Oct. 7, 2002
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -
UPCOMING GAME: Western Washington University Vikings (4-0) vs. South Dakota State University (2-2) at Coughlin Alumni Stadium (Grass-15,000 capacity) in Brookings, SD. Kickoff is 5 p.m. PST.
The Vikings are coming off a 62-13 Homecoming victory over Western New Mexico last week, scoring 45 unanswered points in the second half. They have won 10 of their last 11 games dating back to the fifth game of last season.
Western already has two big road wins under its belt, posting a dramatic 31-28 victory on Sept. 28 at NCAA Division I-AA independent Saint Mary's CA after opening the season with a 24-16 win at Central Oklahoma on Sept. 5.
The Vikings won their home opener, 52-14, on Sept. 14 over Fort Lewis CO.
The 4-0 start is Western's best since winning its first five games in 1996 on the way to the NAIA Division II National Championship Game.
South Dakota State, which has four of its first five games at home, lost to defending national champion North Dakota, 21-13, last Saturday at Brookings.
Both of the Jackrabbits' wins this season have come at home. They began the campaign with a 28-15 victory over Chadron State NE on Sept. 14 and defeated Nebraska-Omaha, 38-21, on Sept. 21.
South Dakota State's other loss was 28-24 at St. Cloud State MN on Sept. 28.
The Jackrabbits are a member of the North Central Conference and are in the Midwest Region of NCAA II.
Last week, Western remained No.15 in the American Football Coaches Association/NCAA Division II Top 25. This week, the Vikings stayed at No.9 in Don Hansen's Football Gazette Top 40 and remained No.19 in the d2football.com Top 25.
VIKINGS SECOND IN FIRST WEST REGION POLL: Western is ranked second, behind arch-rival Central Washington, in the first official NCAA II West Region football poll of the 2002 season.
The Vikings and Wildcats, who square off on Oct. 19 at Ellensburg, are the lone remaining unbeaten teams in the West Region. Both Western and Central also have games remaining with fourth-ranked UC Davis.
The top four ranked teams in the final poll in November in each of the NCAA's four regions advance to the 16-team Division II national playoffs. The weekly poll will be released each Monday afternoon the remainder of the regular-season.
NCAA II West Region Poll - 1. Central Washington (6-0); 2. Western (4-0); 3. Texas A&M-Kingsville (3-1); 4. UC Davis (4-1); 5. Chadron State (4-1); 6. Tarleton State (5-1); 7. Colorado School of Mines (4-1); 8. Eastern New Mexico (4-1); 9. Nebraska-Kearney (4-1); 10. Southwestern Oklahoma State (4-1).
SERIES HISTORY: Second meeting. Western won first meeting, 45-28, last season at Bellingham.
RADIO: KBAI (930 AM-Bellingham) is broadcasting all Western football games live this season with sports director Doug Lange handling the play-by-play duties for the seventh consecutive season. Providing the color commentary for the fifth straight year is former Viking quarterback Jason Stiles. The pre-game show, hosted by Mark Scholten, begins at 4:35 p.m PST. The KBAI broadcast can be picked up via the Internet at wwuvikings.com.
The game also can be heard over WNAX (570 AM - Brookings, SD) with Steve Imming and Jerry Oster calling the action.
2001 RESULTS: Western finished 8-3, won the inaugural Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship with a perfect 3-0 record, and ranked No.23 in the final national poll. It was the third straight league title and fifth in seven years for Western, which has had 11 straight non-losing seasons, a school record.
South Dakota State had a 5-6 record and tied for fourth place in the North Central Conference at 4-4.
WESTERN REPORT: The Vikings are 4-0 and have reached that mark in impressive fashion. Western is averaging 42.3 points a game, rolling up 454.5 yards of offense a contest and has a 12-5 edge (plus seven) in takeaways/turnovers.
Leading a balanced offensive attack is senior wide receiver Greg Dykstra. Dykstra has 24 receptions for 350 yards and seven touchdowns, and has twice had a school-record tying three touchdown receptions in a game. Dykstra, who is also averaging 23.3 yards on six punt returns, including a 58-yard touchdown, has caught a pass in 32 consecutive games, five short of the school record, and has 28 career touchdown catches, two short of the school best.
