SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — An up-and-down season for South Dakota State football is on the line this Saturday in Brookings. The Jackrabbits are set to take on Northern Iowa in the second round of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
This will be the second meeting of the year between the Jackrabbits and Panthers; SDSU rolled to a 38-7 home win in Brookings on November 16.
Saturday’s game can be heard on KELQ 107.9 FM. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
South Dakota State will look to shake off a tough loss their last time out when archrival South Dakota earned an upset victory at the DakotaDome in the teams’ regular-season finale.
The loss put the Jackrabbits at 8-4 on the season, good enough for the No. 7 seed in the FCS tournament and a first-round bye.
True freshman quarterback Keaton Heide will get the start for Sioux Falls. Called into action against top-ranked North Dakota State earlier this year, Heidi has six passing touchdowns against two interceptions in six games this season.
Important for the Jackrabbits is the status of star running back Pierre Strong, who may miss the game with an injury. Strong rushed for 1,018 yards and eight touchdowns in 11 games this year.
Northern Iowa earned their spot in Saturday’s game by knocking off San Diego 17-3 in the first round. The Panthers finished the 2019 regular season with an 8-4 record.
The winner of Sunday’s game advances to the FCS quarterfinals to play the winner of No. 2 James Madison and Monmouth.
(KWSN’s John Gaskins contributed to this report.)
