GAME 9: SOUTH DAKOTA (3-5, 2-2 MVFC) at WESTERN ILLINOIS (0-8, 0-4 MVFC)
When	Saturday, Nov. 2 | 1:05 p.m. CDT
Where	Macomb, Ill. | Hanson Field (16,368)
Television	None
Watch Online	ESPN+
Radio	Coyote Sports Network (Joe Van Goor, Gary Culver, John Thayer)
Live Stats	Live Stats
South Dakota Links	Game Notes | Roster | Schedule | Stats
WIU Links	Game Notes | Roster | Schedule | Stats
MVFC Links	MVFC Notes | Website | Stats
Social Media	Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Pregame Tailgate
Heading to the game on Saturday? Join fellow fans and friends for a pregame tailgate in the Q Lot next to Hanson Field in Macomb. The address is 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455. The Q Lot is located north of Hanson Field off of W University Drive. We will be in the northeast part of the parking lot.
 
The Game
South Dakota is looking to stay in the upper echelon of the Valley standings while Western Illinois is seeking its first win as the Coyotes and Leathernecks meet at Hanson Field Saturday. It is the fourth meeting between South Dakota head coach Bob Nielson and his former team. The Coyotes have won the last two, both by five points. Four of the seven meetings between USD and WIU as Valley foes have been decided by a touchdown or less.
 
The Coyotes
South Dakota has lost two in a row following a season-long, three-game win streak. The Coyotes have committed 11 turnovers in those two losses, one more than they combined for in their first six games of the year. The Coyote defense, which allowed fewer than 300 yards in three consecutive wins, has allowed an average of 555 yards in five losses.
 
The Leathernecks
Western Illinois has had a tough time replacing a talented senior class from a year ago. The Leathernecks' 17-12 loss to South Dakota inside the DakotaDome last November ended a three-game win streak and WIU hasn't won since. Six of the team's eight losses this year have been by double digits including a 59-14 loss at Youngstown State last week.
 
The Offenses
Despite featuring the Valley's top passer in senior Austin Simmons, the Coyotes have been at their best this season when they've found balance with their run game. Junior Kai Henry is coming off a career-best 116 yards against Southern Illinois a week ago. Simmons is the team's second-leading rusher. From a receiving standpoint, the Coyotes got Kody Case back from injury last week. Caleb Vander Esch has led the team in receiving six straight games and is the Valley's third-leading receiver.
 
Western Illinois' offense has reached 20 points just twice this season and not since a 37-31, triple overtime loss at home to Missouri State on the opening week of Valley play. Injuries have led to a stable of running backs, none of which have reached 200 yards this season. True freshman Jordan Schippers led the team with 85 yards last week, but it was his fourth game of the season and the Leathernecks may choose to redshirt him. Junior quarterback Connor Sampson has averaged 163 yards per game. Dennis Houston, who has a pair of 100-yard receiving efforts this year, returned from injury last week and caught three passes for 60 yards.
 
The Defenses
Big plays have doomed South Dakota in recent weeks. Recent foes UNI and Southern Illinois combined for 15 plays of 20 yards or more. USD had allowed a combined 16 such plays to its previous five FCS opponents. Inside linebacker Jack Cochrane had a career-high 17 tackles last week against the Salukis. He is also one of three Coyotes with two interceptions. Ten different Coyotes have registered a sack. Two-time All-American Darin Greenfield leads the team in that category with four.
 
Western Illinois has allowed 430 yards per game including 252 yards through the air. Senior linebacker Zach Glisan leads the team in tackles. Junior defensive end Kyle Williams has three sacks and 5.5 tackles-for-loss. The Leathernecks have produced 12 sacks and 10 turnovers including seven fumbles.
 
One Last Thing…
South Dakota is 2-2 all-time at Hanson Field. The Coyotes won a thriller, 38-33, the last time the team was in Macomb. USD, No. 10 in the national rankings at that time, led the 13^th-ranked Leathernecks 38-6 with less than six minutes to go in the third quarter. Western Illinois, behind quarterback Sean McGuire (441 yards, 4 TDs) and receiver Jaelon Acklin (19 rec, 343, yds, 3 TDs), cut the lead to 38-33 with 2:11 left and got the ball back with 34 seconds remaining. But Danny Rambo intercepted McGuire on the first play of the drive to clinch the win.