VERMILLION, S.D. – South Dakota lost its quarterback in the first half and didn’t recover in suffering a 20-14 setback to Illinois State in Saturday’s Missouri Valley Football Conference contest inside the DakotaDome.
Carson Camp, the Coyotes starting quarterback left the game after taking a nasty hit in the second quarter and didn’t return to the contest. Cole Stenstrom, a redshirt freshman, came on in relief of Camp and nearly led a final drive comeback.
South Dakota trailed 20-7 in the fourth quarter before cutting the lead to six on a Travis Theis short touchdown run.
The Coyotes defense got a stop and gave the ball back to the offense with just under seven minutes left.
Stemstrom hit Brett Samson on the first play of the drive for a big gain up to midfield and South Dakota would eventually drive to the Illinois State nine-yard line.
However, just like earlier in the season against Missouri State, the Coyotes failed to convert with a first-and-goal situation as a fourth down run from Stenstrom was stopped short of the goal line.
South Dakota, thanks to its defense who came up with another stop, had one last opportunity with a minute 40 to go and the ball at midfield. Stenstrom, though, was picked off as Illinois State would seal a big road win.
Illinois State led 13-7 at halftime, getting a field goal on its first offensive possession of the contest and closing the half with a long field goal from Aida Bresnahan.
