Opponent Insight: South Dakota

South Dakota Coyotes (Record: 4-6, 3-4 in MVFC)
The Series (From USD): According to USD, it will be the 113th meeting between the Jackrabbits and Coyotes, with SDSU holding the edge 54-51-7 all-time and winning 20 of the last 23 meetings and the last nine (SDSU records show it is the 111th meeting with SDSU having the edge 53-50-7). The intrastate series dates back to 1889 and both teams have met last the last 104 years besides: three years during World War I (1916-18), three years during World War II (1943-45), eight years after SDSU made the jump to FCS (2004-11).

LAST 10 GAMES: South Dakota State vs. South Dakota (Since 2000):

Date	Location	Result
2017	Vermillion	W, 31-28
2016	Brookings	W, 28-21
2015	Vermillion	W, 30-23
2014	Brookings	W, 37-14
2013	Vermillion	W, 27-12
2012	Brookings	W, 31-8
2003 (DII)	Vermillion	W, 22-11
2002 (DII)	Brookings	W, 27-20
2001 (DII)	Vermillion	W, 20-3
2000 (DII)	Brookings	L, 41-28

Notes from the first 112 meetings (From USD): 43 games, including the last three, have been decided by seven points or less ... USD has scored 1,899 points; SDSU has scored 1,795 points ... There have been 32 shutouts in 112 games (one since 1970) ... SDSU has been shut out 20 times, USD 14 times (two 0-0 ties) ... USD's largest margin of victory is 73-7 in 1912 ... SDSU's largest margin of victory is 61-0 in 1963 ... The most combined points scored is 90 (USD, 51-39 in 1986) ... The teams have met twice in the same season 12 times ... The programs have yet to meet in the postseason.

South Dakota and South Dakota State are meeting in the regular season finale for the fourth time in seven seasons inside the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Before 2012, the last time USD and SDSU met in the regular season finale was 1979, the first year of the DakotaDome.

Showdown Series: Saturday's game also is part of the South Dakota Showdown Series, presented by South Dakota Corn, which is an all-sports competition between SDSU and USD. The South Dakota Showdown Series tracks head-to-head match-ups and conference championship results in 17 sports, with each school accumulating points toward the overall series championship.

The Series also recognizes outstanding academic achievement by the schools' student-athletes and aims to raise awareness, funds and donations for Feeding South Dakota, a statewide not-for-profit with the goal of eliminating hunger in South Dakota. Fans can make cash donations toward the "Get Off The Bench" initiative at stadium entrances and concession stands on Saturday or can donate online at www.feedingsouthdakota.org.

The first competition of the South Dakota Showdown series was held during the 2012-13 academic year, with South Dakota State winning the first two Showdown Series. USD claimed its first title during the 2014-15 academic year. SDSU regained the series title during the 2015-16 academic year, but USD won again in 2016-17 and 2017-18.

The Coyotes are out to a 3-2 lead so far this season. Two points will be awarded to the winner of Saturday's football game.

Jackrabbit QB Taryn Christion is 3-0 vs. the Coyotes. 2017 at USD (W, 31-28: 26-36 for 299 yards and three TDs with one INT, 11 carries for -10 yards), 2016 vs. USD (W, 28-21: 14-21 for 215 yards and no TDs with one INT, 12 carries for 79 yards and two TDs), 2015 at USD (W, 30-23: 9-19 for 153 yards and no TDs with one INT, six carries for 7 yards and one TD)

USD Overview (From USD): South Dakota ended a four-game skid by keeping Western Illinois' offense out of the end zone last weekend and limiting the Leathernecks to 21 yards rushing ... QB Austin Simmons is the nation's seventh-leading passer with 2,829 yards ... his receiving corps features nine players with double-digit catches ... RB Kai Henry has averaged 75 yards per game in his last four ... the defense features all-American DE Darin Greenfield (6.0 sacks, 13 TFL) and all-Valley safety Andrew Gray (74 tackles, 2 INT, 2 FF) ... twin brother, LB Alex Gray, is top tackler.

Coyote Players to Watch
OFFENSE
QB Austin Simmons (#3, JR, 6-1, 215): Has started all 10 games this year with the backup QB only having five attempts on the year ... is 253-411 (61.7%) for 2,829 yards (282.9 per game) and 16 TDs and seven INTs with a rating of 128.8 ... also the team's third-leading rusher with the second-most attempts (100 attempts for 253 yards) ... has three rushing TDs and averages 25.3 yards on the ground per game (2.5 per carry) ... has thrown for 90 attempts in the past two games, completing 63 of them for 595 yards and four TDs and one INT ... has thrown more than 35 times all but once this year with five 40-plus attempt games and two 50-plus attempt games ... thrown over 300 yards five times with a best of 462 ... had two games where he didn't throw a TD pass and just four games where he didn't turn the ball over - including four of the last five ... has had an 80-yard and 115-yard rushing performance this year.

