Oct. 5, 2000

VERMILLION, S.D. - MATCHUP: South Dakota (3-2, 1-2) will attempt to even their conference record when they travel to St. Cloud, Minn., to play St. Cloud State University on Saturday, October 7. The Coyotes and Huskies meet at 1 p.m. at Selke Field. The Coyotes, with Dakota Days homecoming activities kicking off next week, are coming off a 15-10 win over Augustana. Head Coach John Austin, whose record now sits at 7-9 at South Dakota, is 4-3 in the DakotaDome, 4-8 in the NCC. The Coyotes are 2-0 at home and 1-2 on the road.

SERIES: The Huskies lead the series 11-7. Play between the two schools began in 1955 with a 20-7 win by St. Cloud State. The Coyotes have won four of the last six meetings between the two schools, winning 43-22 on Dakota Days last year in Vermillion. In terms of streaks, USD won three in a row from 1994-96 and while St. Cloud has three straight wins in both 1987-89 and 1991-93. The Coyotes' biggest victory was a 52-0 win over St. Cloud in 1986. St. Cloud won 45-0 in 1991. In 1996, the two teams played a double overtime thriller at St. Cloud won by the Coyotes 38-31.

LAST TIME: South Dakota, led by all-American back Jamel White, won 43-22 on Dakota Days in the DakotaDome. White carried 30 times for 285 yards and scored a school-record five touchdowns (four by rush and one by pass). His 285 yards broke the school record of 280 set by Jared Schwenn against Augustana in 1995. His 30 points tied the USD record also held by Carl Johnson (1954 vs. NDSU) and by Scott Jones (1986 vs. SDSU). The Coyotes had 484 total yards including 388 yards rushing. Ryan Stelter of St. Cloud was 11-31 for 196 yards and a touchdown.

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES: St. Cloud has opened the 2000 season with four straight losses including at Minnesota-Duluth, 36-29, Sept. 9, North Dakota State, 37-7, Sept. 16 at home, at Augustana, 49-7 on Sept. 23, and at Nebraska-Omaha, 36-0, on Sept. 30. While they have struggled to open the season, St. Cloud returns 10 starters on offense from a year ago. Plus this weekend's game is their Hall of Fame Game and Parent's Day. St. Cloud will recognize the 2000 Hall of Fame inductees in a halftime ceremony onSaturday.

ON ST. CLOUD: The Huskies, who wear cardinal and black uniforms, began football in 1920. The school, which has 17 conference titles including one in the NCC, has a 344-292-23 all-time record. St. Cloud was founded in 1869. In 1999, the Huskies were 3-8 and 1-8 in the NCC in 1999.

KENWORTHY EARNS NCC DEFENSIVE AWARD: Freshman defensive lineman Shawn Kenworthy of South Dakota has been named the North Central Conference Defensive Player of the Week by the conference office (announced Monday, Oct. 2). Kenworthy, a native of Ft. Pierre, S.D., collected five tackles, including three for a loss of 15 yards and two sacks for 14 yards in the Coyotes' 15-10 win over Augustana. Kenworthy also collected a first-quarter safety.

