It's 'Back To The Future II' for South Dakota State this week, as the Jackrabbits square off for the second straight game against a former Great West conference opponent.

Saturday, SDSU plays Southern Utah in Cedar City, seven years after the Jacks departed the league for the Missouri Valley Conference.

The Thunderbirds, like last week's opponent Cal Poly, have now bolted the GWC for the Big Sky Conference.

Cal Poly at South Dakota State University Football
BROOKINGS, SD - SEPTEMBER 6: Zach Zenner #31 from South Dakota State University high steps out of a pair of tacklers from Cal Poly for a touchdown in the second half of their game Saturday evening at Coughlin Alumni Stadium in Brookings.(Photo/Dave Eggen/Inertia)
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Against the Mustangs last weekend in Brookings, SDSU rode the legs of senior running back Zach Zenner to a 44-18 win, as Zenner carried 30 times for 193 yards, giving him the Missouri Valley's all-time career mark at 4,825 yards.

I asked head coach John Stiegelmeier about watching Zenner run the football:

Cal Poly at South Dakota State University Football
BROOKINGS, SD - SEPTEMBER 6: Zach Lujan #16 from South Dakota State University throws a pass against Cal Poly in the first half of their game Saturday evening at Coughlin Alumni Stadium in Brookings.(Photo/Dave Eggen/Inertia)
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Sophomore quarterback Zach Lujan threw for 184 yards in his second career start since taking over for the injured Austin Sumner.

Lujan was 12-of-20 with three touchdowns and an interception.

Stiegelmeier says Luijan's game is still a work in progress:

Cal Poly at South Dakota State University Football
BROOKINGS, SD - SEPTEMBER 6: TJ Lalley #33 and JT Hassell #51 from South Dakota State University combine for the tackle of Chris Brown #9 from Cal Poly in the first half of their game Saturday evening at Coughlin Alumni Stadium in Brookings.(Photo/Dave Eggen/Inertia)
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Defensively, the Jackrabbits had a hard time containing Cal Poly's triple option attack in the first half,  allowing a pair of long touchdown drives, before making some halftime adjustments and forcing four Mustang punts in the second half, plus ending another drive on downs:

This week, SDSU is making its first trip to Southern Utah since the Great West Conference days of 2006.

The Thunderbirds have been struggling with a very difficult schedule to start 2014: road games at Nevada and Southeastern Louisiana in weeks one and two, and a road game at Fresno State next week.

That kind of schedule even gets the attention of opposing coaches, including John Stiegelmeier:

Kickoff is 7:05 Central time, Saturday night in Cedar City.  SDSU is back home next week to host Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

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