RB Kai Henry (#2, SO, 5-8, 190): Has played in nine of the 10 games ... leads the team in all rushing categories: attempts (120), yards (472), rushing TDs (7), while fourth in receptions (20) for 86 yards and one TD ... averages 52.4 yards rushing (3.9 per attempt) and 9.6 yards per game in the air (4.3 per reception) ... no other running back has more than 70 carries for 300 yards and three TDs ... has scored three TDs on 39 carries for 183 yards in the last two outings ... posted at least 70 yards rushing in three of the last four outings - none any other time of the season ... has been under 20 carries all but once this year, having a high of 22 vs. Indiana State ... has 17 carries for 109 yards and two TDs with four catches for 50 yards last year vs. SDSU.

WR Levi Falck (#88, SO, 6-2, 195): Has played all 10 games ... second on the team in receptions (43), yards (471), and one of four players with multiple TDs (2) ... averages 47.1 yards per game (11 yards per catch) ... has had four or more catches in five of the games with a high of 11 ... had more than 50 yards receiving only three times with under 35 yards five times - including one catch for six yards last time out ... scored his second TD of the year vs. Indiana State after scoring his first vs. Missouri State.

WR Dakari Allen (#82, JR, 6-1, 185): Started all 10 games ... leads team in receptions (48), yards (703), and TDs (5) ... only player with more than two receiving TDs and averages 70.3 yards per game (14.7 per catch) ... has been held without a catch once this year (vs. NDSU), but has notched five or more catches in six of the games this year with at least 70 yards ... had a season-high in catches two games ago vs. Indiana State - 9 - and had a season-high yards at Southern Illinois - 183 ... had seven catches for 83 yards and two scores in 2017 vs. SDSU.

WR Shamar Jackson (#13, SR, 5-9, 160): Played in all 10 games ... third on the team in receptions (33) and yards (443) while adding one TD to his resume (averages 44.3 yards per game, 13.4 per catch) ... has 13 catches for 144 yards in the last two games, 18 catches for 208 in the last three games ... has been held under three catches three times this year - two games without a catch - and six games under four receptions ... has been at or over 50 yards in the last three games, but was under 40 yards in the six of the prior seven games ... has highs in the second game of the season vs. UNC - 7 for 146 and one TD ... had five catches for 26 yards and a long of 13 vs. SDSU last year.

TE Connor Hermann (#87, SO, 6-5, 220): Played in all 10 games along with fellow TE Brett Samson (#81, SO, 6-2, 235), having one more catch than him (16 to 15) and more yards (175 to 155) but Samson having two TDs to Hermann's none ... both average close to the same yards per game (Hermann - 17.5, Samson - 15.5) and per catch (Hermann - 11, Samson - 10.3) ... Hermann has had six catches for 88 yards in the last three games - five catches for 80 yards in the last two ... Samson did not have a catch last time out but the game prior he has three catches for 23 yards and a score - has a high of five catches for 57 yards ... Samson had two catches for 23 yards last year vs. SDSU.

DEFENSE
DE Darin Greenfield (#44, JR, 6-3, 240): Has played all 10 games ... leads the team in TFLs - being the only one with double-digits (13.5) - and leads in team in sacks (6) to go along with 12 QB hurries (leads team) and six pass breakups (third on team) ... is fourth on the team in tackles with 55 - 37 solo stops ... has had 16 tackles with three TFLS and two pass breakups and QB hurries in the last two outings ... recorded 10 tackles once and three TFLs twice for season-highs ... had three tackles and one sack vs. SDSU last year.

LB Alex Gray (#22, 22, 6-3, 225): Played in all 10 games ... leads the team in tackles (81), solo stops (48), while the only defender to have multiple forced fumbles (2) ... has added 6.5 TFLs (third on team) and two sacks (tied second on team) with one INT and three pass breakups ... has recorded 20 tackles in the last two games with a pass breakup ... notched double-digit tackles in four games, eight twice and seven once ... had seven stops vs. SDSU in 2017.

LB Jack Cochane (#39, SO, 6-3, 225): Played all 10 games ... second on the team in tackles (75) with 42 solo ... one of three players with more than 55 tackles ... has 3.5 TFLs, one fumble forced and recovered with a pass breakup ... has 34 tackles in the last four games, but only three last time out ... had half of a TFL in both of the last two games ... notched double-digit stops twice this season - nine and eight stops each in four other occasions ... had two tackles and one TFL vs. SDSU last year.

