Vermillion, S.D. - The Coyote football team continued to put the finishing touches on fall camp with a two-hour workout on the grass practice fields east of the DakotaDome on Thursday afternoon. USD will practice Friday morning and have Saturday off, before beginning game preparations on Sunday evening. South Dakota opens its season with a 7 p.m. game against William Penn in the DakotaDome on Thursday.

"It's been a typical fall camp," USD head coach Ed Meierkort said. "We have some guys that are out with nagging injuries. They need to get back, otherwise they won't play. Fortunately we have a game on Thursday that, if we come with the right mindset, we will come out on the right side of that."

Meierkort mentioned he has been pleased with the overall performance of his squad, specifically the front lines on both sides of the ball. The Coyotes return a combined seven starters this fall among the two.

"Our offensive line has gotten progresively better and then our defensive line has been sharp as well," he said.

Thursday's game pits the Coyotes against a Statesmen team that finish second in the NAIA's MSFA Midwest League last season and runs the option.

"In a game like this you don't address the opponent, you address yourself," Meierkort said. "We have to take care of our business in our own house. If we take care of ourselves, we will play fine."

Meierkort said USD's success at nationally-ranked Northern Iowa in the Coyotes' second game of the season hinges on South Dakota's performance against William Penn.

"It's important to play well this game, because if we don't come to play on Thursday, we have no chance of winning the week after," he said.