SEASON UPDATE: The Coyotes opened the season with a 17-13 win over Missouri Western of the NIAA conference. Senior cornerback Russel Burwell had two interceptions that set up a field goal and the winning touchdowns as South Dakota rallied to post a season opening win at St. Joseph, Mo. In week two, the Coyotes broke from a 20-14 third quarter advantage by scoring 18 fourth quarter points, including a 79-yard touchdown run by freshman Dusty Stamer, in the win over Truman State in the Coyotes' only home game this season. North Dakota defeated the Coyotes 42-14 in the conference opener at Grand Forks. This past week, the Coyotes fell to #3 ranked North Dakota State, 45-20. The Coyotes defeated Augustana as the defense held Augustana star quarterback Eric DeGraff to 222 yards passing. The Coyotes recorded two sacks, two interceptions and a fumble recovery and continually hounded DeGraff, a leader in several conference and national passing categories. On Dave Triplett Day, the Coyotes showed the defense reminiscent of the Triplett years as they intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble and recorded a safety in the first quarter by redshirt freshman Shawn Kenworthy. South Dakota, which wore the Coyote paw on their helmet in honor of Triplett, limited Augustana to just 74 yards rushing and had two quarterback sacks, both by Kenworthy. Senior cornerback Kaseem Gaines had one interception, returning it 37 yards, and Rory Triplett had his third pick of the season on a night his dad was being honored. Kenworthy stepped up big time with five tackles including three tackles for 15 yards in losses and a pair of quarterback sacks. Augustana (3-2, 1-2) jumped off to a 3-0 lead when Casey Coulter knocked down a 41-yard field goal to cap a nine-play 62-yard drive. And after the Vikings got the ball back, Kenworthy bulled his way into the backfield and trapped DeGraff in the end zone for a safety, which drew the Coyotes to within 3-2. On the Coyotes next possession, Ryan Justice scored on a 23-yard run which gave the Coyotes the lead at 9-3. The offense was effective on the drive moving the ball seven plays and 64 yards. The Vikings regained the lead early in the second quarter when the DeGraff and Matt Holmlund duo struck paydirt for the 11th time this season. Holmlund hauled in a beautifully thrown DeGraff pass in the right corner of the end zone to move the Vikings back on top, 10-9. At that point, it looked like the offenses would have a shootout. But, scoring became very difficult after the Viking score. The Coyotes rallied to take the lead just before half when Adam Hicks connected on a 19-yard field goal. Justice led his team down the field with timely conversions on third down, moving the ball 62 yards in 10 plays to take a 12-10 lead. However, the Coyotes, who had 15 penalties for 104 yards, had a second and one at the Viking 10-yard line but consecutive penalties moved the ball back to the 20. Two plays later South Dakota settled for the Hicks' field goal. After a scoreless third quarter, the Coyotes put up the final points of the game when Hicks hit a 37-yard field goal with 6:10 to play. However the Coyotes very nearly had a touchdown when a Justice pass to Charles Johnson, who had four receptions for 45 yards, was broken up at the last moment by Augustana defensive back Lucas Van Gilder. While the Coyotes showed an effective running game with 178 yards and had 128 passing yards for 306 total yards, time and time again penalties hurt the Coyotes. Freshman running back Dusty Stamer had a solid game for the Coyotes by rushing 19 times for 95 yards while Justice had eight rushes for 39 yards and Mike Weister added 29 yards on eight rushes. Stamer also had three catches for 26 yards. Justice was 12-24 for 128 yards and one interception. Kenworthy had a brilliant game with five tackles including three tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks. Linebacker Ryan Winters led the Coyotes in tackles with nine and had two pass breakups while Triplett and defensive lineman Bill Gassen had six tackles. Holmlund had five catches for 37 yards and Ryan Nodland had four catches for 75 yards including a 41-yard reception. Viking running back Ed Schumann had 10 rushes for 48 yards to lead the Augustana rushing attack. During halftime of the Coyotes-Vikings game, Triplett, who recorded the second most wins by a head coach in Coyote history, was honored by USD. More than 80 players and members of the Triplett family were in attendance for the ceremony.

FRESHMAN EYES RECORD: Coyote freshman running back Dusty Stamer of Grand Island, Neb., is eyeing the all-time freshman rushing record held by Emmett Huston, who had 488 yards in 1978. Stamer has 380 yards entering the St. Cloud game. He is averaging 5.6 yards per carry and his 380 yards is seventh in the NCC (overall games). Last week, he had 95 yards against Augustana. His season high is 139 yards on 14 carries vs. Truman State in the DakotaDome Sept. 16. In that game, he had a 79-yard touchdown run.

JUSTICE SETS NEW RECORD: Justice, a sophomore signal caller from Ankeny, Iowa, continues to set new passing records for the Coyotes. Justice already holds the freshman record for passing yards (1,060 in 1999) and now owns two Coyote records for most passes without an interception included season (108) and overall (132). His streak ended in the fourth quarter of the Coyotes 45-20 loss to the Bison. The season mark was held by Jim Foster in 1969 and Chris Daniel in 1982. Foster and Daniel threw 69 passes without aninterception.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS IN NCC: Senior Russel Burwell of Canoga Park, Calif., leads the NCC with five interceptions for 59 yards while teammate Rory Triplett, a senior from Iowa City, Iowa, is second with three picks. As a team the Coyotes have 11 interceptions, three more than South Dakota recorded all of last year. Burwell is number one in passes defended with eight while Triplett is seventh (5), linebacker Ryan Winters, ninth (4), and senior cornerback Kaseem Gaines of Trenton, N.J, 10th (4). In kickoff returns, junior James Augustus is second with a 29.4 average. Junior punter Filip Filipovic of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, ranks first (overall games) in punting with a 42.3 average. He has 41 punts for 1,734 yards. Senior Adam Hicks of Sioux Falls, who has made 8-112 field goals for 73 percent, is second in the conference in total field goals while he ranks third in percentage. Senior linebacker Josh Stamer, who is 11th in tackles, is second in the league in sacks with four for losses of 29 yards and is tied for first in tackles for loss with 11 (-28 yards). Scott Larson, a senior defensive tackle, has seven tackles for loss (-16 yards) which places him ninth. The Coyotes continue to lead the league in turnover margin. The Coyotes have forced 15 turnovers while losing six for a margin of +9. The Coyotes are second in the league in permitting sacks as their offensive line has allowed only five sacks this season.