Also making big contributions in the receiving corps are senior slotback Mike Westbrook, who has 20 receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns, junior slotback Nate Kuhns, who has 11 catches for 116 yards, and senior tight end Adam Snel, who has 10 catches for 123 yards.
Triggering the attack is junior quarterback Josh Shimek, who has thrown for 880 yards and 10 touchdowns while completing 68.2 percent of his attempts. Sophomore Steve Nichols has also seen extensive action, throwing for 315 yards and four touchdowns while completing 69.4 percent of his passes. They operate behind an offensive line that is especially strong on the left side, where seniors Joaquin Paratore-McNabb and Brad Hendrickson play tackle and guard, respectively.
Redshirt freshman Duncan Sherrard started the season as the No.3 running back, but has seen the bulk of the carries the last two weeks because of injuries to redshirt freshman Jake Carlyle and junior Nyle Chambers. Sherrard has rushed for 295 yards and four touchdowns, going for 151 yards and three scores in last week's triumph over Western New Mexico. Both Carlyle, who has run for 161 yards, and Chambers, are expected to be back in top condition this week.
On defense, the Vikings limited Western New Mexico to just 79 yards in the second half last week. Junior linebacker Brett Thompson had all four of his tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including three sacks, and leads the team with six tackles for loss on the season. Junior middle linebacker Lann Olson has a team-high 40 tackles, and the linebacking corps is completed by senior rover Jesse Looker, who has 26 stops and two forced fumbles.
In the secondary, sophomore strong safety Rob White is second on the team in tackles with 35, and leads the team in interceptions with two and fumbles forced with four. Senior cornerback Martez Johnson has 19 tackles and has defensed a team-best three passes. Western is holding its opponents to 163.5 yards passing a game, with only Fort Lewis throwing for more than 200 yards.
Leading the defensive line is senior end Corey Gunnerson, who has 16 tackles, including four for losses. Sophomore tackle Lino Fenumiai also has 16 tackles.
Sophomore Michael Koenen is averaging 43.6 yards a punt, and had a school-record 73-yard punt against Saint Mary's. He is 4-of-6 on field goals, perfect on 21 extra-point tries, and has sent 12 kickoffs for touchbacks, including four last week.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE REPORT: South Dakota State is in its 105th season with 472 wins, the 11th best total in NCAA II. The Jackrabbits play in the North Central Conference, perhaps the toughest in Division II. Gone from last year's team is three-time NCAA II All-American and two-time Harlon Hill Award finalist Josh Ranek, who totaled 6,794 career rushing yards. Ranek, who torched the Vikings for 331 yards in rushing, receiving and kickoff returns in last year's meeting, is now the starting running back for the Ottawa Renegades of the Canadian Football League.
Senior Scott Nedved, who rushed for 850 yards and 17 touchdowns in three years as a backup, has run for 229 yards and four scores this year and has added another 157 yards on 14 receptions, but the big gun in the Jackrabbit offense is senior quarterback Dan Fjeldheim.
Fjeldheim has thrown for 1,001 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 64.4 percent of his passes. In a loss to St. Cloud State, he was 37-of-55 for 460 yards and two touchdowns, setting school single-game records for completions and yards passing. Fjeldheim threw for 2,268 yards and 18 touchdowns last season, setting a school record with 198 completions.
Redshirt freshman Josh Davis is the top receiver, having 27 catches for 352 yards and four touchdowns in the first four games. He had 11 catches for 155 yards and two scores against St. Cloud State. Junior wide receiver Jeff Hesse has 18 receptions for 204 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Ryan Lowry, a 6-foot-6, 260-pound tight end, has eight catches.
Protecting Fjeldheim and opening holes for Nedved is an offensive line that averages over 300 pounds.
The South Dakota State defense is allowing 21.2 points and 378.0 yards a game. Anchoring the group is senior linebacker Phil Oksness, who has a team-high 33 tackles, including three for loss. Another senior linebacker, Brandon Thiesse, has 15 tackles, and has an interception and two fumble recoveries. Junior lineman Dallas Clarksean has a team-high five sacks, and junior cornerback Kevin Brown has 19 tackles and a team-best 10 passes defensed.
On special teams, senior Frank Blalark is averaging 34.8 yards on five kickoff returns, and Brown is averaging 10.7 yards on six punt returns. Senior punter Jason Langland was third nationally last year, averaging 43.6 yards an attempt. He is averaging 38.5 yards a punt this season with a season best of 71 yards and a career best of 74 yards in 2000.
