What's next for WIU: A look at USD
MACOMB — Coming off a win over rival Illinois State last Saturday, the Western Illinois football team now turns its focus to Missouri Valley Football Conference opponent South Dakota.
The Coyotes are 5-3 overall, 3-2 in the MVFC and is ranked in the latest FCS top 25 poll.
USD was on bye last week.
Before the bye, South Dakota suffered a league defeat at the hands of Illinois State (20-14).
Before that, South Dakota had won three straight conference games, topping Indiana State (38-10), North Dakota (20-13) and Northern Iowa (34-21).
Here is a closer look at the Coyotes.
ON OFFENSE
The Coyotes are fifth in the MVFC in scoring offense, averaging 28.1 points per game.
South Dakota has scored 28 touchdowns this season with 10 field goals.
When it comes to moving the ball, the Coyotes are seventh in the league, averaging 373.4 yards per contest.
USD has been effective moving the ball on the ground, running for 1487 yards this fall, 185.9 per game. That average is fourth in the league.
The Coyotes average 4.2 yards per rush and have run for 14 touchdowns.
South Dakota is seventh in the MVFC, averaging 187.5 yards through the air per game.
USD averages 7.4 yards per completion.
Coyote quarterbacks are a combined 124-203 (61.1 percent) throwing the ball with four interceptions and 12 touchdowns.
South Dakota is fifth in the league in offensive efficiency.
Travis Theis is the ball carrier to watch for USD.
In seven games Theis has 565 yards, on 118 carries, averaging 4.8 yards per rush. Theis averages 80.7 yards per game.
Nate Thomas has also been a reliable back for USD, averaged 65.8 yards per game in six games played. Thomas averages 6.3 yards per carry this season.
At quarterback, it could be a mixed-look for the Coyotes.
Carson Camp has received the bulk of the playing time, completing 108-170 passes for 1320 yards.
Camp has thrown two interceptions and 11 touchdowns while averaging 165 yards passing per game.
However, Camp was injured in USD’s last game against Illinois State.
Cole Stenstrom came on and went 11-25 with 124 yards passing, a touchdown and one interception.
Stenstrom also ran the ball seven times for 37 yards.
Carter Bell is USD’s receiving leader with 29 catches for 402 yards and three touchdowns.
ON DEFENSE
Defense has been a strength for USD this fall.
South Dakota is second in the MVFC in scoring defense, allowing 16.6 yards per game.
The Coyotes have given up 16 touchdowns and seven field goals.
USD is also second in total yards per game, allowing an average of 297.3 yards per contest.
Against the run, South Dakota is third in the MVFC, allowing an average of 97 yards per game. South Dakota allows 3.1 yards per rush and has allowed a league-low four rushing TDs.
The Coyotes have been good against the pass as well, ranking third in the MVFC in yards allowed per game, 200.3.
Opposing quarterbacks are 153-236 (64.9 percent) trowing the ball vs. USD but have thrown six interceptions vs. 11 touchdowns.
Jack Cochrane anchors the USD defense with 67 tackles. Brock Mogensen is next with 56 tackles.
Cochrane also has eight tackles for loss and two interceptions while Nick Gaes adds another eight tackles for loss, five coming via sack.
Brendan Webb has tallied 7.5 TFLs (four sacks) while Matthew Jacob has 6.5, five being sacks.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Brady Schutt leads the Coyotes in kicking, averaging 44.4 yards per punt on 40 kicks.
Schuss has three touchbacks and leads the MVFC in fair catches with 24. He has had two punts blocked and nine punts of 50-plus yards. He has a long of 67 yards.
Mason Lorber is 10-11 on field goals with a long of 54 yards this season.
Wesley Eliodor is one of the elite returners in the MVFC.
Eliodor leads the MVFC with a kick return average of 32.7 yards per return.
He also has a return touchdown of 99 yards.
Carter Bell is the primary punt returner, he averages 5.8 yards per return with a long of 18.
This article originally appeared on The McDonough County Voice: WIU FOOTBALL
