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The Game
South Dakota returns home from its only two-game road trip of the season to host Southern Illinois during Family Weekend on the campus of USD. Both teams are looking to even their records at 4-4 and the Coyotes would move into a tie for second place in the Valley standings with a win. It's a rematch from South Dakota's 31-24 victory in Carbondale last year when the Coyotes scored 21 points in the third quarter to overcome a 17-10 halftime deficit. It marked the first win by the road team in the series, which dates back to 2014.
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The Coyotes
South Dakota had a three-game win streak end last weekend in a 42-27 decision at then-No. 14 Northern Iowa. The Coyotes couldn't overcome a season-high six turnovers despite outgaining UNI in total yards.
Austin Simmons continues as the Valley's top passer and he will matchup against a defense that's allowed an average of 160 yards passing thru three conference games. The Coyotes' ground attack averaged 246 yards in three wins. It averaged 101 yards in four losses.
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The Salukis
Southern Illinois enters following a 35-10 drubbing of nationally-ranked Youngstown State last weekend. Redshirt freshman running back Javon Williams Jr. became the first Saluki to run, throw and catch a touchdown in the same game. He is featured in SIUs wildcat and goal line packages and is the Salukis' leading rusher. Southern Illinois brings the nation's 25
th-ranked rushing attack featuring Williams Jr., veteran D.J. Davis and freshman Romeir Elliott.
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The Lines
Both teams view their strengths on defense as their lines. For South Dakota, it features a quartet of seniors highlighted by two-time All-American
Darin Greenfield, Division I's active leader in tackles-for-loss. All-Valley performer Anthony Knighton is a standout defensive end for the Salukis, a team whose 25 sacks rank seventh nationally. South Dakota has 17 sacks to go with a conference-leading nine interceptions.
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The Questions
Who will start at quarterback for Southern Illinois? Sophomore Stone Labanowitz won a preseason battle over transfer Karé Lyles for the starting role, but Labanowitz hurt his shoulder back in game three and Lyles has played since. Labanowitz was back in pads last week, but did not play against Youngstown State.
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Will
Kody Case return? The sophomore wide out caught 17 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns in the first two games of the season, but has played nine snaps since due to an ankle injury. Junior
Caleb Vander Esch has been the Coyotes' top receiver in all five games since and has emerged as the third-leading receiver in the MVFC.
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The Return
Southern Illinois' defensive coordinator is Jason Petrino, who served in the same capacity for the Coyotes from 2012-15 under coach Joe Glenn. Petrino accepted the head coaching gig at Rocky Mountain, an NAIA program in Montana, where his team improved from 4-7 in year one to 8-4 in year three. Petrino is in his first year with the Salukis.
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The Series
South Dakota shutout Southern Illinois 42-0 two years ago inside the DakotaDome where both team's starting quarterbacks were knocked out early in the contest. The Coyotes returned two interceptions for touchdowns in that one. Last year in Carbondale, Southern Illinois ran 101 plays for 527 yards, but came away with points four times on 19 possessions.
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