LB Alex Coker (#20, SR, 6-2, 215): Played all 10 games ... sixth in tackles (51) with 5.5 TFLs (fourth on team) and second on the team in pass breakups (13) ... has one sack and one QB hurry with 33 solo stops ... had 10 tackles, eight solo, last time out vs. WIU ... notched 2.5 TFLs in the last two games after having just three all season prior ... had six stops and one TFL last time out vs. SDSU in 2017.

DB Andrew Gray (#9, SR, 6-2, 215): Played all 10 games ... the team's third-leading tackler (74) - one of three who have more than 55 tackles - and 41 solo stops ... one of two players with multiple INTs (2) while tied for third on the team in pass breakups (6) ... has one TFL on the year ... had a six game stretch where he had eight or more stops in five games, including a nine-tackle performance two games ago vs. Indiana State ... only had one stop vs. WIU last time out ... had his two INTs in back-to-back wins earlier in the season ... notched more than 12 tackles twice this year ... had five tackles in 2017 vs. SDSU.

DB Elijah Reed (#4, SO, 6-2, 200): Has played all 10 games ... fifth on the team in tackles (54) with 41 solo stops ... notched three pass breakups ... has 19 tackles in the last three games, including seven last time out vs. WIU ... notched double-digit tackles in back-to-back games vs. YSU and NDSU.

Game-by-Game Recap (From South Dakota, 4-6, MVFC: 3-4):
Nov. 10 vs. Western Illinois (W, 17-12): South Dakota's defense kept Western Illinois out of the end zone while the offense got just enough to get past the Leathernecks 17-12 on senior day Saturday inside the DakotaDome.

Coyote QB Austin Simmons passed for 220 yards and a touchdown while RB Kai Henry added 70 yards and a score on the ground. USD also welcomed back speedy WR and KR Kody Case from injury. Case caught seven passes for a team-best 71 yards.

Western Illinois had averaged 34 points during its three-game win streak, but totaled 272 yards and mustered just two long field goals against the Coyotes. USD held Western Illinois to 21 yards rushing and ended WIU's QB streak of throwing a touchdown pass at 14 games dating back to last season.

South Dakota celebrated 13 seniors in a pregame ceremony and got perhaps the play of the game from one of the group's most popular in DB Michael Fredrick. Western Illinois entered the red zone once Saturday and it came in the middle of the third quarter when they trailed 10-3. The Leathernecks had 1st-and-goal from the 10 when their pass was tipped by LB Alex Gray and Fredrick made a diving play on the ball to net the interception.

It was the first career interception for Fredrick, an RB in his first three seasons and a 1,600-yard rusher who unselfishly moved to defense to fill a need for the Coyotes this season. It was Western Illinois' only turnover of the game and the first interception recorded by a Coyote in five games.

Fredrick and fellow senior LB Alex Coker led the Coyotes with eight and 10 tackles, respectively. Coker made plays on the edge all game and also had a pass breakup. DL Darin Greenfield made eight tackles in helping slow Western's run game, and the Coyotes also got a big sack from DT Nick Kramer in the fourth quarter that stopped a Western Illinois drive in Coyote territory.

Western Illinois went 3-and-out four times in 11 possessions, including once when they started at the Coyote 42 following a 53-yard kick return. The Leathernecks ran 22 plays in Coyote territory that netted 11 yards.

Offensively, the Coyotes had chances to improve upon a 7-3 lead in the first half, but were turned away. Western Illinois DB wrestled away a jump ball in the end zone from a Coyote receiver early in the second quarter, and stripped the ball from Simmons at the end of a 13-yard draw play at the 2-yard line just before halftime. Leathernecks recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchback.

It was a RB Kai Henry option drive that stretched the Coyote lead to double digits. USD ran the play twice for gains of 24 and eight yards to reach the WIU 4 and ran it one more time for good measure as Henry slid untouched into the end zone for a 17-6 lead with 9:06 to play. Henry accounted for 44 yards on the 11-play drive, which was kept alive with a 3rd-and-4 completion to TE Connor Herrmann at midfield.

A blocked USD punt was recovered in the end zone to make it 17-12 with 5:12 to go. The ensuing two-point conversion was intercepted by DB Elijah Reed. The Coyote offense left just eight seconds for a final Western drive that began on its own 15.

Simmons completed 25 of 36 passes against the Valley's top pass defense and became just the third quarterback this year to reach 220 yards against it. Senior WR Shamar Jackson caught six passes for 50 yards, becoming the eighth Coyote since 2000 to catch 100 passes in the process. Junior WR Dakarai Allen had three catches for 28 yards, which was enough to give him 1,000 career receiving yards. Allen is the 12th Coyote since 2000 to reach that milestone. WR Caleb Vander Esch caught a 2-yard touchdown, his first collegiate score, that gave USD a 7-3 lead in the first quarter.

