South Dakota State’s dynamic freshman starting quarterback will not be available in Saturday’s game at Missouri State, coach John Stiegelmeier told KWSN on Tuesday.
J’Bore Gibbs suffered what Stiegelmeier told KWSN Monday is a “serious” knee injury suffered in the No. 5 Jackrabbits’ loss to No. 1 North Dakota State this past Saturday.
Freshman Keaton Heide — who took over duties in the second half after junior Kanin Nelson struggled in place of Gibbs — is listed as Saturday’s starter, the coach confirmed to KWSN Wednesday.
Prior to Gibbs’ x-rays on Monday to determine the severity of the injury, Stiegelmeier said doctors weren’t sure if it is a season-ending injury or not.
On Tuesday, Stiegelmeier texted KWSN Gibbs is “out for this week.” When pressed about the results of Gibbs’ X-rays, the coach texted back “I can’t do that because of medical rules.”
The 6’3, 230-pound redshirt freshman from the Chicago area was hurt after running in the open field in the first quarter, but the hit he took did not appear to cause the injury. After a retreat to the locker room to have the injury examined, Gibbs returned to the sideline in the second half with a large ice pack around his leg and appeared to have a difficult time moving.
“Obviously, (I’m) disappointed for him, disappointed for our football team,” Stiegelmeier told KWSN. “He’s such a great young man, but that’s the nature of going out there and playing full speed — making great plays like he did early and maybe have a disappointment at some point.
Gibbs suffered a broken finger in the Jacks’ season-opening game at Minnesota, sat out SDSU’s blowout wins over Long Island and Drake, then returned to play in romps over Southern Utah and Southern Illinois, during which the dual-threat athlete did not attempt a run, avoiding contact and the risk of reaggravating the finger injury.
“Coach Stig” and SDSU offensive coordinator Jason Eck let Gibbs loose in a 38-35 comeback win at then No. 17 Youngstown State, where Gibbs finished with 100 yards and two touchdowns rushing on 12 carries while throwing for 210 yards and an 81-yard score on 14-of-26 completions.
Gibbs season stats up until now: 59 percent completions (73-of-124) for 10 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, plus 36 rushes and 4 touchdowns on 167 yards gained (and 79 lost, mostly on sacks).
While his ability to escape and run will be missed, the biggest loss if indeed Gibbs is out multiple weeks, if not the season, is his passing ability.
He was 3-for-5 for 70 passing yards, including a 35-yard strike before going down. His replacements — junior Kanin Nelson and freshman Keaton Heidi — were a combined 4-of-12 for 30 yards an no touchdowns after Gibbs left, minimizing the Jacks’ threat through the air on perhaps the best defense in the nation.
The Bearcats (1-6, 1-3 MVFC) are second-worst in the Valley in total defense (436 ypg), worst in scoring defense (36.7 ppg), and worst rushing in defense, yielding an average 213 yards per game and 5.1 yards per carry on the ground, so an aerial assault doesn’t appear necessary on paper.
The game kicks off at 2 p.m. and can be heard live, starting with a 1 p.m. pregame on three different radio signals in Sioux Falls:
KELO-AM 1320, 107.9 FM, and 105.1 FM.
