Oct. 10, 2004

BROOKINGS, S.D. -- Wide receiver Chris Moliter teamed with Brad Nelson for a 22-yard touchdown pass with 39 seconds as South Dakota State rallied to defeat North Dakota State 24-21 in the 38th annual Beef Bowl at Brookings Saturday night.

A Beef Bowl record crowd of 12,323 saw Nelson direct the Jacks on an 80-yard, 14-play drive to beat the clock and the Bison. SDSU took over on its own 20 after a Bison punt into the end zone with 2:34 to play.

The game was the first between NCAA 1AA opponents in South Dakota, and it gave SDSU its first Great West Football Conference victory after a pair of losses in California. The Jacks are now 4-2 overall and are idle next week before playing at Montana State on October 23.

NDSU slipped to 4-2 overall, 0-2 in the GWFC. The Bison host Southern Utah next week.

Nelson completed seven passes on the drive including a pair of fourth down pitches which kept the ball in SDSU's hands. The drive was aided by a pass interference call which gave the Jacks a first down on the NDSU 22. After an incomplete pass on first down, Nelson hooked up with Molitor who evaded a couple of tackles and ran into the end zone.

The game was close all the way. SDSU scored in the first quarter on a one-yard run by Anthony Watson which capped a 68-yard drive.

NDSU scored back-to-back touchdowns, on a 3-yard run by Kyle Steffes and a 6-yard run by Cinque Chapman and the Bison were ahead 14-7.

But the Jacks marched 66 yards on nine plays and scored on 2-yard run by Andy Kardoes to tie it at halftime.

NDSU regained the league on a 22-yard pass from Tony Stauss to A.J. Cooper in the third quarter.

SDSU had a drive stall in Bison territory and elected to attempt a field goal. Parker Douglass was good from 36-yards cutting it to 21-17.

After the SDSU kickoff, NDSU started at its own 27 and gained one first down before the Jack defense put the Bison in a fourth and two situation at midfield. Mike Dragosavich's punt went into the end zone, giving SDSU the ball at its own 20.

SDSU finished with a 373-343 advantage in total offense and Nelson was named the Outstanding Player of the Beef Bowl after completing 20-of-35 passes for 198 yards. he had one interception and one touchdown pass, and also rushed three times for 26 yards.

Watson rushed 22 times for 133 yards while Brian Janecek (52 yards) and Solomon Johnson (46 yards) caught six passes each.

Stauss completed 18-of-27 passes for 183 yards, with one interception and one TD for NDSU. Chapman led the ground game with 75 yards on 19 carries while Steffes had 68 yards, also on 19 carries.

Linebacker Chris Coauette led the SDSU defense with 15 tackles (seven solos). Cornerback Hank McCall had 11 tackles and ended NDSU's last possession with an interception at the SDSU 49 yard line with 20 seconds to play. The Bison used their last two timeouts but SDSU was able to run out the clock. Linebacker Mike Blackbourn added 10 tackles.