Opponent Insight: South Dakota

In 2015, when head coach Bob Nielson became the 30^th football head coach in Coyote history, University of South Dakota athletic director David Herbster discussed turning the football program around as a four- to five-year process. In 2017, Nielson led the Coyotes to their first FCS playoff appearance

This season, the Coyotes are currently sixth in the conference at 3-4 and with an overall record of 4-7. The Coyotes will remain in sixth no matter the result of the season finale, matching the MVFC preseason poll prediction.

With one game left, look for Nielson and the Coyotes to try and finish the season strong and regroup in the offseason to enter year five of Herbster's five-year process as a formidable Missouri Valley team.

OFFENSE
South Dakota's pass offense ranks atop the Missouri Valley Football Conference as the Coyotes have thrown the most touchdowns (25) and accumulated the most yards per game (248.2). The man in charge of moving the ball through the air is senior quarterback Austin Simmons.

SDSU head coach John Stiegelmeier described Simmons as a quarterback who is "very smart" and someone he "really respects". The Iowa native statistically has been the conference's best quarterback this season, proven by leading the conference in 200-plus passing yard games with eight. Simmons also put on a memorable performance against Houston Baptist (Sept. 14), when he threw for 547 yards, completed 48 passes and tossed four touchdowns. The Iowa native has also been honored with MVFC Offensive Player of the Week three times this season. Earlier in the season, he also eclipsed the 5,000 passing yard plateau, becoming the fifth player in program history to do so.

Junior running back Kai Henry had a slow start to the season, but has recently pulled together a string of impressive performances to close out the season. The Florida native is the first coyote running back to rush for 100 yards in three straight games since 2007. Against Youngstown State (Nov.9), Henry rushed for 130 yards in only 13 attempts and scored two touchdowns.

Junior wide receiver Caleb Vander Esch has been the main target for his quarterback, as he is the only healthy wideout who averages at least 45 yards per game. His 58 yards per game not only leads his team but places him fourth in the conference.

Offensive linemen Alex Jensen and Isaac Erbes have both been awarded MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week this season for their part in protecting their quarterback and opening holes in the running game.

Junior punter Brady Schutt leads the conference in punting with an average of 45 yards per punt.

South Dakota also leads the conference in first downs as they get about 25 per game and have a total of 279 first downs this season. The Coyotes also rank second in third-down conversions in the MVFC, with a 45.3 percent success rate.

DEFENSE
The Coyotes may have a pass defense that ranks last in the conference, but they boast players that can give an opposing offense a whole lot of problems.

Senior linebacker Darin Greenfield, who coach Stiegelmeier called a "difference maker", currently ranks 10^th in the conference in sacks with five on the season.

Junior linebacker Jack Cochrane has been a tackling machine this season as he ranks second in the conference in total tackles with 95. Against Southern Illinois (Oct. 26), Cochrane put on an outstanding performance as he tackled the ball carrier 17 times.

Redshirt junior defensive back Elijah Reed does more than just cover receivers as he can take down the ball carrier, as well. The Colorado native is second on the team in tackles (76) and has three games with 10-plus tackles this season.

Redshirt freshman linebacker Jakari Starling went for a season-high 10 tackles in his last outing against North Dakota State (Nov.16). The Florida native is currently third on the team in tackles with 63 tackles on the season.

THE SERIES
The Jackrabbits have won the last 10 meetings of this rivalry, dating all the way back to 1889. This Saturday's meeting is the 112^th meeting in the series, with SDSU holding a 54-50-7 advantage.

Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.

-GoJacks.com-

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Opponent Insight: South Dakota

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