VERMILLION, S.D. - The University of South Dakota football team wrapped up the spring season with a successful Red/White Spring Game Saturday afternoon in the DakotaDome. The Coyote offense downed the Coyote defense 36-26 with an adjusted scoring system in front of a good crowd.

"This is the first spring that I can recall that we walked off the field on our own two feet and nobody had an injury taking someone out for the season," Coyote first year head coach Joe Glenn said. "I am really excited for the energy, enthusiasm and desire to get better has been great. Right now it couldn't be better from where we started in March to where we are now."

The adjusted scoring system included touchdowns and field goals worth their normal six and three points, respectively, while the offense was credited with a point for each first down. Turnovers were worth four points, while sacks were worth two points and if the defense stopped the offense on third down, the defense received a point. The game was broken into four, 15-minute continuous running clock quarters and the offense would start at different positions on the field.

On the first play from scrimmage, junior wide receiver Austin Koch (Tyndall, S.D.) took the reverse for 70 yards for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead for the offense.

"Wesley (Beschorner) got that one from Air Force," Glenn said with a chuckle. "He pulled a rabbit out of the hat, but Austin did a nice job and the execution was there. We tell our kids we are going to have some special plays, but we only get 2-3 chances a game for special plays. We need to execute when we do them and we did there helped out b nice hustle down field and good blocking."

The offense built the lead to 8-0, but junior college transfer D.J. Wakes (Topeka, Kan.) came up with the first of his two sacks to put the defense on the board midway through the first quarter.

Sophomore quarterback Josh Vander Maten (Boyden, Iowa) called his own number on a 70-yard drive a couple of possessions later for a seven-yard scamper into the end zone for an 18-12 lead for the offense at intermission.

Junior kicker Kevin Robb (Rapid City, S.D.) kicked one of his two field goals on the first possession of the second half for a 21-12 lead. Robb's first kick in the quarter was 41 yards and his second was 42.

The defense came up with its first of three big stops on the ensuing offensive possession as junior linebacker Jerrod Freidel (Vermillion, S.D.) hit redshirt freshman Kayl Barkley (Conway Springs, Kan.) after a catch jarring the ball loose as Freidel hopped on it for the four point turnover. Then, on the next offensive possession, the offense began at its own five yard-line and redshirt freshman Colin Buscarini (Arlington Heights, Ill.) came up with a sack in the end zone for a safety.

Then, probably the most exciting play of the day came as Freidel forced his second fumble of the game with redshirt freshman, defensive lineman Emanuel Cromuel (Tampa, Fla.) returning the fumble 62 yards for a score bringing the DakotaDome crowd to its feet.

"Manny stole the ball and returned it 62 yards which perhaps the most exciting play of the day," Glenn said.

With the touchdown, the defense pulled within 27-26, then a late touchdown by the offense swelled the lead to the 36-26 final.

For the game, the offense was led by Koch's 70 yards on the ground and score. Junior college transfer sophomore Jasper Sanders (Kansas City, Kan.) had a nice debut as he had nine carries for 39 yards, while Archambeau had 28 yards and sophomore Noah Pearl (Kansas City, Mo.) had 22 yards on the ground.

Earl was 6 of 13 for 63 yards and a late score to redshirt freshman Nick Meyer who moved to wide receiver this spring. Vander Maten was 7 of 11 for 45 yards, while junior Kyle Cichos (Pierre, S.D.) was 1 for 3 for 26 yards.

Barkley had three receptions for 41 yards to lead the team, while Meyer added 29 yards and a score. Senior Will Powell (Sioux Falls, S.D.) had three catches for 23 yards. Senior punter Cole Zwiefelhofer (Chippewa Falls, Wis.) had two punts for 99 yards (49.5 avg.) and Robb went 2-2 in field goals.

Defensively, junior college transfer Devin Taverna (Carlsbad, Calif.) led the team with six total tackles, while redshirt freshman Ryan Hillier (Lee's Summit, Mo.) added five total stops, as did senior Sioux Falls native Tim Marlette. Wakes led the way with two sacks and Freidel added the two forced fumbles and one recovery.

"I really thought there were some good things on both sides of the ball, the kicking game looked crisp to me and we punted well," Glenn said. "All systems go."