The 1997 Wheat Bowl Football Classic marked the first contest that was played in the pre-season.  The University of Sioux Falls contingent -- the pre-season No. 1 pick and defending national champion -- faced No. 10 ranked Benedictine College of Atchison, KS.  Sioux Falls safety Chris Snyder played big on defense, intercepting two passes.   Freshman Danny Martin, replacing the graduated All American Kurtiss Riggs, passed for 281 yards in his USF debut. Jason Yurkovich caught 10 passes for 127 yards in the Cougars' 35-10 win.  The afternoon contest in mid-90s temperatures attracted 4,618 fans