USD dominates Drake to end non-conference play
VERMILLION, S.D. (USD) — The South Dakota Coyotes (2-1, 0-0 MVFC) returned to the friendly confines of the DakotaDome Saturday afternoon with the Coyotes showing a balanced attack on offense combining for 400+ yards of total offense and five offensive touchdowns in the 42-3 win over the Drake University Bulldogs (1-1, 0-0 Pioneer) to wrap up non-conference play for the season.
"I'm really happy with the win, a dominating win. I thought from the opening kickoff that our guys were ready to go," commented head coach Bob Nielson . "After last week, you get concerned about getting out of routine and the frustration of not playing ... I thought our (the) guys played hungry today." For the second time in as many games inside the Dome, Keyondray Jones-Logan (So., Orlando, Fla.) opened the first Coyote possession of the game with a 90+-yard kickoff return. Taking the opening kickoff of today's game, Jones-Logan sprinted 99 yards down the USD sideline for the program's second-longest return in program history to give USD the early 7-0 lead.
The defense would then also set the tone early on the very next possession, when Nick Gaes (Sr., Alta, Iowa) and Mi'Quise Grace (So., Cincinnati, Ohio) gets Drake off the field with the first sack of the afternoon on third-and-10. As the first quarter came into its final minutes, Travis Theis (Sr., Pratt, Kan.) would find the endzone from 25 yards out for his first rushing score of the day, the first of four rushing scores for South Dakota. The Coyotes would hold a 14-0 lead after the first quarter. The first half proved to be the most efficient, as the offense could do whatever they pleased. Four of the five offensive scoring drives would see the ball in the hands of the Yotes for less than four minutes. Another pair of touchdowns would come in the second quarter, as the Yotes would push their lead up to 28-3 at the break. Drake would open the second half with the football. Following a false start penalty, Mike Reid (Sr., Owings Mills, Md.) would record his first interception as a Coyote to immediately get the offense the football.
The Bulldogs would score first in the second quarter for their only points of the day. Following a six-play, 62-yard drive Shane Dunning would convert on a 23-yard field goal. The rest of the quarter – and game – would be all Coyotes.
The rushing game would continue to wear down the Bulldog defense in the first half. Pulling out a little trickery, Carter Bell (Sr., Bettendorf, Iowa) would find the endzone with a six-yard touchdown run to cap off a seven-play, 71-yard drive. As the half came to a close, Charles Pierre Jr. (So., Orlando, Fla.) found the endzone for the third time this season. The second half saw some depth get some quality playing time. Theis would score his second rushing score of the day in the third with a four-yard run up the middle to make it 35-3 Yotes, capping off a 52-yard drive. The first South Dakota passing touchdown of the season came in the fourth quarter when Aidan Bouman (Jr., Buffalo, Minn.) would connect with Pierre Jr. out of the backfield for a 20-yard score, with Pierre Jr. breaking multiple tackles to get in for the score. That would end the scoring for either side as USD would defend the Dome with a 42-3 victory. Up Next: South Dakota will open Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) play next weekend when they play host to the No. 7-ranked Southern Illinois Salukis inside the DakotaDome at 1:00 p.m.
