DULUTH, MINN. -- South Dakota's five-game winning streak ended on a mistake-filled night in Duluth, Minn., on Saturday, Sept. 8.

The Coyotes, 1-1, fell to Minnesota-Duluth (2-0), 14-10 in nonconference football action before 3,443 fans at Richard Griggs Field in Duluth, Minn. South Dakota lost three of four fumbles, had one interception and were penalized 90 yards, including several at crucial periods as the Coyotes were driving deep into Minnesota-Duluth territory.

A 30-yard touchdown run by freshman Michael Williams was wiped out by penalty and USD also dropped a touchdown pass, which also would have been wiped out by penalty.

Still, the Coyotes led 10-7 in the fourth quarter, when a fumble by Michael Williams at the Minnesota-Duluth 15-yard line was picked up by UMD's Mike Randall, who took the ball 77 yards for the go-ahead score.

The Coyotes had a final opportunity inside the Minnesota-Duluth 20-yard line but a penalty wiped out a first down at the five-yard line and a fourth down pass fell incomplete as the Coyotes were stopped and they dropped their first game of the 2001 season.

The Coyotes' defense allowed 203 total yards, after the Bulldogs had 166 total yards in the opening half. Meanwhile South Dakota had 391 yards in total offense, including nearly 260 yards in the second half.

South Dakota held a 16-13 advantage in first downs and held the time of possession margin, 32:02 to 27:57. South Dakota had a 196-98 advantage in rushing yards and a 195-105 margin in passing. South Dakota had 73 offensive plays to 56 by Minnesota-Duluth. Early on Minnesota-Duluth jumped to a quick 7-0 lead when Jared Murray broke free for a 43-yard scoring run. The Bulldogs scored on a four play, 72-yard drive to grab the lead with 13:12 to play in the first quarter.

The lead did not last long as the Coyotes' defense scored after a turnover put the Coyotes in a precarious situation early. After a first down run netted five yards for the Bulldogs, the Coyotes' Korey Ebel picked off a Ricky Fritz's pass at the 12-yard line and rambled 88 yards for a touchdown with 12:46 to play. The fabulous defensive play by Ebel tied a school record set in 1939 by USD's Jack Johnson vs. North Dakota State in 1939. Ebel, who has now started 24 straight games, had five tackles and one tackle for loss against the Bulldogs.

After that offenses struggled to put points on the board for the remainder of the game. The Coyotes finally broke through and grabbed a 10-7 lead on a 31-yard field goal by Filip Filipovic with 9:43 to play in the first half. However that score, like the earlier touchdown, was set up by a big play by the South Dakota defense. Coyote defensive lineman M.J. Sonnefeld recovered a fumble by the Bulldogs at the Minnesota-Duluth 13-yard line.