South Dakota State has been penalized 40 times for 353 yards this season, and its opponents just 22 times for 204 yards. The Jackrabbits are 125-89 in 41 years at their home stadium.
INJURY REPORT: Wide receiver Ryan Van Diest has missed the last two games with a torn abductor muscle, but is expected to play at South Dakota State.
DYKSTRA WATCH: Wide receiver Greg Dykstra has caught seven touchdown passes in the last three games, including a school-record tying three touchdowns in each of two straight contests. That was the first time a Western player had accomplished that feat in the same season, much less back-to-back games. Dykstra has now caught a pass in 32 consecutive games. He could tie the school record of 37 set by Hoyt Gier (1975-78) at Western Oregon on Nov. 9, and break it on Nov. 16 when the Vikings host UC Davis in the regular-season finale. Dykstra is second among Western career leaders in touchdown catches with 28 (school record is 30), third in catches (146, two short of second) and fourth in receiving yards (2,214, 107 short of third).
TURNOVER/TAKEAWAY: Western is plus 112 in turnover/takeaway ratio (194 to 306) over the last 11 seasons, not having a negative total since 1991. The Vikings are plus seven this season (5 to 12). The Western record is 24 (18 to 42) in 1994.
WESTERN NOTES: The Vikings have converted all seven of their fourth down opportunities this season ... Koenen was named d2football.com NCAA II national Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against Saint Mary's CA. White was named d2football.com West Region Defensive Player of the Week for his effort versus Fort Lewis, forcing a school-record four fumbles, three of which were recovered by the Vikings; and Duncan Sherrard earned honorable mention national Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against Western New Mexico ... Western already has had five GNAC Players of the Week this season, tackle Lino Fenumiai and White getting the defensive honor, and Dykstra, Shimek and Duncan Sherrard receiving the offensive accolade ... Western is 17-2 at home over the last three seasons ... Koenen had a school-record streak of eight straight field goals snapped when his 37-yarder was partially blocked at Saint Mary's.
TWO VIKINGS ARE NATIONAL STAT LEADERS: Two Western players are among this week's NCAA II national statistical leaders. Wide receiver Greg Dykstra is the national leader in punt returns, averaging 23.3 yards per return; and strong safety Rob White is the leader in forced fumbles with four. The Vikings' Michael Koenen is sixth in punting (43.6 avg.) and Dykstra is seventh in scoring (12.0). In team statistics, Western is ranked sixth nationally in passing (305.3) and ninth in scoring (42.3).
Individual: Passing - 11. Josh Shimek 164.4; Total Offense - 33. Shimek, 225.8; Receptions - 25. Greg Dykstra, 6.0; Receiving Yards - 33. Dykstra, 87.5; Scoring - 7. Greg Dykstra, 12.0; Punt Returns - 1. Dykstra, 23.3; Field Goals - 29. Michael Koenen, 1.0; Punting - 6. Michael Koenen, 43.6; Total Tackles - 30. Lann Olson, 10.0; Solo Tackles - 13. Olson, 6.3; Sacks - 16. Brett Thompson, 1.0; Forced Fumbles - 1. Rob White, 1.00; 12. Jesse Looker, 0.50.
Team: Total Offense - 11. 454.5. Passing Offense - 6. 305.3. Scoring - 9. 42.3. Scoring Defense - 34. 17.8. Turnover Margin - 13. 1.75.
COACHES: Rob Smith (Washington, 1981) is in his 14th year as head coach and his victory total (93-42-1) and winning percentage of 68.8 are the best in Western history. Smith has directed the Vikings to their only five national playoff berths in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1999, and guided them to their best regular-season (No.1, 1995) and final (No.1, 1995) national rankings. He was named GNAC Coach of the Year in 2001, Columbia Football Association Coach of the Year in 1989, 1995, 1996, 1999 and 2000, and American Football Coaches Association College Division Region V Coach of the Year in 1995 and 1996.
John Stiegelmeier (South Dakota State/1979) is in his seventh year (31-27) as head coach at South Dakota State. He was North Central Conference Coach of the Year in 1999 after guiding the Jackrabbits to an 8-3 season, their best record in 20 years.