Nov. 3 at Indiana State (L, 51-48 3OT): Indiana State's QB accounted for seven touchdowns including a game-winning, 3-yard throwback pass to his WR in triple overtime to beat South Dakota 51-48 Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

It is the third consecutive win for the Sycamores (5-4, 3-3 MVFC), a team that finished 0-11 a year ago, but could reach the playoffs with victories in their final two games. South Dakota (3-6, 2-4) rallied to force overtime with an 81-yard touchdown drive at the end of regulation, but couldn't snap a three-game skid.

It marked the second consecutive meeting in Terre Haute decided in overtime between the two teams. South Dakota won a 33-30 decision in double overtime two years ago here. Three touchdown drives in overtime gave this one to the Trees.

Coyote QB Austin Simmons completed 38 passes – one shy of USD's single-game record – for a game-high 375 yards and three touchdowns. He was complimented in the run game by RB Kai Henry, who ran 22 times for a career-best 113 yards and two scores. Henry is the first USD running back to break the century mark this year.

WR Dakarai Allen caught a career-high nine passes for 88 yards for the Coyotes. He made a leaping grab in the end zone on 4th-and-goal from the 3 just before halftime that cut an Indiana State lead to 21-14. WR Shamar Jackson added seven catches for 94 yards. WR Levi Falck tied the game at 21-21 on the final play of the third quarter with a dazzling 28-yard touchdown catch and finished with five catches for 55 yards.

South Dakota made a number of costly unforced errors early in the game before rallying to draw even at the end of the third quarter. Then the fireworks began. The two teams exchanged field goals to make it 24-24. ISU's QB added a 25-yard score that put the Sycamores ahead 31-24 with 2:54 to go.

Simmons and company answered with a brilliant 13-play, 81-yard drive capped by a precision pass on the run from Simmons to TE Brett Samson for an 11-yard score with 16 seconds remaining. Simmons was 7-for-11 on the drive for 71 yards. He had three timeouts to work with, but didn't need them.

Simmons took a quarterback draw 24 yards to the 1 on the first play of overtime and the Coyotes took their first lead of the game on Henry's 1-yard plunge to make it 38-31.

The Sycamores' QB fired a 25-yard strike to the back left corner of the end zone on the first play to tie things back up at 38-38. Their offense stayed on the field for possession two and took a 45-38 lead on a 2-yard jump pass on a 3rd-and-1 play from the 2.

Three plays later, Henry ran in from 10 yards away to square the game at 45-45. Henry ran for five on the first play of triple overtime, but took a 2-yard loss on play two and Simmons threw incomplete to Allen on third down. K Mason Lorber calmly knocked thru a 27-yarder to put the Yotes ahead 48-45.

The Trees avoided a sack on first down, breaking containment and reaching the 10. Three plays later, out of an Indiana State timeout, they hit a wide open WR for the winner.

The two offenses combined for 1,111 yards with South Dakota holding a 602-509 edge. The Coyotes tied a program record by running 106 plays and set a record by earning 39 first downs.

Oct. 27 vs. No. 1 North Dakota State (L, 59-14): North Dakota State's QB passed for 176 yards, ran for 79 and accounted for five touchdowns in leading the top-ranked Bison to a 59-14 win against South Dakota Saturday inside the DakotaDome. The Bison ran the nation's longest active winning streak to 14 games, compiling 560 yards of offense in the process and possessing the ball for nearly 37 minutes.

South Dakota got 152 yards passing and 115 rushing from QB Austin Simmons, but dropped its third straight. The highlight of the day was a QB draw he took 62 yards for a score midway through the third quarter. The Coyotes also scored on 3-yard option play to RB Canaan Brooks in the second quarter for his first collegiate score.

After punting on their first drive, the Bison scored touchdowns on three straight possessions to lead 21-0 after one and never looked back. Big plays, including a 53-yard pass, a 75-yard run, and a 34-yard interception return set up the scores. They also added a 38-yard punt return that setup up a 35-yard rushing score which made it 28-0 with 8:25 to play before halftime. The Bison's lead was 35-7 at the break. NDSU ran 28 plays in the first half for 319 yards, an average of 11 yards a play.

The Coyotes drove 60 yards on 10 plays to get on the board. Brooks' first career reception preceded his first score, taking a screen pass 11 yards to convert a 3rd-and-7 to extend the drive. WR Shamar Jackson caught a 13-yard pass in traffic at the 3 and Brooks took a pitch from Simmons and leapt into the end zone on the next play.

Brooks netted four yards on six carries and caught two passes for 21 yards. Jackson led South Dakota with five catches for 64 yards. WR Dakarai Allen, the Valley's leading receiver heading into the weekend, went without a catch for the first time this season.

