SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The South Dakota State Jackrabbits defeated the South Dakota Coyotes, 14.5 to 11.5, and claimed the 2018-19 South Dakota Showdown Series, presented by South Dakota Corn. The announcement was made by the South Dakota Corn Utilization officials Thursday.
The Showdown Series tracks head-to-head matchups and conference championship results in 16 sports with each school accumulating points toward the overall series championship. The Series also recognizes outstanding academic achievement by the schools’ student-athletes and aims to raise awareness, funds and donations for Feeding South Dakota, a statewide not-for-profit with the goal of eliminating hunger in South Dakota.
The Jackrabbits were plus-three in athletic competitions to bring the traveling trophy back to Brookings, outscoring the Coyotes 11.5-8.5. Both schools scored the maximum three points allotted for academic achievement by compiling a student-athlete grade point average of above 3.0.
“Winning the South Dakota Showdown Series puts an exclamation point on one of our most successful seasons as an athletics program,” SDSU Director of Athletics Justin Sell said. “With the help of our schools’ great fans, we are proud to partner with South Dakota Corn and Feeding South Dakota to use the Showdown Series as a platform to assist those in need throughout our state.”
Feeding South Dakota, the philanthropic partner of the Showdown Series, will once again provide meals for adults and children throughout the state through a $70,000 donation from South Dakota Corn. Funds were raised through yearlong activities and efforts of SDSU and USD fans, students and campus communities. One of those promotions, now in its third year, encouraged fans and the community to come together and “Get off the Bench,” to provide much-needed funding towards the state’s fight against hunger.
“When we launched the Showdown Series seven years ago, we could only imagine the way it would grow and what a positive impact it would have. This continuing partnership with the universities and Feeding South Dakota has provided a one-of-a-kind opportunity for our state’s famers to improve the lives of less-fortunate individuals and families,” Teddi Mueller of South Dakota Corn said. “In addition to generating a significant amount of money to fight hunger, the Showdown Series also raises awareness of the needs in our state.”
Fans can visit www.sdcornshowdown.com, www.gojacks.com or www.goyotes.com to track progress and see point totals throughout the year. Jackrabbit Sports Properties and Coyote Sports Properties, the multimedia rights holders for SDSU and USD athletics, respectively, spearheaded the initiative between the athletic departments and South Dakota Corn. Both JSP and CSP are properties of Learfield IMG College.
2018-19 SHOWDOWN SERIES SCORING BREAKDOWN AND HISTORY
South Dakota State (14.5)
3 – cumulative GPA above 3.0
2 – men’s basketball swept Summit series, 2-0
2 – football
1 – women’s soccer
1 – men’s cross country
1 – men’s indoor track and field
1 – women’s basketball split Summit series, 1-1
1 – women’s golf
1 – softball
1 – men’s outdoor track and field
.5 – men’s golf tied at Summit Championships
South Dakota (11.5)
3 – cumulative GPA above 3.0
2 – volleyball swept Summit series, 2-0
2 – men’s and women’s swimming and diving
1 – women’s cross country
1 – women’s basketball split Summit series, 1-1
1 – women’s indoor track and field
1 – women’s outdoor track and field
.5 – men’s golf tied at Summit Championships
Showdown Series History
2013 – SDSU wins, 14-13
2014 – SDSU wins, 18-9
2015 – USD wins, 14-13
2016 – SDSU wins, 16-11
2017 – USD wins, 14-13
2018 – USD wins, 14-13
2019 – SDSU wins, 14.5-11.5