Sept. 27, 2000

VERMILLION, S.D. - MATCHUP: South Dakota (2-2, 0-2) will try to halt a two-game losing streak when they host Augustana College in the DakotaDome Saturday night. The game starts at 7 PM. The Coyotes, who fell twice in trips to North Dakota, face an Augustana team that is playing its best football in several years. The Vikings are 3-1 and are coming off a 49-7 win over St. Cloud State. Last year, the Coyotes took a 21-7 lead in the second quarter but were outscored 28-0 over the remainder of the game. During the game at Sioux Falls, the Vikings' Eric DeGraff threw three touchdowns passes as Augustana won their second straight over the Coyotes. Head Coach John Austin, whose overall record now sits at 6-9, 3-8 NCC at South Dakota, is 3-3 in the DakotaDome.

SERIES: The Coyotes lead the series 37-18. Play between the two schools began in 1930 with a 86-0 Coyote win. South Dakota won 10 of the first 11 meetings between the schools (1930-1955). The Vikings have won the last two games including a 35-21 win in 1999 at Sioux Falls and a 27-20 victory in 1998 in the DakotaDome. The Coyotes won three straight from 1995-97. In terms of steaks, the Coyotes had a eight-game win steak in both 1948-55 and 1980-87. Augustana won three in a row from 1960-62 and 1965-67.

SCOUTING THE VIKINGS: After losing a heart-breaking 25-24 North Central Conference season opener against South Dakota State two weeks ago, Augustana (3-1, 1-1) dominated St. Cloud State(0-3, 0-2) in a 49-7 win in week two of the NCC season. In nonconference games, the Vikings defeated Northern State, 31-28, and Southwest State, 54-7, with both games being played on the road. Against St. Cloud State, Augustana jumped to a 35-0 halftime lead as quarterback Eric DeGraff had two touchdown passes and a 16 yard run for a score. After Ed Schuman, who had 43 yards rushing, scored on a 13-yard run, DeGraff connected with Matt Holmlund on a 95-yard scoring play late in the first quarter against the Huskies. DeGraff, who rushed for 76 yards and completed 21 of 32 passes for 322 yards and an interception, had a one-yard and 16-yard touchdown runs in the second quarter before Ryan Edwards added a two yard scoring run to culminate first half scoring. Holmlund, who had nine catches for 169 yards receiving, caught his second touchdown early in the third quarter before St. Cloud State scored on a Michael Jacobs reception. Ryan Nodland had seven catches for 80 yards and caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Mike Herman in the fourth quarter to finish off the scoring.

SEASON UPDATE: The Coyotes opened the season with a 17-13 win over Missouri Western State 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 a 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, N.D. This past week, the Coyotes fell to #3 ranked North Dakota State, 45-20.

JUSTICE SETS NEW RECORD: Ryan 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 including the single-season mark (108) and overall (132). The season mark was held by Jim Foster in 1969 and Chris Daniel in 1982. Foster and Daniel threw 69 passes without an interception.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS IN NCC: Several Coyotes are leaders in the overall NCC football statistics released this week by conference office. Russel Burwell picked off another pass this past week and leads in interceptions with five (1.25 per game). Burwell also leads in passes defended. Filip Filipovic is leading in punting with an average of 43.5 yards per game. All-American linebacker candidate Josh Stamer, who had 10 tackles, a tackle for a loss and a sack against NDSU, leads in sacks (4) and tackle for losses (10 for 27 yards). As a team the Coyotes lead in turnover margin at +8. The Coyotes have nine interceptions and three fumble recoveries while giving up just one interception and three fumbles.

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 one of the last cuts by the Indianapolis Colts. White, who set or tied 14 school records a year ago, has returned four kickoffs for 51 yards including a long of 20 yards. Chatham signed a two-year contract with the New England Patriots and recorded a tackle in their opening game loss to Tampa Bay.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE: Beginning with the Augustana game, the Coyotes play three of four at the Dome including the D-Days game Oct. 14 against Nebraska-Omaha (2 PM) and the Oct. 21 matchup with Northern Colorado (1 PM). The Coyotes travel to St. Cloud State on Oct. 7 for a 1 PM game with the Huskies.

RADIO: The Coyotes' game with Augustana will be simulcast on both KVTK-AM (1570) and KVHT-FM (106.3) by the Coyote Sports Network and through the Internet. The flagship station is KVTK-AM (1570) in Vermillion. The other members of the Coyote Sports Network include KSDR-AM (1480), Watertown, KORN-FM (1490), Mitchell, and KTOQ-AM (1340), Rapid City. Kevin Culhane serves as the voice of the Coyotes home and away during the season. Jim Hockett provides color. Joe Van Goor will host Coyote Game Day coverage one hour and 15 minutes prior to gametime. Mike Daly will serve as the Coyote Game Day analyst.