NDSU possessed the ball for all but 1 minute, 42 seconds in the third quarter and for 23 of the 30 minutes in the second half. Simmons' 62-yard touchdown run was just the second play of a drive that needed 35 seconds. Playing with the lead, the Bison put it in the air six times in the second half. The Bison's run game, ranked 12th coming in, generated 384 yards on 48 carries, an average of 8.0 yards per tote.

RB Kai Henry ran 14 times for 37 yards to lead the Coyote backs. Simmons, working mainly off designed quarterback draws, became South Dakota's first 100-yard rusher this season.

Defensively, the Coyotes were led by LB Jack Cochrane, who finished with a career-high 13 stops. DB Elijah Reed finished with 10 stops and was credited with a pass breakup.

Oct. 20 at Youngstown State (L, 29-17): Cold, windy and wet proved the perfect forecast for a Penguin as Youngstown State built a 22-0 halftime lead and got a late pick six to secure a 29-17 Missouri Valley Football Conference win against South Dakota Saturday at Stambaugh Stadium.

YSU's RB, the Valley's top rusher entering the weekend, ran 36 times for a season-high 176 yards and a touchdown. He was complimented by their QB, who passed for 131 and a score and ran for a score. The Penguins improved to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the Valley.

South Dakota fumbled on the third play of the game, mustered 43 yards in the first half and played catchup the entire game. Its defense, which surrendered 256 yards before halftime, pitched a shutout in the second half and even produced three turnovers. But the mountain was too tall and the Coyotes have lost two in a row for the first time this season.

USD QB Austin Simmons completed 16 of 38 passes for 158 yards. WR Dakarai Allen made seven catches for 97 yards. RB Kai Henry ran 10 times for 80 yards and scored two touchdowns in the second half after running twice for minus-1 yard in the first.

DL Jake Richardson forced YSU's QB to fumble early in the third quarter and RB Kai Henry quickly scored on a 14-yard rumble to the end zone that got USD on the board at 22-7 a minute into the third quarter. The Coyotes then marched 68 yards and had 1st-and-goal at the 2. But a bad read on an option play set the Coyotes back three yards and two incomplete passes forced a field goal and a 22-10 deficit.

South Dakota failed to get a half a yard on three tries from its own 36 in the middle of the third quarter, but the Coyote defense got its own stop on fourth down to get the ball back. USD reached the Youngstown State 35 on another drive, but a false start on a 4th-and-6 play led to a punt. The Coyotes climbed back to the YSU 40 with more than six minutes to go, but the Penguins jumped an out route and took it 65 yards the other way for the final blow.

Nursing its lead, Youngstown State completed just one pass on five attempts in the second half. After netting 23 yards in the third quarter, the Penguins asked their backup QB to come in to run the option in the fourth. He led a 66-yard drive that drained six minutes, but stalled when DL Darin Greenfield forced and recovered a fumble at the USD 20. The Penguins then drained the final four minutes off the clock to end the game.

Greenfield turned in one his top performances of the year for the Coyote defense. In addition to finishing with a career-high nine solo tackles, he had two tackles-for-loss, forced two turnovers via the fumble and was credited with three quarterback hurries. DB Elijah Reed had a career-high 11 tackles for the Coyotes. DB Andrew Gray had nine tackles and two pass breakups, becoming the 13th USD player since 2000 to compile 200 career tackles in the process.

Oct. 13 vs. Northern Iowa (L, 42-28): UNI's QB accounted for five touchdowns while the Panther defense forced three turnovers in a 42-28 upset of 24th-ranked South Dakota Saturday inside the DakotaDome. The result moves both teams to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in conference play.

South Dakota QB Austin Simmons eclipsed 300 yards passing for the third consecutive game and for the fourth time this season. He completed 34 of 47 passes for 328 and two touchdowns. WR Dakarai Allen was the star offensively, making circus catches all day to the tune of six receptions for 98 yards and a score. He also caught a jump ball over a defender for a two-point conversion that tied the game at 21-21 with 2:31 left in the third quarter.

The Coyotes outgained UNI for the sixth time in the last seven meetings, but the Panthers improved to 5-2 against USD as Valley foes. Three turnovers that quickly turned into UNI touchdowns was the difference in this one. UNI scored on a 9-yard touchdown pass to get a 14-13 lead with 58 seconds left before halftime. The Panthers forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and three plays later scored on a QB sneak for a 21-13 lead.

