BROOKINGS, S.D. -- Taryn Christion threw four first-half touchdown passes, Brady Mengarelli rushed for 220 yards and two scores and South Dakota State overpowered Southern Illinois 49-14 on Saturday.
Christion connected with Marquise Lewis for a 10-yard score and Skyler Cavanaugh from 16 yards out for a 14-0 lead. Mikey Daniel's 4-yard TD run put the Jackrabbits (4-1, 1-1 Missouri Valley) up 21-0.
Mengarelli scored on runs of 28 and 32 yards for the Jackrabbits, who have outscored opponents 58-7 in the first quarter this season.
Christion added scoring passes of 23 yards to Lewis and 1 yard to Jake Wieneke to give SDSU a 35-0 halftime lead and five touchdowns in its first five possessions.