn that win, but the law of averages was bound to come into play at some point, too.
On Saturday, as SDSU found themselves outplaying their 'other' rivals from USD but unable to pull away from them, it was tempting to wonder if the law of averages was going to throw the Coyotes a bone, too. It's been a full quarter century since USD had won in Brookings, and while, yes, that included a nine-year hiatus where the teams didn't play, as the Coyotes have steadily improved as a Division I program you had to figure they'd be able to go into Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium and pull off the big one eventually.
It was not to be. In the first-ever overtime game between the I-29 rivals, the No. 3 Jackrabbits escaped with a 20-17 win over the No. 4 Coyotes.
That makes it 10-2 in favor of SDSU since the teams got back together at the Division I level. The Jacks have dominated, and the Yotes have still never won in Brookings.
If that streak was ever going to end, this year seemed as good as any. The Coyotes have looked the part of national championship contender every step of the way as they work to top last year's (Division I) program-record 10 wins, and SDSU, while still a powerhouse themselves, has looked a little vulnerable. USD had more reason to come into Brookings with confidence in this one than ever before.
And when the Jackrabbit offense fell silent after halftime and USD stunned the 19,351 fans with a scoop-and-score defensive touchdown to tie things up at 14 with 4:41 to go, it looked like a Coyote win might happen.
When the Jacks answered that haymaker by quietly going 3-and-out and the Coyotes began marching into SDSU territory, it almost seemed certain. It was gonna happen. A Yotes win in Brookings. A shakeup at the top of the FCS rankings. A potential death-blow to SDSU's hopes of a conference title and top playoff seed.
And then, it didn't happen.
On 3rd and 3 from the SDSU 24-yard line, USD brought running threat Nevan Cremascoli in at quarterback for a designed run out of the shotgun with 41 seconds left in the game. Cremascoli couldn't handle the snap, and fell on it for a five-yard loss.
So instead of, potentially, a first down or at worst a 41-yard goal attempt, the Yotes had to try a 46-yard field goal, and Will Leyland's try faded short and to the left. From five yards closer, it might've been good.
"There's several plays you'd like back," said USD coach Bob Nielson. "You don't want to lose any yardage there and make a field goal that much tougher. Looking back on it now we would've loved to call a different play."
There were others. JJ Galbreath dropped a potential huge gain on a trick play pass from running back Travis Theis. That was one of two Theis pass attempts in the game. The other was intercepted by Graham Spalding deep in Jacks territory. A gorgeous touchdown pass from Aidan Bouman to former Jackrabbit AJ Coons was wiped out by an illegal shift penalty. A big gain in the first half was overturned by review.
All those things happened and USD (6-2) still came as close to winning in Brookings as they have since they won at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium in 2000.
"It definitely hurts," said USD wide receiver Carter Bell. "It's gonna sting. We've got to soak it in but not let it happen again. We know our goals are still ahead of us."
SDSU's defense was again outstanding. They held USD — the No. 1 offense in the Valley in both points and yards — to 275 total yards and 10 offensive points. But the offense's failures to do anything in the second half nearly sent them to their second consecutive loss and an 0-2 season against their rivals.
"At times we got lucky," said Jacks coach Jimmy Rogers. "And at this point I don't care. (Wins) are hard to come by. I'm excited for the win. I'm excited for the pulse of this football team and really the resilience they showed. They never hung their head when things didn't go their way."
It may not have been pretty for SDSU. Coyote fans may feel like the Jacks didn't deserve this one. Jacks fans may be underwhelmed by the win, too worried about the offensive struggles to enjoy besting an in-state rival.
But it could not be more clear right now that SDSU, NDSU and USD make up 75 percent of the serious contenders at the FCS level right now (Big Sky-leading Montana State is the other 25 percent).
If there were any questions about whether or not USD should be taken seriously this game answered them.
As such, SDSU (6-2) should make no apologies for the win, no matter the circumstances under which they earned it.
Next the Jacks welcome lowly Murray State for the Racers' first visit to Brookings. From there they go to North Dakota, host Southern Illinois and finish up at Missouri State. Winning out to finish 10-2 is a highly attainable goal, and that would virtually guarantee a top four seed. With a little help, they could even get back into the picture for a top two seed.
As for the Coyotes, this is their first FCS loss, and coming on the road to the third-ranked, defending national champion does little to stain their resume. There's still a date with the Bison in the regular season finale in Vermillion, and there will be as much at stake in that one as there was in this one.
Considering the Jacks won a whopping 40 games over the last three seasons, it's not surprising that a couple of rough-and-tumble games in a row might cause some the-sky-is-falling overreactions from the fan base.
But SDSU going 1-1 in back-to-back games against top five opponents is hardly reason to panic. Yes, they nearly lost both. They also nearly won both.
And if there was one thing Rogers wanted to make clear after the game it was that any doubts people may have about his team after a pair of nailbiters are not going to get to him.
"My pressure is created for myself and this football team and wanting it for them," Rogers said. "It's more self-inflicted than anything that you guys write about — I promise you. I care more about the heartbeat of this football team and not failing those guys. I see them every day. They are my biggest critic and I'm their biggest critic. We're in this together."
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