South Dakota football's defense stops Missouri State comeback in 20-13 win
South Dakota football held on 20-13 after a late rally from Missouri State to pick up its third-win of the season Saturday in the DakotaDome.
The Coyotes' (3-6, 2-4 Missouri Valley Football Conference) defense stopped Missouri State on their final drive of the game, forcing a fourth-and-three before creating pressure on a deep throw that was broken up by linebacker Stephen Hillis. It's the first win of quarterback Aidan Bouman's career as a starter in his second game as the Coyotes' No. 1 quarterback.
Bouman completed 17 of his 25 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns. He connected with wide receiver Wes Eliodor six times for 97 yards and a touchdown, tossing another touchdown pass to wide receiver Carter Bell (three catches for 54 yards). Running back Travis Theis overcame an early fumble to rush for 74 yards on the ground and running back Shomari Lawrence scored the Coyotes' third touchdown, rushing five times for 20 yards.
The Coyotes defense stymied Missouri State, holding the bears to just 332 total yards (233 passing, 99 rushing).
Missouri State couldn't muster anything offensively in the early part of the game. The Coyotes moved methodically down the field, getting the occasional big throw from Bouman. But compared to the Bears production, USD looked explosive. MSU opened the scoring with a field goal after a Theis fumble, but that was the last time they scored until the fourth quarter.
Bouman led a drive down the field with Theis to counter, and Lawrence scored on an outside run. South Dakota was quiet immediately after that drive, but the Coyotes defense swarmed. Missouri State quarterback Jason Shelley, who is adept at keeping plays alive in the backfield, had little time to throw. South Dakota sacked him three times Saturday, but even when they couldn't bring him to the ground, they placed some heavy hits on him before he unleashed his throws.
Eventually, South Dakota got back on the scoreboard. First, Bouman unleashed a 44-yarder to Eliodor before halftime. Then, deep into the third quarter and, still, before Missouri State could counter with a score of their own, Bouman hit Bell in the left corner of the end zone unguarded.
Missouri State added a touchdown and a field goal in the fourth quarter, setting up a final drive that could have tied the game or given them the lead with a score and a two-point conversion, but the Bears fell short.
Follow Sioux Falls Argus Leader reporter Michael McCleary on Twitter @mikejmccleary.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: USD football's defense stops Missouri State comeback in 20-13 win