THE LAST TIME SOUTH DAKOTA . . . ~ defeated St. Cloud, 43-22 in 1999 at DakotaDome ~ defeated St. Cloud at Selke Field, a 38-31 overtime win in 1996 ~ won at home: Sept. 30, 15-10 over Augustana College ~ defeated NCC opponent at home: Sept. 30, over Augstana College, 15-10 in the DakotaDome ~ defeated NCC opponent on the road: 35-29 at Minnesota State - Mankato in game 11 of the 1999 season ~ had a 100 yard rusher in a conference game: Jamel White had 229 yards, three TDs vs. Minn. State -Mankato, Nov. 13, 1999 ~ had quarterback with 200 yards passing against NCC school: Ryan Justice (223 yards - career-high) Oct. 23, 1999 in 35-27 loss to Northern Colorado at Greeley, Colo.

NFL NEWS: Former Coyotes Jamel White (1998-99) and Matt Chatham (1994-98) have been signed to NFL contracts. Both players have seen action this season. The Cleveland Browns signed White, a first-team all-NCC and second team all-American selection for the Coyotes in 1999, after being a late cut by the Indianapolis Colts. White, who set or tied 14 school records a year ago, has four kickoffs returns for 51 yards including a long of 20 yards. Chatham has signed a two-year contract with New England and recorded a tackle in their opening game loss to Tampa Bay, 21-16.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE: After the St. Cloud game, the Coyotes play two straight home games in the friendly confines of the DakotaDome. The Coyotes host the Dakota Days game Oct. 14 against Nebraska-Omaha (2 p.m.) and the Oct. 21 matchup with Northern Colorado at 1 p.m.

RADIO: The Coyotes' game with St. Cloud will be broadcast on KVTK AM (1570) by the Coyote Sports Network and through the Internet. The flagship station is KVTK (1570) in Vermillion, S.D. The other members of the Coyote Sports Network include KSDR-AM (1480), Watertown, KORN-FM (1490), Mitchell, S.D., KTOQ-AM (1340), Rapid City. Kevin Culhane will serve as the voice of the Coyotes home and away during the 2000 football season. Jim Hockett provides color. Joe Van Goor will host Coyote Game Day coverage one hour and 30 minutes prior to gametime. Mike Daly will serve as the Coyote Game Dayanalyst.

COYOTES ON THE INTERNET: In addition to the radio broadcast, Coyote fans can tune to the live game play-by-play on the internet at www.usdcoyotes.com or www.broadcastsports.com and also they can listen by calling Teamline at 1-800-846-4700 (team code - 6056). On Teamline fans can hear the live radio play-by-play of the Coyotes from any telephone in the world.

JOHN AUSTIN SHOW: Inside information about the Coyotes football program will be offered through a Thursday night coaches show on all sports radio KVTK AM (1570). The USD Sports Magazine Show begins at 6:05 p.m., followed by The John Austin Show at 6:30 p.m.

COACHES: John Austin, a 1980 graduate of South Dakota, is in his second year as head coach at South Dakota. Austin has recorded a 7-9 overall record including 4-8 in the NCC. He is in his first collegiate coaching stint, having spent nine years at the University of Iowa under head coach Hayden Fry (now retired), including four years as the team's defensive line coach. He was also Iowa's football recruiting coordinator and assistant offensive line coach for three years. With Austin as Iowa's recruiting coordinator, the 1994 recruiting class was rated third best in the Big Ten and 16th nationally. At Iowa, he coached three all-Big Ten linemen and two All-Americans. Seven players he recruited are playing in the NFL including four of whom he coached. Several of those players have returned to the USD campus to help Austin reshape the football program. He had a 22-21 record at Watertown High School from 1985-89, including a 9-3 mark in 1987 and an ESD conference championship. Twice, he was named to coach the South Dakota High School all-star game. He was also a head coach at LaJunta, Co., high school and he spent the 1980-81 season as a student assistant at USD. Randy Hedberg, a 1977 graduate of Minot State, is in his second campagin at the helm of the Huskies. Hedberg posted a 3-8 record last season and in 10 seasons as a collegiate head coach has a 48-31-22 career record. Originally from Parshall, N.D>, he has coached at Minot State from 1982-90 and served as an assistant coach at Central Missouri State (1990-95) and the University of North Dakota (1996-98). Hedberg, an honorable mention all-American quarterback at Minot State, was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1977 and played with the Bucs until 1977. In addition, Hedberg played with the 1979 Oakland Raiders and the 1980 Green Bay Packers.

