Vermillion, South Dakota — South Dakota and Western Illinois meet for the first time since a wild 38-34 Leatherneck victory in Macomb in early November of 2019. That game saw five lead changes in the final quarter including two in the final 90 seconds. The two teams combined for more than 1,000 yards of offense. South Dakota ran for 304 yards while Western Illinois passed for 368. Quarterbacks Austin Simmons (USD) and Connor Sampson (WIU) both threw three touchdowns.
South Dakota’s bye week came at a good time. Coyote quarterback Carson Camp sustained an injury early in the second quarter against Illinois State last time out and did not return. Coach Bob Nielson is hopeful to have Camp available this week. Second-year freshman Cole Stenstrom passed for 124 yards, ran for 37 and threw a touchdown after subbing in for Camp. Stenstrom had attempted two collegiate passes in three games prior to the Illinois State game.
Senior defensive tackle and team captain DeValon Whitcomb is expected to return to the lineup following a two-game absence due to injury. Fellow defensive lineman Brendan Webb was also injured against Illinois State and did not return. He is hopeful to return Saturday as well. The Coyotes have been without starting cornerback Myles Harden and linebacker Jakari Starling for several weeks.
Western Illinois is one of 10 teams in the FCS averaging more than 300 yards passing this season. Senior quarterback Connor Sampson is an all-Valley performer and the 10th-leading passer in the FCS. He has thrown four touchdown passes in a game three times this season and ranks ninth nationally in touchdown tosses. His top target is senior Dennis Houston who is vying for all-America honors. Only one player in the country has more receiving yards than his 905. Thrice he has surpassed 100 yards receiving. Five of his six touchdown grabs came in the first four games of the season, but he was back in the end zone last week in an upset of Illinois State.
That offense matches up against perhaps the best South Dakota defense of its Division I era. The Coyotes rank 10th nationally against the run, 12th in scoring defense and 17th in total defense. Missouri State (281 yards) and UNI (303) have had the only success throwing against the Coyotes. The other six opponents averaged just 170 yards through the air.
South Dakota combined for nine sacks in its two games before the bye week and rank 12th nationally in sacks. Twelve different Coyotes have had a hand in a sack through eight games. Third-year freshman Nick Gaes along with six-year senior Jacob Matthew top the list with five sacks each, which are fourth-most in the Valley. Brendan Webb, who is questionable for Saturday, has four sacks and linebacker DeJaun Cooper has three. South Dakota had one sack of Sampson in its 2019 matchup. The Coyotes also had one sack in a 17-12 win against Western Illinois in 2018.