The Coyotes' response came in the form of a 14-play, 94-yard drive capped by a RB Brandon Thull 2-yard plunge late in the third quarter. USD converted three third downs on the drive including a 23-yard pass from Simmons to Allen on 3rd-and-9 where Allen managed to keep a toe in bounds while falling out of bounds to bring in the pass. Allen made two catches on the drive for 36 yards, drew a pass interference for 15 more, and added the tying conversion.

But UNI had the answer. Less than two minutes later, they scored on a 21-yard touchdown pass on 3rd-and-12 to make it 28-21. The Panther defensive line took over from there. The Coyotes scored on four of their first seven possessions, but the three times they didn't, Simmons was sacked on third-and-longs. Three plays after UNI retook the lead 28-21, Simmons was pressured on a 3rd-and-7 and the Panthers came away with an interception. On the next play, they added a 25-yard touchdown strike to push the lead to 35-21.

On the Coyotes' next offensive play, UNI's defensive unit beat the USD offensive line off the edge and blindsided Simmons, who fumbled. Northern Iowa recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchdown and a 42-21 edge. From 21-21 all to a three-touchdown deficit took less than seven minutes on the game clock.

Allen dove across the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown catch that cut the lead to 42-28, and a three-and-out gave the ball back to the Coyotes with 5:26 left. USD reached the UNI 16 before Simmons was stripped for his second sack of the game. The Coyotes jumped on the fumble, but left it 3rd-and-15. Simmons threw incomplete to the end zone on third down and was pressured into a 1-yard run on fourth to end the comeback bid.

Neither team was effectively in the run game. UNI netted just 99 yards on 33 totes while, with the five sacks, USD totaled 38 yards rushing on 40 attempts. Without them, the Coyotes gained 73 yards on 35 tries.

Oct. 6 vs. No. 24 Missouri State (W, 35-28): South Dakota racked up 513 yards of offense while its defense forced three turnovers and put up a goal-line stand in the final minutes of a 35-28 win against 24th-ranked Missouri State in the annual Dakota Days football game inside the DakotaDome.

The win moves the Coyotes to 2-0 in the Valley. They and North Dakota State are the lone unbeaten teams in the conference thru two weeks. The Bears dropped to 1-1.

South Dakota QB Austin Simmons and Missouri State's QB combined for 756 yards of total offense. Simmons was 28 of 38 passing for 337 yards including a 40-yard touchdown pass to WR Levi Falck on 3rd-and-long with 13 minutes remaining that put the Coyotes in front 33-28. Simmons' two-point conversion to an unattended WR Dakarai Allen made it a seven-point game.

After jockeying back and forth the entire game, the contest came down to a pair of drives at the end. Missouri State had 3rd-and-goal from the 1 with three minutes to go. The Bears ran into a wall at the goal line on third down, and the QB was forced to pitch early on an option play on fourth down. USD LB Alex Coker ran down the option back carrying out the pitch behind the line of scrimmage.

But it wasn't over. Missouri State forced a Coyote punt and started from its own 36 with 1:13 left and no timeouts. A pass interference penalty moved the ball into USD territory and later had it 1st-and-10 from the 37 with 37 seconds left. Four consecutive incomplete passes, three of them broken up by the Coyotes, including DB Andrew Gray's hit on a receiver on fourth down, ended it.

Gray was fantastic for the second consecutive week. Not only did he tie twin brother LB Alex for tops in tackles with 10, but he forced two fumbles that USD recovered and also had an interception. The Coyote offense turned the turnovers into 10 points.

A USD ground game looking for a hero got one in RB Ben Klett, who earned his first collegiate start and came through with a career-high 96 yards rushing and three touchdowns. He scored from 3, 19, and 2 yards out, and rumbled over would-be tacklers for much of the game. Simmons added 45 yards on the ground and RB Brandon Thull netted 37 yards on nine carries in his collegiate debut. The Coyotes finished with a season-best 176 yards rushing and have averaged 174 in two home games.

Missouri State's top rusher entering the contest left for the locker room early in the first half and tried to return, but couldn't go, running just four times for six yards. The Bears still surpassed their season average thanks to their QB and backup RB, who combined for 152. The Coyotes failed to record a sack for the second week in a row, but got pressure in key moments and broke up 12 passes.

Sept. 29 at Southern Illinois (W, 31-24): South Dakota defended more than 100 plays while watching its offense come alive in the second half to produce a 31-24 win against Southern Illinois Saturday at Saluki Stadium in the MVFC opener for both teams.

It is the 200th career win for the Coyotes' Bob Nielson, who becomes the 91st college football coach to reach the plateau. He is the 17th active NCAA coach with 200 wins. Nielson is 200-94-1 in 26 seasons at the helm.

WR Dakarai Allen caught six passes for a career-high 183 yards including a 89-yard bomb from QB Austin Simmons that gave South Dakota a 31-17 lead near the end of the third quarter. Earlier in the quarter, WR Randy Baker caught touchdown passes of 9 and 45 yards that helped USD erase a 17-10 halftime deficit.

