South Dakota competed without starting wide receivers Kody Case and Levi Falck Saturday and still managed to rack up 642 yards of offense and 53 points. It was the most yards gained by a Coyote offense since 2017 when USD totaled 705 at home in a win against Indiana State.
 
Here are more notes from week three…

• USD ran 100 plays, the third time its offense has done so under Bob Nielson
• Austin Simmons set program, single-game records for passing yards (537), attempts (65) and completions (48). The previous marks were 520 (Chris Streveler at Sam Houston State in 2017), 63 (Streveler at Illinois State in 2017) and 39 (Streveler at Illinois State)
• Simmons' 537 passing yards are the most by any player at any NCAA level this season
• Five different Coyote receivers set career highs for receiving yards: Caleb Vander Esch (103), Randy Baker (102), Brett Samson (77), Connor Herrmann (76), and Drew Greenhaw (56)
• Vander Esch and Baker are the first USD tandem to reach 100 yards in the same game since Shamar Jackson (146) and Trystn Ducker (131) accomplished the feat in week two of 2018 against Northern Colorado
• Herrmann became the second Coyote receiver to catch two touchdowns in a game this season (Kody Case)
• Kai Henry became the fourth USD running back since 2009 to rush for three touchdowns in one game (Trevor Bouma, Chris Streveler, Ben Klett)
• Simmons is up to sixth on USD's career charts for passing yards (4,561) and passing touchdowns (33)
• Henry has 16 rushing touchdowns in two-plus seasons (26 games)
• Allen caught his 12^th career touchdown pass. Vander Esch and Herrmann have three apiece.
• Elijah Reed's first career interception set up the Coyotes' go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter
• Phillip Powell became the first Coyote to intercept two passes in a single game since… Phillip Powell did it in his USD debut in the season opener of 2017
• Powell has seven interceptions in 20 career games
• Powell also recorded his 100^th tackle as a Coyote. He had seven against the Huskies.
• Darin Greenfield got his second sack in as many weeks. He also drew another holding penalty and hit quarterback Bailey Zappe before he threw what turned out to be his third interception.
• Mason Lorber made eight consecutive field goal attempts prior to his miss on his second kick Saturday. Lorber's streak spanned nine games dating back to last season.

 
QUOTABLE
 
Junior running back Kai Henry
On the performance of the offense…
"Last week in practice felt different. The atmosphere and the intensity was solid and we were confident that we could come out and have a big game. Our offensive line did a great job giving me some room near the goal line, and I trusted my speed in breaking to the outside for that go-ahead score in the fourth quarter.
 
"We're not satisfied by that though. It doesn't end there and it only gets better. That's what we are supposed to put up every game and I'm excited for this next week."
 
Junior safety Phillip Powell
On how the Oklahoma experience led into Saturday's game…
"I gained a lot of experience the previous week in Oklahoma. Playing against that caliber of competition was humbling, and it gave me motivation to get better and execute. I approached this week trying not to take any plays for granted, and tried to maximize the possibility of a positive outcome for our team."
 
On Houston Baptist's offense…
"The plays that were being made were a result of a lack of discipline. Those short throws got irritating, and it made us want to try to do more than what our assignment asked for, and Houston Baptist made us pay for a couple of big plays. Sometimes when you take risks, it can come back to bite you."
 
Senior receiver Randy Baker
On the play of the offense…
"I think we took a step forward this week as an offense. Our execution was good, but things didn't fall into place like we had hoped. Our run game got more to where we want it to be. Our linemen played with a lot of grit and Kai found the holes. In our quick-pass game, receivers were turning 5-yard gains into 10- and 20-yard gains."
 
On his 11-catch, 102-yard performance…
"It meant a lot to have a game like that and tie the record for catches. Coming off of last year, breaking my collar bone and not having the season that I wanted, just to get back into the flow of things and having a game like that felt incredible.
 
"Any receiver on our team can start anywhere. The work we put in practice and the time we spend in the film room, it's how we prepare ourselves. We understand the game, know what we got to do and we take it upon ourselves to be the best we can be when we get on the field."
 
Junior tight end Connor Herrmann
On the 50-point performance…
"Throwing for that many yards, having numerous scores and more than 50 points is going to be a big confidence booster for the offense. It reinforces the idea that we are capable of putting up some big numbers and that we have guys who can make plays. Coming off a loss, you have to look at the positive things and move forward."
 
On his two touchdown catches…
"It's a crazy feeling that's for sure. There is a lot of adrenaline and it all happens so fast. One second you're in the end zone and the next second your teammates are rushing by you and congratulating you and each other. It's hard to describe, but it's cool.
 
"Austin threw great balls on both of them. He put it in places where I could get it, especially the second one. I had to make a move on the DB, but then the ball just landed right in my hands."

AUDIBLE
For more on Saturday's game, check out the latest edition of YoteCast, the official podcast of the South Dakota Coyotes. In Monday's edition, John Thayer, who worked the sidelines for the Coyote Sports Network and Jay Elsen, who called the game for Midco Sports Network, break down the game in Vermillion and look ahead to Saturday's road tilt at Northern Colorado.