South Dakota Squares off with Indiana State on Saturday

VERMILLION, S.D. — The No. 5-ranked University of South Dakota football team (6-2, 4-1 MVFC) returns to the DakotaDome for the first time in nearly a month on Saturday when they play host to (RV) Indiana State (4-5, 3-2 MVFC) for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff on ESPN+ and Midco Sports on Military Appreciation Day.

MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY

  • Saturday is Military Appreciation Day. Current and past military members of the U.S. Armed Forces can redeem two free tickets, plus the purchase of any additional tickets beyond that for $15 each.
  • South Dakota is proud to honor and recognize the 24th Infantry Division (U.S. Army), the division of head strength and conditioning coach Clete McLeod.
  • At the Coyote Alley tailgate, the South Dakota National Guard will provide military vehicles.
  • The game ball will be rappelled from the top of the Dome following the band’s pre-game performance.

GAME STORYLINES

  • DEFENDING THE DOME: Since the 2021 season, South Dakota is 17-6 inside the DakotaDome.
  • South Dakota has scored 40+ points in all four home games this season.
  • The Yotes remain No. 5 in both polls (AFCA Coaches’ & STATS Perform) entering Week 10, following the bye week.
  • USD looks to extend their home regular season win streak to six games, dating back to last season. The Yotes sit 4-0 in the Dome this season.
  • USD has had 50 chunk plays of 20 or more yards this season with 19 leading to touchdowns.
  • The Coyote defense now leads the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 12.5 points per game.
  • Furthermore, the passing defense is the best in the Valley, sitting at just 180.9 yards per game.
  • The Coyote rushing attack sits 7th in the FCS (213.6 yards per game).
  • HC Bob Nielson has coached in 94 career games at South Dakota, sitting at 48 career wins at USD.
  • Four more wins for Nielson will put him fourth all-time in program history for games won at USD.

YOTES TO NOTE

  • Aidan Bouman has thrown for at least 200 passing yards and one touchdown in the five games this season.
  • Quaron Adams has been a spark in the wide receivers group, averaging an MVFC-best 25.0 yards per catch.
  • The rushing attack of Charles Pierre Jr. (88.4) and Travis Theis (85.1) sit No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the Valley in rushing yards per game.
  • Gary Bryant III leads the defense with his 51.0 tackles per game.
  • Dennis Shorter has a team-best two interceptions and leads the MVFC with his 11 pass break-ups.
  • Nick Gaes sits tied for the MVFC-lead in sacks, sitting at 6.0 on the season. He has recorded at least one sack in five of the six games he’s played in.

DOMINANT RUSHING GAME

  • The run game continues to be a huge part of the Coyote offense, 213.6 rushing yards a game.
  • It sits second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, being one of four teams to average 200+ yards on the ground per game.
  • The backfield of Theis & Pierre Jr. have combined for six 100-yard rushing games (both did so against SIU).
  • Charles Pierre Jr. is the lone Coyote to have a 150-yard rushing game (career-high 153 yards in the win at Youngstown State, Oct. 19).
  • He leads the MVFC with his 12 rushing scores on the season, a mark that sits third in the FCS.

STOUT DEFENSE

  • The Yotes have made a name for themselves with a strong defensive unit so far this season.
  • South Dakota has six interceptions as a team with five different Yotes having one.
  • Dennis Shorter now leads the MVFC with his 11 pass break-ups this season, averaging 1.38 per game.
  • LB Gary Bryant III leads the defense with his 62 tackles this season.

GETTING PRESSURE ON THE QUARTERBACK

  • South Dakota sits sixth in the MVFC in total sacks with 17 on the season.
  • Nick Gaes leads the MVFC with his 6.0 sacks on the season.
  • Mi’Quise Grace sits T4th in the Valley with his 5.0 sacks this season.
  • The duo combines for 11 of the 17 sacks for the Yotes.

INDIVIDUAL ACCOLADES & MILESTONES

  • Charles Pierre Jr. cracked the program’s top-10 single season rushing touchdown list with his two scores at Youngstown State, sitting at No. 10 with his 12 rushing scores.
  • He also looks to become the first Yote in the FCS era to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. He sits with 705 net yards heading to Brookings.
  • Keyondray Jones-Logan is one of two FCS athletes to return two kickoffs back for touchdowns this season.
  • Aidan Bouman needs just ONE passing yard to become the sixth Coyote in program history with 5,000 career passing yards.
  • Against Southern Illinois (Sept. 28), he became the ninth Coyote to eclipse 4,000 career passing yards.
  • Travis Theis looks to continue to move up the USD record book, sitting with 30 rushing touchdowns. Only four Yotes have 30+ touchdowns in their career.
  • Theis eclipsed the 3,000-career rushing yard mark in the Dakota Days win over UNI.
  • Carter Bell set the new program record in career receptions with his five in the SDSU game (167 & counting).
  • He needs just 26 receiving yards to break the receiving yards record (2,532 – record 2,557).

MISC. NOTES

  • Following the loss at SDSU last time out, the Coyotes are 13-12 in ranked vs. ranked games and 4-7 in those games on the road.
  • South Dakota has put up 400+ yards of offense in the last four of the last five games.
  • The Yotes are 1-0 outside of the Central Time Zone this season, though having two games scheduled outside the home time zone.

INSIDE THE INDIANA STATE SERIES

  • South Dakota and Indiana State will meet for the ninth time on Saturday. USD leads the all-time series, 6-2.
  • All eight meetings have been MVFC contests.
  • South Dakota owns the longest win streak in the series, winning three-straight games twice.
  • The Yotes can set a new series-best win streak with a win on Saturday.
  • The Yotes are a perfect 4-0 in the series when played in Vermillion and the Dome.

INDIANA STATE QUICK HITS

  • Indiana State enters the weekend with a 4-5 overall record, while sitting middle of the pack in the MVFC at 3-2.
  • The Sycamores have won two-straight games, both being in Terre Haute.
  • ISU has yet to win on the road this season, sitting 0-4.
  • The offense has been a struggle, sitting 109th in the FCS with just 289.0 yards per game.