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 can also 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 Coyote 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 PM, followed by The John Austin Show at 6:30 PM.

DAVE TRIPLETT DAY: The University of South Dakota will honor former Coyote football head coach Dave Triplett, now working in the University of Iowa Foundation Office, during ceremonies on Sept. 30 during the Coyotes' NCC home opener with Augustana. More than 80 former players are expected to return to honor Triplett, who has twin sons, Rory (#19) and Sean (#29) on the current Coyote roster. Triplett recorded the second most wins in school history with 70. His 1986 team advanced to the NCAA Division II championship game against fellow NCC foe North Dakota State. The Bison won 27-7 as the Coyotes finished 11-3, the most wins in school history.

COACHES: John Austin, a 1980 graduate of South Dakota, is in his second year as head coach at South Dakota. Austin has recorded a 6-9 overall record including a 3-8 mark in the NCC. He is in his first collegiate coaching stint, having spent nine years at the University of Iowa under now-retired head coach Hayden Fry, 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. He had a 22-21 record at Watertown High School from 1985-89, including a 9-3 mark in 1987 for the ESD Conference champions. Twice, he was named to coach the South Dakota High School All-Star game. He was also a head coach at LaJunta (Colo.) High School and he spent the 1980 season as a student assistant at USD.

Jim Heinitz (59-75-1) is in his 13th season as Augustana's head coach. He was named North Central Conference Coach of the Year in 1988 and 1992. The 1992 season is among the most memorable in Augustana athletic history as the Vikings posted an 8-3 record after going winless in 1991. The South Dakota Sportswriters Association named Heinitz Men's College Coach of the Year in 1988 and 1992, and he was selected the Kodak College Coach of the Year in Region Four in 1988. Heinitz served three years as Augie's offensive line coach before being named head coach in 1985. He resigned to enter private business after the 1992 season, but returned to Augustana in January of 1996. In 1988 and 1989 Augustana made its only appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs. During the Heinitz years the Vikings have had three eight-win seasons. A two-time All-NCC linebacker at South Dakota State University, Heinitz coached football at the University of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls Washington High School, Sioux Falls Lincoln High School and Rapid City Stevens High School before coming to Augie.

COMMENTS FROM COACH AUSTIN: On NDSU: "We were inconsistent on offense and defense. We have to get back to fundamentals and continue to work hard. At times we played very well but it is all about consistency on both sides of the ball. We have to tackle better and generate a better ground game." On Augustana: "They are a very talented team on both sides of the ball. This may be one of the best Vikings teams in years. They are very explosive with a very good quarterback and receivers. We will have our hands full. It is important that we move the ball and that we improve our tackling. We allowed too many big plays against the Bison last week. It is always good to be back home ... in front of our home crowd."

COYOTE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Offensive MVP - Ryan Justice, Defensive MVP - Josh Stamer, Special Teams MVP - Andre Horn, Offensive Hustle Award - Ronnie McDougle, Defensive Hustle Award - Scott Larson, Offense Scout Team Player of the Week - Thomas Martin, Defense Scout Team Player of the Week - Garrett Hartwig.

ON AUGIE: Augustana, 5-6 a year ago, return 44 letter-winners (losing 16) and 17 starters (losing just five). Augustana has a 286-361-16 all-time record. The school's first year of football was 1920. Augustana was founded as a university in Sioux Falls in 1860.

NCC SCHOOLS AT HOME: NCC schools had a 3-2 mark this past weekend and are 15-7 at home.

NCC DOMINATES D-II POLL: The North Dakota State Bison are ranked third in the most recent American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches Poll released Sept. 26. The Bison are one of five NCC teams ranked in the NCAA Division II top 20 and three of the teams, NDSU, South Dakota State (#7) and North Dakota (#8), are listed in the top 10. With 24 of 28 first place votes, Northwest Missouri State, the defending champion, is the number one ranked team after a 65-10 win over Southwest Baptist. Carson-Newman is second and received three first place votes while the Bison earned one first place vote. California-Davis is ranked fourth with Indiana (Pa.) fifth and Catawba (N.C.) sixth. Besides NDSU, SDSU and UND, Nebraska-Omaha is 16th and Northern Colorado is 25th. One other conference, the Gulf South, has five schools in the top 25 of the poll, including West Georgia (10th), Valdosta State (12th), Southern Arkansas (14th), Delta State (20th) and Arkansas-Monticello (24th).