The game
The Coyotes return to Indiana for the first time since 2012 and are in search of the program's first road win since upsetting North Dakota State last season in Fargo. Their opponent, Indiana State, will be trying to end a two-game skid that followed a promising 3-1 start. The Sycamores are home following a 36-35 loss at then-No. 13 Western Illinois, a game that came down to a 4th-and-1 stop late in the fourth quarter.
South Dakota and Indiana State haven't met since 2013 when USD won 17-14 inside the DakotaDome. Both teams finished 2015 with identical records of 5-6 and 3-5 in the Valley. Both teams are sniffing the top-25 national rankings heading into this weekend. Indiana State was ranked earlier this season after opening Valley play with a win against Illinois State.
The opponent
Indiana State is led offensively by sophomore quarterback Isaac Harker, the nation's 14th-leading passer. Harker has attempted nearly twice as many passes as USD starter Chris Streveler this season, albeit he has played one extra game. Harker sits in the shotgun where he averages nearly 280 yards thru the air with 12 touchdowns against four interceptions. His top target is Robert Tonyan, a 6-5 senior who has 36 catches for 448 yards and six touchdowns. He has twice as many catches as any other Sycamore. Harker hands off to Roland Genesy (61 ypg) and Dimitri Taylor (41 ypg), who combine to average 4.8 yards a carry. Sophomore Jaquan Keys (31 ypg) works into the rotation as well.
The Sycamores' 3-4 defense features senior linebacker Jameer Thurman (No. 20), who averages eight tackles and has totaled 9.0 tackles-for-loss, which ranks third in the Valley. Senior defensive tackle Conlan Cassidy (No. 99) leads Indiana State with 2.5 sacks. Indiana State is comparable to USD in the amount of points and yards the two defenses have surrendered.
Bouma's climb up the charts
It was four years ago, but South Dakota senior running back Trevor Bouma racked up 145 yards and scored two touchdowns in leading the Coyotes past Indiana State back in 2013. It remains the fifth-best rushing effort of his career. Bouma (2,155 yards) needs 18 yards today to enter the Coyotes' all-time top-10 list for rushing yards. If he can reach 130 yards, he will rank in the top-five. Bouma's 86-yard average this season ranks third in the Valley.
Dual Threat
Coyote quarterback Chris Streveler has accounted for 18 of South Dakota's 21 touchdowns thru five games. He's actually thrown one more touchdown pass than Indiana State's Harkin (13), despite 115 fewer attempts. He's also the nation's 25th-leading rusher at 98 yards per game. He ran 12 times for 128 yards last week in the win against UNI, including a 69-yard touchdown run on the Coyotes' third play from scrimmage.
Special Players
We've reached the midpoint of the season, yet both South Dakota and Indiana State have yet to miss a kick all year. South Dakota senior Miles Bergner (6-for-6) and Indiana State freshman Jerry Nunez (7-for-7) are two of nine players nationally who have yet to miss a field goal. Bergner comes with an added bonus. He's the nation's leading punter at 46.9-yards per boot. The Coyotes net 41.7 yards with each punt, the second-best average nationally.
One last thing
The Coyotes have had a different leading receiver in each of the last four games. Last week, it was Tacari Carpenter who caught three passes for a career-high 109 yards and two touchdowns. Before that it was Alonge Brooks against Youngstown State (2 rec, 56 yds, TD); Riley Donovan against North Dakota (4 rec, 103 yds, TD); and Shamar Jackson vs. Weber State (6 rec, 81 yds, 3TD).