COMMENTS FROM COACH AUSTIN: ON NDSU: "Improving our tackling was key to beating Augustana on Saturday. Still we need to develop more consistency on offense. Yes we were pleased with our defensive effort but we must continue to improve if we expect to enjoy success. ON ST. CLOUD: "They are a very dangerous team, regardless of their record. It is a team that returns 10 starters. We will have to play our best to beat them on a day when they will be energized because of homecoming and parents' coming back. They have solid skill position athletes and we will need to tackle effectively. Offensively we have to move the ball."

COYOTE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Offensive MVP - Charles Johnson, Defensive MVP - Shawn Kenworthy, Special Team MVP - Adam Hicks, Offensive Hustle Award - Dusty Stamer , Defensive Hustle Award - Shawn Kenworthy and Ryan Winters, Defense Scout Team Player of the Week - Matt Matthes , Offense Scout Team Player of the Week - Chris Mickelson.

NCC SCHOOLS AT HOME: NCC schools had a 5-0 mark at home and are now 20-7 on the season.

AFCA POLL: While Northwest Missouri State remains no. 1, the North Central Conference remains the most represented league in the AFCA Divison II Coaches' Poll with five schools ranked this week. North Dakota State is #3 followed by South Dakota State at #7, North Dakota at #10, Nebraska-Omaha at #12 and Northern Colorado at #22. This week's top 10 teams have not lost to a non-top 10 team and boast a combined record of 47-1. The lone loss is North Dakota's loss to NDSU last week. Other top five teams included Carson-Newman (Tenn.) at #2, UC-Davis at #4 and Indiana (PA.) at #5.

COYOTE CAPTAINS: Seniors Josh Stamer of Sutherland, Iowa, Nate Irwin of Cherokee, Iowa, Steve Young of Custer, S.D., Scott Larson of Mobridge, S.D., Miguel Regalado of Peona, Ariz., and Lee Bunge of Hartley, Iowa. ALL-NCC RETURNEES: Stamer, offensive tackle Josh Burr, defensive back Kaseem Gaines

TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE: South Dakota has a long history of excellence in football. Not only have the Coyotes won nine North Central Conference titles, they have had 41 all-Americans and 204 all-NCC performers, including 17 NCC MVPs. South Dakota has an all-time record of 447-422-34. The Coyotes last won the NCC in 1978 although the 1986 team went to the NCAA Division II championship where they fell to fellow NCC mate North Dakota State, 27-7. The Coyotes fielded their first team in 1889, winning their first NCC title in 1927. Other conference-winning teams included squads in 1938, 1939, 1947, 1951, 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1978. In the Coyotes' proud history, 23 individuals have served as head coach with James Henderson holding the best winning percentage of .750 (15-5, 1911-13). The Coyotes have had four unbeaten squads in the NCC including 1927 (V.E. Montgomery), 5-0-0, 1938 (Harry Gamage), 5-0-0, 1947 (Harry Gamage), 4-0-0, and 1951 (Harry Gamage), 6-0-0. Perhaps the greatest Coyote squad was the 1902 squad, which rolled up a 9-0 record and held every opponent without points as South Dakota recorded a 9-0 season under A.H. Whittemore. The 1968 and 1972 squads, coached by Joe Salem, were both 9-1. B.H. Morrison was the first Coyote head coach, then called a manager, and he totaled a 5-2-2 mark.

COYOTES IN THE NFL: Former Coyotes Jamel White and Matt Chatham were signed this fall to contracts with NFL teams. White, who earned all-American status in 1999 for the Coyotes, was one of the last cuts by the Indianapolis Colts but was immediately signed by the Cleveland Browns. He is a backup running back and kick returner for the Browns. White has had four returns for 71 yards and a long of 22 yards in the Browns' first two games. Chatham, who graduated in 1995 from USD, signed a two-year deal with the New England Patriots after he was a late cut by the world champion St. Louis Rams. He has recorded one tackle for New England (0-3) this season.

INJURIES: Sophomore running back Kary Gantt will not play.

AGAINST THE NCC: The Coyotes have winning records against five of the nine other NCC schools: Nebraska-Omaha (24-15-1), Morningside (57-28-5), South Dakota State University (49-45-7), Minnesota State-Mankato (14-9), and Augustana College (38-18-0). South Dakota's record against the other NCC schools is as follows: North Dakota (28-49-5), North Dakota State University (24-46-3), St. Cloud State University (7-11-0), Northern Colorado (11-18-0).