GAME 3: HOUSTON BAPTIST (1-1) at SOUTH DAKOTA (0-2)
When	Saturday, Sept. 14 | 2:05 p.m. CDT
Where	Vermillion, S.D. | DakotaDome (10,000)
Television	MidcoSN2 (Jay Elsen, Andre Fields, Elaina Lanson)
Watch Online	FREE webcast | ESPN3
Radio	Coyote Sports Network (Joe Van Goor, Gary Culver, John Thayer)
Live Stats	Live Stats
South Dakota Links	Game Notes | Roster | Schedule | Stats
HBU Links	Game Notes | Roster | Schedule | Stats
MVFC Links	MVFC Notes | Website | Stats
Social Media	Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Parking Information | A-Z Guide Football

The Game
South Dakota meets Houston Baptist on the gridiron for the first time in an afternoon kick inside the DakotaDome. The Coyotes are looking to get into the win column for the first time while the visiting Huskies are trying end a 19-game losing streak to FCS opponents.
 
The Familiarity
USD and HBU were both members of the Great West Conference from 2008-12, but never met on the gridiron. That's because the Huskies' program first kicked off in 2014 and as a member of the Southland Conference. This is Houston Baptist's first matchup against a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. South Dakota took on Southland foes Nicholls and Sam Houston State in the FCS playoffs in 2017.
 
The Schedules
We will learn a lot about both teams this afternoon. Up to this point, South Dakota has faced a top-20 FCS team in Montana and a top-five FBS program in Oklahoma. Houston Baptist just missed an upset at UTEP in week one (36-34) and beat up on Texas Wesleyan, an NAIA team, in week two.
 
The Offenses
Both teams features up-tempo, fast-paced offenses led by talented quarterbacks. South Dakota's Austin Simmons was the Valley's leading passer in 2018 and has thrown at least two touchdowns in three consecutive games dating back to last season. Houston Baptist's Bailey Zappe, a junior, has four 300-yard passing game in his career and has five touchdown tosses in two games this season.
 
The Defenses
The Coyotes feature a senior-laden defensive line, a young linebacker corps and a secondary looking to post better numbers than it has through two weeks. Darin Greenfield is a two-time All-American along the line and getting pressure on Zappe will be a key in stopping the Huskies. Houston Baptist's strength lies with its linebackers where junior Caleb Johnson has racked up 23 tackles in two games. Senior defensive end Andre Walker is the program's all-time leader in sacks. He has 3.5 this year and 15.0 for his career.
 
Hall of Fame Weekend
South Dakota added national champion diver Jill Smolczyk '08, basketball players and twin sisters Jeana (Hoffman) Krome '09 and Jenna (Hoffman) Kubesh '08, and football player Brian Alderson '06 to its Hall of Fame in a ceremony held inside the MUC Friday evening. Each will be honored at halftime of today's game. Alderson, a two-time All-American, served as left tackle for quarterback Wesley Beschorner and lead blocker for running back Stefan Logan from 2003-05.
 
One Last Thing…
Since 2017, 16 of South Dakota's 26 opponents have been either a ranked FCS team or an FBS member. Since joining the Valley in 2012, USD is 7-1 against non-conference, unranked FCS teams.