2012 SEASON RECAP 2012 MVFC STANDINGS TEAM ^North Dakota State ^South Dakota State ^Illinois State Indiana State Southern Illinois Youngstown State Northern Iowa Missouri State Western Illinois South Dakota
CONF 7-1 6-2 5-3 5-3 5-3 4-4 4-4 3-5 1-7 0-8
OVERALL 14-1 9-4 9-4 7-4 6-5 7-4 5-6 3-8 3-8 1-10
^-qualified for Football Championship Subdivision playoffs
JACKRABBITS IN THE 2012 MVFC TEAM STATISTICS DEFENSE • 2nd in defense pass efficiency, 98.3 • 3rd in interceptions, 11 • 3rd in scoring defense, 15.2 points/game • 3rd in total defense, 303.4 yards/game • T-3rd in sacks, 18 • 4th in rushing defense, 117.9 yards/game • 5th in opponent first downs, 17.2/game • 5th in opponent third-down conversions, 35.9 percent • 6th in passing defense, 185.5 yards/game • 8th in opponent fourth-down conversions, 56.2 percent (9-of-16) OFFENSE • 4th in first downs, 17.5/game • 4th in pass efficiency, 125.5 • 4th in passing offense, 200.1 yards/game • 4th in rushing offense, 144.8 yards/game • 4th in scoring offense, 22.9 points/game • 4th in fourth-down conversions, 55.6 percent • T-4th in third-down conversions, 40 percent • 5th in total offense, 344.9 yards/game • 10th in sacks allowed, 28 SPECIAL TEAMS • 4th in field goal percentage, .833 (10-of-12) • 4th in net kickoff coverage, 39.3 yards/ attempt • 5th in kickoff returns, 21.2 yards/attempt • 5th in PAT percentage, .955 (21-of-22) • 6th in net punting, 33.2 yards/attempt • 7th in punt returns, 6.0 yards/attempt MISCELLANEOUS • 4th in turnover margin, +4 (+.50 per game) • 9th in fewest penalties, 59 • 9th in fewest penalty yards, 68.6 yards/game
The South Dakota State University football team took a giant step forward toward becoming an elite program in the Football Championship Subdivision during the 2012 season. The Jackrabbits, who were picked sixth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason poll, greatly exceeded those expectations by finishing with a 9-4 overall record, including a second-place showing in the league standings. SDSU cracked the national rankings early in the 2012 season season en route to its second berth in the FCS playoffs in the last four years. The Jackrabbits earned the right to host a postseason game for the first time in program history and matched the school record for most victories in a season, which was last accomplished in 1979. At the fore of the Jackrabbit resurgence were a stout defense and potent rushing attack. SDSU ranked in the top 10 nationally in three different defensive categories: fourth in pass efficiency defense (100.33), fifth in scoring defense (16.38 points per game) and eighth in total defense (305.31 yards per game). The Jackrabbits held their opponents without an offensive touchdown in three games, while holding the opposition to one touchdown five other times. Meanwhile, the ground game was paced by running back Zach Zenner. The sophomore set the tone for his All-America season on his second rushing attempt of the season, running for a Jackrabbit-record 99-yard touchdown at Kansas. Long touchdowns became commonplace for Zenner, who also logged five other scoring runs of at least 50 yards during the season. He began the season with seven consecutive 100-yard games, topping the 200-yard mark twice.
Although they lost their season opener at Kansas, the Jackrabbits responded with a fivegame winning streak — their longest string of victories since closing the 2007 season with a five-game winning streak en route to the Great West Football Conference title. Following nonconference wins over Southeastern Louisiana and UC Davis, SDSU began MVFC play with three consecutive victories — a road win at Indiana State, followed by consecutive home wins over Missouri State and Western Illinois. The Jackrabbit winning streak came to an end in an end in a 27-6 defeat at perennial league contender Northern Iowa on Oct. 20. With the loss at UNI knocking the Jackrabbits out of the national rankings, SDSU quickly rebounded a week later on Hobo Day against 21st-ranked Youngstown State. Four secondquarter touchdowns gave SDSU a 35-7 lead, and the Jackrabbits eventually held on for a 41-28 victory to move to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in league play. Quarterback Austin Sumner threw for a season-high 351 yards and set a career high with five touchdown passes in the win. Sumner came up big again the following week in a last-minute victory at Southern Illinois that solidified the Jackrabbits’ playoff résumé. Trailing 12-9 with 2 minutes and 55 seconds remaining in the game, the Jackrabbits took over at their own 6-yard line after forcing SIU to punt. SDSU was able to overcome a bad snap early in the drive, converting on fourth-and-19 as Sumner heaved a pass into the wind that was caught by Trevor Tiefenthaler for a 23-yard gain and a first down.
Note: Rankings based on conference games only
Ross Shafrath registered a Jackrabbit single-season record 150 tackles during the 2012 campaign. A first-team all-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection, Shafrath tallied 10 or more tackles in nine of 13 games, including a career-high 18 in the FCS playoff game at North Dakota State.
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2013 JACKRABBIT FOOTBALL MEDIA GUIDE