Box Score Sept. 6, 2014
Box Score
VERMILLION, S.D.—South Dakota running backs Trevor Bouma and Jasper Sanders each eclipsed 100 yards rushing and quarterback Ryan Saeger ran for two touchdowns in a 41-16 win against William Penn at the DakotaDome Saturday. The Coyotes (1-1) have won 12 consecutive home openers dating back to 2003.
Bouma carried 19 times for 115 yards and a score. Sanders had 110 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Saeger was 8 of 13 passing for 111 yards and netted 79 yards rushing in his first collegiate start.
William Penn (1-1), an NAIA program from Oskaloosa, Iowa, ran its option offense to the tune of 335 yards. The Statesmen did not complete a pass and threw two interceptions in eight attempts. Twelve Statesmen contributed to the rushing total including fullback Evan Ressler, who carried 22 times for a team-best 87 yards.
South Dakota led 14-9 at halftime and scored all five times it touched it in the second half. The Coyotes' lone punt followed their opening possession. USD racked up 468 yards of offense and averaged seven yards a play.
A 73-yard fumble return by Conley Deshon set up a 1st-and-goal for the Statesmen midway through the first quarter. Quarterback Taylor Parsons snuck in from a yard away on fourth down for the first score of the game. Drew Iddings blocked the extra point and William Penn led 6-0.
Parsons injured his left elbow near the end of the first quarter and did not return. Backup Tyler Hafner was 0 for 7 passing with two interceptions.
South Dakota answered William Penn's score with a 3-yard run by Sanders. Saeger ran in from six yards out on the next drive to give USD a 14-9 lead.
Bouma capped USD's opening drive of the second half with a 4-yard plunge and Miles Bergner's 31-yard field with 13:35 to play made it 24-9.
William Penn has two 70-plus yard drives in the second half. The first ended on downs at the Coyotes' 4-yard line. The second was an 8-play, 73-yard drive capped with a Michael Thomas 5-yard touchdown that made it a one-score game, 24-16, with 10 minutes left.
Bergner kicked a 40-yard field goal less than three minutes later that made it 27-16. Tyson Graham intercepted a Hafner pass at the WPU 29 moments later. Saeger's 1-yard sneak at the 2:15 mark made it 34-16.
South Dakota linebacker Jet Moreland forced a fumble with a hit on quarterback Hunter Collins and the Coyotes' Jake Leohr scooped up the loose ball and scampered 46 yards for the final touchdown of the game. Leohr is a true freshman from Iowa City, Iowa, which sits 90 miles from Oskaloosa.
Saturday marked the second meeting between South Dakota and William Penn, which met in Vermillion to kick off the 2009 season. The Coyotes travel to Montana next Saturday for an 8 p.m. (CDT) kick against the Griz.