UNDER THE LIGHTS: This week's contest at South Dakota State is the last of three night games this season for the Vikings. They won the first two, defeating Central Oklahoma, 24-16, on Sept. 5 and Fort Lewis, 52-14, on Sept. 14. Western is 9-6 under the lights since Rob Smith became head coach in 1989, 4-4 at home and 5-2 on the road.
PRESEASON PICKS: Two Western players were named to the d2football.com All-America preseason team - sophomore placekicker Michael Koenen being a first team pick and senior defensive end Corey Gunnerson selected to the second team.
Koenen earned first-team d2football.com West Region and GNAC all-star honors as a redshirt freshman last season. He led the team with 82 points, making 13-of-20 field goals, a 1.20 per game average that ranked No.7 nationally; and converting a school-record 43 extra points in 46 attempts.
Gunnerson, a team co-captain, was a second-team d2football.com all-West Region pick in 2001 and a first-team all-GNAC choice. He was credited with 30 tackles, 13 for losses of 56 yards, including 7 quarterback sacks for minus-43 yards.
Gunnerson and Koenen were among five Vikings named to the D2football.com All-West Region preseason team. Gunnerson, Koenen, and senior offensive lineman Joaquin Paratore-McNabb were first-team picks. Koenen also earned second-team honors as a punter along senior wide receiver Greg Dykstra and senior Martez Johnson, who was recognized as both a cornerback and a kick returner.
FAVORED AGAIN: For the sixth year in a row, Western is the favorite to win a league title in football, being rated slightly ahead of arch-rival Central Washington by the GNAC coaches to win the conference crown.
The Vikings won the inaugural GNAC title last season with a perfect 3-0 record. It was their school-record third straight league championship, winning Columbia Football Association crowns in 1999 and 2000, and their fifth title in the last seven years. They finished second in 1997 and 1998.
Western split the first-place votes with Central, each getting two, but had a 14-13 point edge over the Wildcats. The Vikings have won the last three meetings with Central, including a 36-14 win last season at Bellingham. The two schools open GNAC play on Oct. 19 at Ellensburg.
LAST WEEK: Running back Duncan Sherrard ran for 151 yards and three touchdowns, with 112 yards and two scores in the third quarter alone, as Western remained undefeated with a 62-13 victory over Western New Mexico in the Vikings' annual Homecoming/Hall of Fame game at Civic Stadium.
The Vikings, who improved to 4-0, scored 45 consecutive points in the second half. Western New Mexico fell to 2-4 with its third straight loss.
Leading 17-14 at halftime, the Vikings broke the game open with 10 points in less than 90 seconds midway through the third quarter. After a Michael Koenen punt was downed at the Mustang 2-yard line, Western's Joey Joshua sacked quarterback Marques Reischl in the end zone for a safety. On the following series, the Vikings went 63 yards in four plays, capped by a 16-yard run by Sherrard, who added a two-point conversion run to make the score 27-13.
Sherrard had a 26-yard touchdown run on the following possession, and a 4-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The Vikings never trailed, opening up a 17-0 lead. Quarterback Josh Shimek hit wide receiver Andy Olson for a 55-yard touchdown on Western's second offensive play, Koenen made a 42-yard field goal, and backup quarterback Steve Nichols threw a 28-yard touchdown to wide receiver Greg Dykstra.
The Mustangs narrowed the margin to 17-13 late in the first half. Reischel hit fullback Mike Romano for a 3-yard score set up by a 16-yard pass to tight end Richard Angulo, then with just 20 seconds left in the half, Reischl hit wide receiver Bobby Willcox for a 38-yard score on a fourth-and-11 play.
Reischl was 9-of-19 for 147 yards, but was sacked four times, three by Brett Thompson. Roberto Muro rushed for 88 yards on 20 carries for the Mustangs.
Two Western quarterbacks threw for more than 150 yards, as Shimek was 12-of-17 for 154 yards and a touchdown, and Nichols was 14-of-20 for 171 yards and two scores. The Vikings had a 539-280 edge in total offense, with the 539 yards being a season high, and had a 328-71 margin in the second half.
Dykstra had seven receptions for 105 yards. He also had a 58-yard punt return.
Slotback Mike Westbrook had eight catches for 80 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown pass from Nichols early in the fourth quarter.
Fullback B.J. Frost had the final two touchdowns for the Vikings, scoring on a 3-yard run and a 26-yard reception from third-string quarterback Joe Brazier.
