USD football primer: Coyotes welcome Missouri State in search of victory

Zech Lambert, The Daily Republic, Mitchell, S.D.
·3 min read

Nov. 3—VERMILLION — After a loss to Youngstown State last week, the University of South Dakota football's playoff chances are all but gone. However, the Coyotes still have three games on their schedule for the season. Here's what to know ahead of their upcoming contest against Missouri State.

Where: DakotaDome, Vermillion.

When: 1 p.m. Saturday.

Records: USD 2-6, 1-4 MVFC; MSU 3-5, 1-4 MVFC.

Coaches: USD's Bob Nielson, 30th season (seventh at USD), 217-120-1 (31-40 at USD); MSU's Bobby Petrino, 34th season (third at MSU), 135-70 (16-14 at MSU).

Last week: USD lost 45-24 at Youngstown State; MSU won 64-14 over Western Illinois at home.

All-time series: All-time series is tied 4-4.

Last meeting: MSU won 31-23 on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.

Notes: The game will air on ESPN+ and Midco Sports. ... MSU won both the spring and fall matchup against USD in 2021, but both games were decided by one possession. ... The Coyotes are 3-1 against the Bears at the DakotaDome.

About the Coyotes: Quarterback Aidan Bouman appears to have taken over the starting job for USD. He started last week against Youngstown State and went 17-for-30 with 254 yards and a touchdown, while also running for a score. However, he was sacked five times and lost a fumble. ... Stephen Hillis and Brock Mogensen lead the MVFC in tackles per game at 9.5 and 9.0, respectively. ... USD is 2-1 at home this season and 0-5 on the road, with its only home loss coming to NDSU despite the Coyotes leading at halftime. ... The Coyotes rank 110th out of 123 Football Championship Subdivision teams in scoring offense at 15.8 points per game. Their 24 points against Youngstown State marked the third-highest scoring game of the season for USD, behind only a 27-24 win over Southern Illinois the week prior and a 38-21 win over Cal Poly on Sept. 17. ... Saturday marks the penultimate home game of the season for USD, which hosts Northern Iowa on Saturday, Nov. 19 in the final home game of the season after a road contest with North Dakota.

About the Bears: Reigning MVFC Offensive Player of the Year Jason Shelley leads the Bears at quarterback. Shelley has thrown for 2,033 yards and 16 touchdowns in eight games, while adding three rushing scores. Shelley's 16 passing scores are tied for 21st nationally. ... MSU came into the season ranked in the top 10, and was ranked as high as No. 5 in the FCS Stats Perform Top 25, but a five-game losing streak during the middle of the season derailed the Bears' campaign. ... MSU is 1-3 away from home this season, with its lone win coming during the first game of the season on Thursday, Sept. 1 at Central Arkansas. ... Punter Grant Burkett is seventh in the nation in punting average at 44.55 yards per punt on his 33 attempts this season with 10 punts of 50-plus yards and 10 that he's pinned inside the 20. ... Saturday is the second-to-last road game for the Bears, who visit Indiana State on Saturday, Nov. 19 to close out the season, with a home game against Youngstown State sandwiched between the two road tilts.

Next: USD heads on the road to Grand Forks for its final away game of the season to take on North Dakota on Saturday, Nov. 12. Missouri State has its final home game of the season, playing host to the Penguins of Youngstown State on Nov. 12.