Upcoming Event: Football versus Drake on September 13, 2025 at 6 p.m.
/
6 p.m.
Football
vs Drake
South Dakota State University Athletics
Quotes: FB vs. Indiana State, 9-19-09
9/19/2009 11:45:00 PM | Football
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE RUNNING BACK TYLER DUFFY
On His First-Half Punt Block
"Coach (Shawn) Mennenga told us to attack the wings this week and that's what we were going for. I just pressed up field, got underneath the blocker and took the punt right off my elbow. I think that it was a big play. It ended up leading to a touchdown so it kind of got the momentum going. We were a little slow to begin with and that helped us get going."
On the Second-Half Running Game
"I think ISU's front seven is pretty tough. We've got a lot of experienced wideouts that can get open and Crawford got them the ball and that really helped us in the second half trying to open up the defense a little bit. They were stuffing the run in the first half. It's all to our wideouts being able to get open."
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE SAFETY CONRAD KJERSTAD
On Holding ISU to 1 Yard Per Carry
"Defensively, we want to come out and dominate that game. It doesn't matter who we are playing and they definitely had some good players. Our coaches had a good game plan and I thought that the defense really played hard because we didn't want to give them any hope that they could do anything on us."
What Has Been Most Impressive About the Defense This Season?
"A lot of older kids have played a lot of football. I love going out to battle with those guys because they work year around for this and they just put in a lot of time and effort. The coaches are the same way. The offense makes it easy for us by putting points on the board, so we go out with the teammates that you want to go out on the field with."
Thoughts on Missed Field Goals?
"That's out of our control. We are going out there to do our job and it doesn't really matter what the offense it doing. We are looking at any points that we give up as us losing the game on defense. We can't control the offense and we are just going out there to play as good as we can."
On Facing Three Consecutive Road Games
"It's big being 2-0. The last few years we have got off to a slow start, which is disappointing. We are going to work really hard this week in practice and start game planning. Going into this next game, we want to dominate and set the tone and hopefully get another W."
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE WIDE RECEIVER MIKE STEFFEN
Why Has the Team Had Slow First Halves and Strong Second Halves?
"We moved the ball, but just couldn't convert on third down. The big thing is that we came out a little sluggish. It's really hard to admit that, but we came out a little sluggish right away. I think in the second half we just got in each other's face and started talking and we converted on third down.That was big."
Reason for Number of Blowout Wins the Past Couple Seasons
"It's not that we are that much better than the other teams. I think that we play really good competition. ISU is a good, young team. I think it's in our game plan and our coaches do a good job of making us play to the end of the whistle. Making every play important and everything that you do out there can change the game. Play every play as hard as you can."
On His Touchdown Catch at the End of the First Half
"I got re-routed about five yards too wide, ran the route way too deep, so I had to catch it. That's all on Ryan (Crawford). He threw it only where I could catch it. It was a really good throw. He put it out there a lot deeper then he should of because I ran the route a lot deeper then I should have. That's all on Ryan."
Difference Going Into Halftime Up 10-0 vs. 3-0?
"That's big momentum. We go in at halftime always screaming zero, zero. It doesn't matter about the first half. You have to come out and win the second half."
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE HEAD COACH JOHN STIEGELMEIER
Opening Statement
"As reminded by our football team, any win is a good win no matter how it happened. We feel fortunate to win football games. I was real happy with the crowd and disappointed with the first half, but our guys are pretty mature. They said 'Coach, we got a win' and that's what we will leave the game with."
Commenting on the Team's Defense
"I think the defense should be playing well. Whether they don't allow a touchdown or only six points the last two games, it doesn't really matter. We have got some veterans and great leadership. We have three coordinators on that staff. It's a good situation. It is the strength of our football team. We need to play good defense and continue to play good defense with the schedule that we have."
Slow first half, strong second half?
"I would credit ISU's defense. I think that ISU's defense is a good defense. I think they played their tails off like we do. They have some good players. They can load up, which is what they did when we had two backs. They say you're not going to run the football and we had trouble running the football. I talked to one of our past players who was in the locker room and he said, 'Coach, it's hard to get up for a game when it appears that you should win it.' I don't buy into that, but I think that we are all humans. I talked about that every year I have been head football coach. I think there was a combination of their play, I credit them first, and our lack of focus, which is what we talked about not doing the whole week. Ideally, we learned a valuable lesson and still got a good win."
On Ryan Crawford's Performance
"I think that Ryan Crawford, I hate to imply that he is playing above our expectations, but, we talk all the time about believe and number one, Ryan Crawford believes in himself and his ability. He has an air about him that says 'give me a chance, give me more.' We believe in him and he has done very well. We have expected a lot. This game, we expected much more than the last game, and there were times when we didn't think he did it, but the film will tell the truth. I think he had a whale of a game for his second start."
Blowout Wins
"I'd like to think that we are a good football team and when we play well, you have a chance to have the score be a little easier. We have had some nail bitter too. I credit the 90 guys and 13 coaches believing and working hard through 60 minutes of a football game."
On the Team's Kicking Situation
Kyle (Harris) responded very well last week. He earned our belief and faith. The best part of the story is that Peter was totally for that decision (to play Harris vs. ISU).
Players Mentioned
QB
/ FootballDan Jackson Weekly Press Conference (09.09.2025)
Tuesday, September 09
Football Postgame Comments at Montana State (09.06.2025)
Sunday, September 07
Football Highlights at Montana State (09.06.2025)
Sunday, September 07
Gameday Eve - Montana State (09.05.2025)
Thursday, September 04