LAST MEETING: Quarterback Scott Mitchell rolled up 420 yards of total offense and accounted for five touchdowns as Western defeated South Dakota State, 45-28, in a Homecoming Game victory at Bellingham on Oct. 6, 2001.
Mitchell competed 24-of-33 passes for 328 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for 92 yards and two scores.
South Dakota State fell despite the efforts of running back Josh Ranek, who ran for 133 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries and had 128 yards on five receptions, including an 82-yard touchdown on a swing pass.
Western jumped to a 14-0 lead less than 10 minutes into the game going 62 yards in seven plays on its first series and 91 yards in eight plays the following possession. Mitchell capped the opening drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, then hit wide receiver Greg Dykstra on a fade pattern for a 7-yard score.
The Vikings never trailed after that, although the Jackrabbits closed to within three, 24-21, on a 9-yard run by Ranek with 29 seconds left in the first half.
South Dakota State got no closer, though, as Western scored on the opening drive of the second half, going 78 yards in seven plays, capped by a 10-yard pass from Mitchell to running back Nyle Chambers. Chambers accounted for all but one yard in the drive on four rushes and two receptions, then added a 6-yard scoring run on the following possession, in which he touched the ball on seven of the eight plays. Chambers finished with 90 yards on 21 carries and 100 receiving yards on six pass receptions.
The Vikings had a 557-418 edge in total offense, and a 38:09-21:51 margin in time of possession. Dykstra had eight receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown, and wide receiver Ryan Van Diest added three catches for 61 yards, including a 17-yard score in the second quarter.
South Dakota State quarterback Dan Fjeldheim completed 20-of-32 passes for 291 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Wide receiver Kris Garry had seven receptions for 82 yards as eight Jackrabbits caught at least one pass.
Western kicker Michael Koenen hit a 35-yard field goal, had three kickoffs go for touchbacks, and averaged 49.3 yards on three punts, including a 66-yarder. Defensive tackle Steve Bernardy had two fumble recoveries for the Vikings.
Chambers received GNAC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance.
NEXT GAME: Western opens defense of its GNAC title, traveling to Central Washington University (6-0) for the seventh annual Cascade Cup game on Sat., Oct. 19 (1 p.m.) at Ellensburg, Wash. (Tomlinson Stadium).
WEBSITE: For the latest results, statistics and updates, including reports on all Western athletic events, visit the Vikings website at wwuvikings.com.
HEAD COACH ROB SMITH ON ...:
... WESTERN NEW MEXICO WIN
"That was more our style of football in the second half. Give Western New Mexico credit, they came out more prepared to play in first half than we did. Some of the mistakes we made were from a lack of concentration. I told our guys at halftime our pride and character would have to show through in second half, and it certainly did."
... SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
"South Dakota State is an excellent football team. We had a real tough battle with them last year. We're going to their place and playing a night game where they drew over 11,000 last week. And they've dropped two straight, so we're going to go up against a team that is not only very talented, but wants to get back on the winning track. We're going to have to be prepared for what I think will be one of our toughest games."
"They're very solid defensively where I believe they return nine of 11 starters. The most points anyone has scored on them is 28. Offensively, they lost Josh Ranek, one of the best running backs to play in Division II, but it looks like as a result that they're much more balanced this year. Fjeldheim has been able to throw the ball, completing 64 percent of his passes. It's hard to find a weakness. They've got quality players at nearly every position and I think that's something you see among teams in the North Central Conference."
They're coming off a very difficult defeat against the defending national champions. Just by looking at the score, it's obvious that they played them tough. It's going to be a great test for us. After watching tape on them, our players will develop great respect for South Dakota State in a hurry, I can promise you that."
... DUNCAN SHERRARD
"He's fun to watch. He's got excellent balance and he's displayed a very powerful lower body. And he has really stepped in and taken advantage of the opportunity. It shows great depth at our running back spot. He was No.3, yet when needed, he's been able to respond like he has."
... WHERE WE'RE AT
"The bottom line is that we're 4-0, and we've done some real good things in all three areas and we've made some mistakes in all three areas. But we've found a way to get the job done, so we have to be pleased with that. We also know that we have to continue to improve, and we can't come out against South Dakota State or anyone else left on our schedule like we did against Western New Mexico and make some early mistakes."
