Was it a fire-and-brimstone halftime speech for the ages? Was it masterful on-the-fly schematic adjustments?

How else could one explain the flip from South Dakota State's 17-7 halftime deficit to barnstorming the Penguins for 21 unanswered third quarter points en route to a 35-30 conference-opening win?

How else could one explain the Jackrabbits failing to establish their brand of physical football for the entire first half — with only 72 rushing yards and running back Julius Loughridge accounting for just 34 yards on nine carries — to hammering YSU with 139 rushing yards after halftime (with 142 coming from Loughridge?)

Well, this is a something else. In his weekly one-on-one chat with Happy Hour host John Gaskins, SDSU head coach Dan Jackson explains how the script flipped once SDSU returned to the field for the third quarter. Plus:

• How does Jackson assess a 14-30, 189 yard, 1 TD, 1 INT game from QB Chase Mason?
• Why was Nebraska transfer Alex Bullock the by-far go-to receiver, catching 10 of Mason's 14 completitions for 162 yards?
• How has Larchwood's Dawson Ripperda become the type of player that makes maybe the biggest play of the game, a strip sack late in the first half that kept the score at 17-7 as YSU was driving after Mason's first interception of the year?
• Same thing for sophomore linebacker Chase Van Tol (Tea Area) who before Ripperda's big play chased down a Penguin ball carrier on a long run to save a touchdown with the score at 14-7, a tackle that saved four points as YSU had to settle for a field goal three plays later?
• Why does punter Alex Pellum wear two different shoe sizes?

Finally, a look at 2-3 Northern Iowa, who comes into Brookings for Saturday's "Hobo Day" game.