Sept. 16, 2000

Box Score

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The University of South Dakota football team learned a lesson from the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux Saturday afternoon as UND capitalized on several opportunities in the fourth quarter to break open a close game and win 42-14. USD (2-1, 0-1) and UND (3-0, 1-0) were both playing their North Central Conference openers, and the game was a close defensive struggle until the Sioux scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

With UND facing a third-and-33 from their own 33-yard line and clingling to a 21-14 lead early in the fourth quarter, running back Jed Perkerewicz bolted for 23 yards. However, a five-yard face mask penalty on USD during the run essentially turned into a 28-yard penalty and a replay of third down. With the ball spotted at the USD 39-yard line, UND quarterback Kelby Klosterman connected with wide receiver Dan Graf for a score to increase the lead to 28-14. Then the Sioux added a 32-yard touchdown run by Perkerewicz and a 37-yard touchdown run by running back Jim Miller in a span of 2:27 late in the quarter to provide the final margin of victory.

While UND was converting on several scoring opportunities, USD failed in similar situations. The Coyotes had a 40-yard run negated by a holding penalty and dropped a potential touchdown pass.

The Sioux opened up a 14-0 lead in the first quarter when Perkerewicz scored on a 13-yard run and Graf scored on a lucky 24-yard pass reception. The Coyotes had defended the play well, but the ball was tipped and fell into the hands of UND's receiver with a little more than a minute left. The Coyotes could have scored in between, but sophomore Kary Gantt's 40-yard run was called back due to the holding call.

The Coyotes moved with a touchdown in the second quarter after freshman wide receiver Ronnie McDougle blocked a punt and freshman running back Collin Busse picked it up and ran to the UND 11-yard line. Two plays later, sophomore quarterback Ryan Justice hit freshman wide receiver Charles Johnson for a nine-yard score with about 10 minutes to go in the quarter. Both teams did nothing further offensively in the second quarter.

On the Coyotes' first possession of the second half, a wide-open Steve Young dropped a long pass from Justice, denying a score that would have tied the game. Then, UND took advantage of the Coyotes' missed opportunity. UND's Graf returned the ensuing punt 47 yards to the USD 28-yard line and a 15-yard personal foul on USD put the ball on the 13-yard line. Klosterman hit wide receiver Robbie Holmquist on the next play to extend the lead to 21. USD had an answer, however, as the Coyotes put together their best drive of the game (seven plays, 63 yards), ending in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Justice to junior tight end Dustin Sagedahl to get back within seven. During the drive, Gantt had a 16-yard run and Johnson had a nine-yard catch to help USD to the score with 9:41 left in the third. Then, both teams went dry before UND sealed it with their fourth quarter barrage.

The Coyotes struggled offensively all game as they totaled just nine first downs and 38 yards rushing against the nation's fifth-ranked rushing defense. The Coyotes added only 86 yards through the air for a total of 124 yards.

Junior punter Filip Filipovic, who came into the contest ranked second in the nation, set two Coyote records with 15 punts for 616 yards (41.1 average) with two kicks going for 57 and 59 yards. The old school record of 12 punts for 558 yards was previously held by Bill Moats in 1978 against Nevada-Reno.

Justice, who has not thrown an interception dating back to last year's SDSU game (a span of 108 pass attempts), completed 11 of 30 passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns. Gantt led USD in rushing with 29 yards while senior Mike Weister and freshman Dusty Stamer had 13 yards a piece. Johnson led the receivers with five grabs for 39 yards and a score and Sagedahl hauled in two catches for 24 yards and a score.

USD senior cornerback Russel Burwell collected his fourth interception of the young season and senior linebacker Josh Stamer had five tackles (two for losses) and his third sack of the season. Sophomore defensive tackle Bill Gassen registered six unassisted stops as well.

UND totaled 394 yards with 181 on the ground and 213 through the air. Klosterman finished 15 of 35 for 213 yards and three touchdowns. Graf had 95 yards receiving and 104 on punt returns.