PROBABLE TWO DEEPSWESTERN WASHINGTON
OFFENSETE 96 Adam Snel (6-2, 245, ***Sr., Everett, WA/Cascade) 82 Rick Carte (6-4, 245, *So., Juneau, AK/Juneau-Douglas)ST 79 Scott Ask (6-4, 280, **Sr., Olympia, WA) 78 Justin Simpson (6-4, 310, R-Fr., Kennewick, WA (Kamiakin)SG 62 Jon Pagan (6-4, 260, T-Jr., Los Angeles, CA/El Segundo) 73 Todd Gowing (6-3, 290, *So., Kirkland, WA/Inglemoor)C 53 Loren Winter (6-2, 255, R-Fr., Bothell, WA/Juanita) 57 Lincoln Stalnaker (6-3, 240, T-Jr., Flagstaff, AZ/Coconino)QG 67 Brad Hendrickson (6-2, 285, **Sr., Port Angeles, WA) 56 Jeff DeBuigne (6-3, 310, R-Fr., Kennewick, WA/Kamiakin)QT 70 Joaquin Paratore-McNabb (6-2, 250, ***Sr., Davis, CA) 65 Jason Day (6-5, 250, 20, *So., Tonasket, WA)SB 1 Mike Westbrook (6-0, 200, T-Sr., Lakewood, WA/Lakes) 8 Nate Kuhns (5-11, 190, **Jr., Yakima, WA/Eisenhower)WR 83 Andy Olson (6-1, 195, R-Fr., Chehalis, WA/W.F.West) 22 Ryan Van Diest (6-1, 190, **Jr., Lynden, WA)WR 9 Greg Dykstra (6-1, 200, ***Sr., Everson, WA/Lynden Christian) 13 Nick Yoney (6-4, 215, R-Fr., Arlington, WA)RB 29 Duncan Sherrard (5-10, 200, R-Fr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt) 27 Jake Carlyle (5-8, 190, R-Fr., Olympia, WA/Capital) 26 Nyle Chambers (6-1, 210, **Jr., Sumner, WA)QB 11 Josh Shimek (6-4, 220, *Jr., Pasco, WA) 14 Steve Nichols (6-2, 210, *So., Stevenson, WA)PK 19 Michael Koenen (5-10, 180, *So., Ferndale, WA)DEFENSEQE 95 JeVarian Gamble (6-3, 260, **Jr., Lynnwood, WA) 85 Joey Joshua (6-4, 220, R-Fr., Ferndale, WA)N 93 Nick Ball (6-2, 275, *Jr., Olympia, WA) 59 Bob Carlstrom (6-1, 235, *Sr., Custer, WA/Ferndale)ST 52 Lino Fenumiai (6-0, 270, *So., Juneau, AK/Juneau-Douglas) 97 Scott Roberts (6-4, 285, **Sr., Widefield, CO)SE 98 Corey Gunnerson (6-3, 255, ***Sr., Everett, WA) 49 Kevin Kamphouse (6-5, 235, R-Fr., Sumas, WA/Nooksack Valley)LB 51 Brett Thompson (6-0, 235, **Jr., Auburn, WA/Auburn-Riverside) 46 Adam Klingenberg (5-11, 220, R-Fr., Walla Walla, WA)LB 33 Lann Olson (6-0, 215, **Jr., Chehalis, WA/W.F.West) 54 Aaron Dahl (6-1, 225, R-Fr., Gig Harbor, WA)ROV 28 Jesse Looker (5-11, 210, *Jr., Puyallup, WA) 38 Taylor Hutton (6-0, 210, **Jr., Salado, TX)CB 2 Martez Johnson (6-0, 185, ***Sr., Seattle, WA/Rainier Beach) 41 Raymond Jackson (6-1, 185, **Sr., Seattle, WA/Rainier Beach)CB 5 Anthony Dalton (5-9, 190, *Sr., Olympia, WA/River Ridge) 6 James Delgardo (5-11, 165, R-Fr., Seattle, WA/Rainier Beach)SS 40 Rob White (6-1, 220, *So., Woodinville, WA/Inglemoor) 34 Shane Keck (5-10, 185, T-Jr., Everett, WA/Mariner)FS 23 Mark Burbidge (6-1, 200, ***Sr., Elma, WA) 31 Brett Snyder-Ferguson (6-1, 190, R-Fr., Colville, WA)P 19 Michael Koenen (5-10, 180, *So., Ferndale, WA)*denotes letters won
