Vermillion, South Dakota — Two teams with a bit of revenge on their minds square off in Springfield Saturday on the opening weekend of conference play. Missouri State’s senior-laden team can likely recall a 45-10 loss to South Dakota at home back in 2019. The Coyotes remember a 27-24 loss to the Bears just six months ago inside a newly renovated DakotaDome. It will be the eighth meeting between the two programs in a series South Dakota leads 4-3.
South Dakota outgained Missouri State 440-324 last March, but defensive back Montrae Braswell was the neutralizer for Missouri State. He returned a kickoff 100 yards to offset a first-quarter Coyote touchdown, and added a pick-six in the second quarter that put Missouri State ahead 17-14. Carter Bell caught a 36-yard touchdown from Carson Camp to put USD ahead 24-17, Jeremiah Wilson countered with a 6-yard touchdown run, and Jose Pizano’s 28-yard field goal with 7:51 left proved to be the winner.
Last week USD notched its second straight first-half TKO of a Big Sky team last week in a 48-14 win at Cal Poly.
MSU is coming off its first FCS playoff appearance since 1990 after winning a share of the Valley crown this past spring.
South Dakota has delivered a first-half TKO to each of its last two opponents. Combined in those two first halves against Northern Arizona and Cal Poly, South Dakota enjoyed a 751-252 advantage in total yards and a 68-7 edge on the scoreboard. The Coyotes scored eight touchdowns and four field goals with two punts on those 14 drives. Opponents had 10 punts, one turnover and one touchdown.
Defending the run has been the key for the Coyotes’ defense. South Dakota ranks 18th nationally in run defense at 94 yards per game and has yet to allow a rushing touchdown. Quarterbacks have run 41 times for 138 yards through games. Opposing running backs have carried 58 times for 110 yards (1.9 ypc). Those numbers don’t include two rushes for 23 yards against a max prevent defense at the end of the first half against Northern Arizona.
Punter Brady Schutt and long snapper Dalton Godfrey are the preseason all-Americans on special teams, but senior kicker Mason Lorber has grabbed the headlines the last two weeks. He has made three 40-plus yard field goals and totaled four 3-pointers overall. He has also produced 11 touchbacks on 15 kickoffs.
Schutt and the Coyotes boasted the top punt unit last spring with a net average of 43.7 yards per kick. South Dakota ranks 18th nationally this season through weeks with a net average of 40.6. Missouri State, behind punter Grant Burkett, is the national leader with a net average of 48.3 yards. Burkett has averaged 50.8 yards on 10 punts.