The two teams combined for 971 yards on 176 plays, but Southern Illinois mustered points on just four of 19 possessions. One of the Salukis' three touchdowns followed a Coyote turnover and needed just 20 yards. The final SIU score came against a prevent defense in the final minute of the game.

The Coyote offense didn't fare much better, at least until the third quarter. South Dakota had been shut out in three third quarters this season, but Simmons completed 8 of 9 passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns in this frame. USD ran just 15 plays in the third quarter and possessed the ball for less than five minutes, but the big plays turned the tables nonetheless.

Defensively, South Dakota held Southern Illinois to 5 of 17 on third down and 0 of 2 on fourth down. DB Mark Collins Jr. intercepted an SIU pass on the Salukis' third play from scrimmage and returned the pick to the 9. Two plays later, RB Kai Henry was in the end zone on a 1-yard plunge and USD led 7-0.

Coyote DB Andrew Gray, who had a career-high 14 tackles, picked off another SIU pass at the USD 11 in the third quarter with USD leading 24-17. Two plays later, Simmons found a wide-open Allen streaking down the right sideline for an easy score and a two-score lead. Simmons finished 18 of 35 for 333 yards.

The hat trick came when LB Jack Cochrane forced the SIU QB to fumble on a scramble in USD territory with less than five minutes remaining. DE DeValon Whitcomb recovered for the Coyotes to end the threat. SIU ran a touchdown in from 1 yard out with 60 seconds left to make it 31-24, but Allen recovered the ensuing onside kick for the Coyotes and two knees ended it.

RB Ben Klett ran 11 times for 62 yards to lead the Coyotes' ground game and RB Kai Henry added 45 yards on nine carries. Baker tied his career-high with 80 yards on six catches. He had his first two-touchdown game and doubled his career tally to four.

Sept. 15 at No. 13 Weber State (L, 27-10): There would be no 21-point comeback in this one. Weber State's defense wouldn't allow it. The 13th-ranked Wildcats had eight sacks, forced three turnovers and returned one for a touchdown in handing 24th-ranked South Dakota a 27-10 defeat Saturday at Stewart Stadium.

It marked the first time in two-plus seasons under head coach Bob Nielson that the Coyotes failed to score at least 14 points, and the second time they were held under 20. Weber State mustered just 252 yards of offense, but good field position, more than 100 yards of USD penalties and a 105-yard rushing performance was enough on this night. South Dakota QB Austin Simmons completed 24 of 43 passes for 206 yards and was pressured nearly the entire game, while Coyote running backs netted 63 yards on 19 carries.

The main culprit was Weber State's all-American LB who picked up a Simmons fumble following a sack and scooted 28 yards for a touchdown that made it 11-0 late in the first quarter. It was the first turnover of the season committed by South Dakota, but it wasn't the last. The Wildcats took advantage of a deflection off an open USD receiver for an interception in the second quarter, and the LB intercepted Simmons on a 3rd-and-forever desperation throw downfield in the fourth.

The Coyotes were kept out of the end zone until the final seconds when WR Dakarai Allen scooped up a deflected pass intended for TE Brett Samson for a 4-yard touchdown. Allen led South Dakota with 60 yards on five catches. WR Kody Case played for the first time this season and caught six passes for 57 yards.

Sept. 8 vs. Northern Colorado (W, 43-28): South Dakota QB Austin Simmons passed for a career-high 462 yards – the third-highest total in program history – and accounted for five touchdowns in leading the 23rd-ranked Coyotes to a 43-28 win against Northern Colorado Saturday inside the DakotaDome.

It was the 16th consecutive home-opening victory for South Dakota, which improved to 35-5 in season openers inside the DakotaDome. It also brought the Missouri Valley Football Conference even against the Big Sky at 2-2 in its yearly challenge. The Coyotes have won five of their last six against the Big Sky with a matchup against nationally-ranked Weber State on deck next Saturday in Utah.

Simmons threw for 342 yards and four scores in the first half in pushing the Coyotes out to a 34-14 halftime lead. He completed 31 of 40 passes in all and was the game's leading rusher with 80 yards. His 2-yard quarterback keeper with 5:19 remaining made it 40-28, and LB Jake Matthew forced a turnover on the ensuing kickoff that essentially secured the victory.

On the other end of Simmons' passing were some spectacular receptions. The first was a quick out to WR Trystn Ducker, who got blocks early before sprinting untouched down the left sideline for a 76-yard score. The extra point was missed, but it was 20-14 USD two plays into the second quarter. Ducker caught four passes for 131 yards – all in the first half – for his first 100-yard game as a Coyote.

