RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The Hardrocker football team hosts former Dakota Athletic Conference foe, Valley City State in home opener on Friday night.
GAME INFORMATION
Valley City State
Date/Time: Sept. 1 / 6:07 p.m.
Site: Rapid City, S.D.
Stadium: O'Harra Stadium
Capacity: 5,000
Series Overall: Valley City State leads 14-4.
Streak: South Dakota Mines Won 1.
Series at South Dakota Mines: Valley City State leads 7-2.
Streak at South Dakota Mines: Valley City State Won 1.
Last Meeting: South Dakota Mines won in Valley City, 39-28 (9/29/2012).
Watch Live: Midco Sports Throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota | Midco Sports Plus |
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Radio: KOTA 1380 AM/100.7 FM
FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
1. Jayden Johannsen, a redshirt junior, from Sioux Falls, S.D. has emerged as a legitimate candidate for the Harlon Hill Trophy, annually given to the best player at the Division II level. In 2022, He was near the top of the country at this level in many categories, including passing yards (8th), passing touchdowns (12th), passing efficiency (18th), total offense (3rd), QB rushing yards (22nd), and qb rushing touchdowns (14th). Jayden earned a spot on the 22-player watch list from the NCAA for the Harlon Hill in 2023.
2. A familiar name to many in the Division II landscape,
Jalen Frye comes into South Dakota Mines from Bemidji State University. The 2019 All-American, and 2022 All-NSIC North selection brings a whole lot of experience and playmaking ability into the RB position for South Dakota Mines. The sixth year senior from Mahtomedi, Minnesota set several school records at Bemidji State for his career and for the 2019 season in which he ran for 1,337 rushing yards.
3. Caleb Franklin, Otu Afu,
Hunter Newsom, and
Jacob Schwab, key contributors to a defense that in 2022 finished best in the RMAC in run defense and third in total defense and top-4 in many other statistical categories including pass defense, and sacks return.
4. The Hardrockers finished the 2022 season ranked near the top of the country in several statistical categories, including but not limited to completion percentage (62.8%, 16th), fewest penalties (52, 15th), first downs (263, 20th), passing offense (315.5, 5th), total offense (442.6, 14th), and sacks (3.45, 10th).
5. The RMAC ranks are even more favorable as the Hardrockers were 2nd in 3rd Down percentage on offense (43.1%) and 3rd on defense (33.1% allowed), 2nd in completion percentage (62.8%),, first in total penalties and penalty yardage (48 yards per game), 2nd in first downs, 1st in first downs allowed (179), 1st in passing offense, 2nd in red zone defense (76.7%), 3rd in rushing defense (110.5 yards per game), 3rd in passing efficiency, 3rd in sacks, 2nd in time of possession (30:37), and 2nd in total offense.
This game will be televised on Midco Sports on all their affiliates throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. You can find a list of the Midco affiliates
here or the link above.
The final season preview interviews with quarterbacks
Jayden Johannsen,
Jake Martinelli and Coach Flohr are available below. You can also catch up on all of the episodes below. You can also find audio versions of all of those episodes, and much more on the
Hardrocker Podcast Network or by following and subscribing to the Hardrocker Huddle on Apple, Spotify or your favorite podcasting app!
A select number of tickets are still available for this game and for the season at the link above.
You can read South Dakota Mines' complete game notes here (PDF).
Football Season Preview Series: Episode 1 - DBs
Football Season Preview Series: Episode 2 - LBs
Football Season Preview Series: Episode 3 - OL
Football Season Preview Series: Episode 4 - RBs and TEs
Football Season Preview Series: Episode 5 - Special Teams and Specialists
Football Season Preview Series: Episode 6 - WRs and Offense
Football Season Preview Series: Episode 7 - LBs
About South Dakota Mines
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 13 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 members, as well as four associate members, located in the states of California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah.