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPSSOUTH DAKOTA STATEOFFENSEWR 80 Josh Davis (6-0, 165, R-Fr., Omaha, NE) 85 Jeff Hesse (6-5, 215, *Jr., Plymouth, MN)LT 72 Ben Studer (6-6, 310, **Jr., Wesley, IA) 60 Jeff Davis (6-5, 290, So., Milbank, SD)LG 71 Andy Wagstrom (6-5, 310, **Jr., Faribault, MN) 75 Whiston Kaleimamahu (6-0, 315, Jr., Waianae, HI)C 79 Tom Higbee (6-3, 295, *So., Brooklyn Center, MN) 74 Craig O'Hearn (6-3, 250, So., Champlin, MN)RG 73 Michael Suhn (6-3, 285, *So., Ree Heights, SD) 62 Aaron Winterfield (6-3, 280, So., Sioux Center, IA)RT 69 Ben Fast (6-5, 305, ***Sr., Mountain Lake, MN) 78 Ray Kelso (6-6, 350, Jt., Montebello, CA)TE 86 Ryan Lowry (6-6, 260, *So., Woodbury, MN) 95 Paul Keizer (6-4, 265, R-Fr., Hull, IA)SB 1 Solomon Johnson (6-1, 170, *So., St. Petersburg, FL) 2 Nick Wilson (6-1, 200, *Sr., Denver, CO)WR 85 Jeff Hesse (6-5, 215, *Jr., Plymouth, MN) 80 Josh Davis (6-0, 165, R-Fr., Omaha, NE)QB 3 Dan Fjeldheim (6-3, 220, **Sr., Watertown, SD) 5 Brad Nelson (6-5, 205, So., Winona, MN)FB 31 Craig Martinmaas (6-0, 210, Sr., Faulkton, SD) 49 Greg Peitz (6-3, 240, So., Crofton, SD) 38 Jake Erickson (5-10, 225, R-Fr., Beresford, SD)RB 36 Scott Nedved (6-1, 220, ***Sr., Yankton, SD) 25 James O'Neill (6-1, 205, Jr., Tuthill, SD)K 16 Keith Witt (6-0, 190, Jr., Long Beach, CA)DEFENSEE 98 Andy Lueth (6-3, 265, *Jr., Humboldt, SD) 91 Gabe Koenigsfield (6-4, 235, R-Fr., Marble Rock, IA)NT 94 Shane Delbridge (6-3, 285, **Sr., Union Center, SD) 56 Travis Ahrens (6-1, 240, R-Fr., Jackson, MN)DT 90 Blake Seeds (6-3, 290, Jr., Newcastle, WY) 93 Derek DeGeest (6-4, 275, *So., Harrisburg, SD) 34 D.J. Fischer (6-3, 245, R-Fr., Gettysburg, SD)E 44 Joey Abell (6-5, 210, *So., Brooklyn Park, MN) 15 Dallas Clarksean (6-5, 240, *Jr., Alpha, MN)OLB 47 Brandon Thiesse (6-2, 215, ***Sr., Fairmont, MN) 10 Rodney Francois (5-10, 195, **Jr., Naple, FL)MLB 52 Chris Coauette (6-3, 210, *So., Crookston, MN) 32 Jeff Schultz (6-2, 245, ***Sr., Freeman, SD)OLB 33 Phil Oksness (6-2, 225, ***Sr., Luverne, MN) 53 Billy Ray Kirch (6-2, 210, Fr., Blaine, MN)LCB 20 Kevin Brown (5-8, 185, **Jr., Commerce City, CO) 27 Chris Abbott (6-1, 175, R-Fr., Inver Grove Heights, MN)FS 18 Justin Landis (6-1, 210, **Jr., Colman, SD) 22 Matt Pollock (5-10, 180, *Jr., Clark SD)SS 23 Scott Connot (6-2, 200, *Jr., Spencer, NE) 21 Hank McCall (5-11, 180, R-Fr., Algona, IA)RCB 11 Frank Blalark (5-8, 180, *Sr., Las Vegas, NV) 12 Joe Ford (5-10, 180, **Sr., Brandon, SD)P 24 Jason Langland (6-1, 195, ***Sr., Brookings, SD)