The next score was a brilliant over-the-shoulder grab on a pressured pass from Simmons that went for a 12-yard Coyote TD and a 27-14 lead. WR Reggie Crawford wrestled away a 4-yard jump ball from the UNC DB that extended South Dakota's lead to 34-14 with three minutes to go before halftime. South Dakota scored touchdowns on five of its seven first-half possessions and racked up 439 yards before halftime.

Both teams missed short field goals during a scoreless third quarter, but the Bears cut into the lead with a 2-yard touchdown toss with 14 minutes to go. UNC cut further when their WR beat the defense for a 25-yard touchdown grab with eight minutes remaining. The extra point was good and suddenly it was a six-point game.

Coyote RB Kai Henry converted a 3rd-and-2 on the ensuing drive, and two plays later, Simmons hooked up with Jackson on a 60-yard catch-and-run down the middle of the field that took the ball to the UNC 12. A pass interference penalty placed the ball on the 2, and Simmons ran a naked bootleg to the left pylon for a 40-28 lead.

Jackson, held without a catch a week ago at Kansas State, hauled in seven passes for 146 yards in this one. He and Ducker gave USD two 100-yard receivers in a game for the first time since 2007.

Matthew forced UNC's return man to fumble on the ensuing kickoff return and K Ethan James fell on the loose ball at the Bear 33-yard line. K Mason Lorber cashed in a 33-yard field goal with a minute left for the final score of the game.

The Coyotes finished with 635 yards of offense while the Bears totaled 450. Defensively, South Dakota got an interception from DB Phillip Powell and two sacks from DE Darin Greenfield. DE Nick Kramer and DT Luis Peguero also picked up sacks for the Coyotes.

The win was No. 199 for USD head coach Bob Nielson. He has 13 wins in two-plus seasons with the Coyotes.

Sept. 1 at Kansas State (L, 27-24): South Dakota led Kansas State 24-12 entering the fourth quarter, and had a 51-yard field goal try in the final seconds fall short in a highly-entertaining 27-24 KSU win before a sellout crowd of more than 50,000 Saturday night at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

It was a rematch of the 2015 season opener when Kansas State won 34-0, but this game was nothing like that one. South Dakota held its lead until the 7:21 mark of the fourth quarter, and at no point looked like underdogs. QB Austin Simmons passed for 257 yards and accounted for two scores. The Coyote defense forced four turnovers including a 25-yard pick-six from LB Alex Gray right before halftime that gave South Dakota its 12-point lead.

The turning point came on a dazzling, 85-yard punt return by Kansas State with 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter that closed the gap to 24-19. Five minutes later, KSU was back in the end zone with a 10-yard touchdown pass and two-point conversion in what turned out to be the fine score of the game.

The Coyotes went 3-and-out on the ensuing possession, and Kansas State appeared to have it wrapped up after converting a 3rd-and-5 with a minute to go. But USD DB Phillip Powell forced a fumble on the first-down run and South Dakota had life.

Starting from its own 16 with 50 seconds left and two timeouts, Simmons hit WR Dakarai Allen for 10 yards, WR Levi Falck for 18, Allen for another 12, and a pass interference penalty moved the ball to the KSU 29 with seven seconds remaining.

A false start moved the ball back to the 34, and Simmons threw incomplete to set up the long field goal try. K Mason Lorber, whose first kick as a Coyote was a 27-yard make back in the first quarter, came up well short from 51 yards away. He also had a 47-yarder hit the cross bar and bounce backwards back in the third quarter.

Simmons attempted the second-most passes in program history in his first collegiate start. He was 24 of 56 with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Allen with 1:29 left in the second quarter that gave USD a 17-12 lead. Gray's interception and return came on the next play from scrimmage.

Falck had a career-high 140 yards and tied USD's single-game record with 11 receptions. Allen hauled in four passes for 42 yards.

Kansas State climbed inside the Coyote 30 four times in the first half, but settled for four field goals. He was good from 24, 22, 38 and 44 yards. Kansas State outgained USD 228-195 and possessed the ball for 20 minutes in the first half, but trailed by 12 at the break. Kansas State rotated QBs in the first half before orchestrating the comeback in the fourth quarter.

RB Kai Henry ran 10 times for 58 yards for South Dakota. His 37-yard rumble to the 7-yard line set up the touchdown pass from Simmons to Allen before halftime. Allen made a shoestring catch in the back of the end zone for his seventh collegiate score.

In addition to the pick-six, Gray had two sacks, forced a fumble and led the Coyotes with six tackles. Powell also had six stops and an interception, and he forced two fumbles. South Dakota totaled four sacks to just one for Kansas State.

-GoJacks.com-

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