It has been nearly 30 years between playoff appearances for the South Dakota State football team, and head coach John Stiegelmeier is hoping it won’t be another three decades until the next one.

SDSU is making its inaugural appearance today in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs, traveling to top-seeded Montana.

“The Jackrabbits are excited to be in the playoffs,” Stiegelmeier said. “Ideally, we are able to go out to Montana and not get caught up in the first-time event, but battle the challenge of the Grizzlies. I expect that of our football team, and I think it will happen.”

Playoff appearances have been rare in South Dakota State’s football history, even at the Division II level. The Jacks’ lone playoff appearance, before today, consists of one game, a 50-7 loss at Youngstown State in the opening round of the 1979 NCAA Division II Playoffs.

Stiegelmeier was a student assistant coach on the 1979 squad that finished the regular season with a 9-2 record.

“I don’t know if I should be excited or embarrassed, but I can say we’ve been a better success as an FCS team than when we were in Division II,” Stiegelmeier said. “Now, why that is? I think there’s a bunch of young guys and coaches rolling up their sleeves and getting to work.”

Those young guys and coaches will have their hands full with a Montana team that is 11-0 on the season, Big Sky Conference champions and making its 17th consecutive appearance in the FCS Playoffs and record 19th postseason appearance

overall. The Grizzlies advanced to the national title game last season, falling 24-7 to Richmond. Montana won national championships in 1995 and 2001.

“South Dakota State is a tough draw in the field,” Montana head coach Bobby Hauck, who was named the Big Sky Conference coach of the year, said. “They are a really good football team. They are talented, they are physical, and they are very sound in every facet. There’s not a lot to take advantage of.”

Montana features a balanced offensive attack headlined by Walter Payton Award candidate Chase Reynolds. The junior running back has gained 1,159 yards and scored 15 touchdowns, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Reynolds also ranks third on the team, with 27 receptions for 248 yards and two scores.

“I think Chase Reynolds is a guy you have to stop; it will be a long day if you don’t,” Stiegelmeier said. “I’m guessing he’s probably one of those guys that gets better the longer he runs. You just have to keep him controlled and not let him get on a roll.”

The Jacks have the defense that might be able to slow down a Grizzlies offense that racks up points and yards like a video game.

Montana is ninth in FCS in total offense, with nearly 432 yards a game and eighth in scoring offense, at almost 35 points a contest.

South Dakota State’s defense has been solid all season long, leading the FCS ranks in pass efficiency defense at 95.81 after allowing only six passing touchdowns while recording 16 interceptions. SDSU currently ranks fifth in FCS by allowing only 13.45 points per game. The Jackrabbits also lead the Missouri Valley Football Conference in pass defense, allowing 170.09 yards per game. SDSU ranks second in the league for total defense, rushing defense, sacks and tackles for loss.

“They line up and play hard on defense,” Hauck said. “They are good tacklers and very fundamentally sound.”

Stiegelmeier said the return of playoff football to the Brookings school was a long time coming, but the campus, the community and the state are embracing the opportunity.

“There is lots of excitement for football on campus. Our boosters, or at least the ones I talk to, are really excited,” he said. “The hard work has paid off these last six years of FCS football. We’ve had six winning seasons; we’ve played a very tough schedule. We’ve got the lowest budget in Missouri Valley Football Conference, yet it doesn’t seem to matter. I’m proud of our football program, and whether it’s been 30 years or every other year, I think we’ve done things the right way, and we’ve earned this opportunity.”