The Game
It is a pivotal week six as South Dakota hosts No. 13/15 North Dakota Saturday inside the DakotaDome. The Coyotes (3-2, 1-1 MVFC) got even in the Valley standings following a 38-10 win against Indiana State on homecoming last weekend and are looking for a statement win to push into the top 25. North Dakota (2-2, 0-1) on the other hand is coming off a defensive slugfest and a 16-10 loss at home to rival North Dakota State. The Fighting Hawks are looking to avoid their first 0-2 start inside the Valley.
 
The Rematch
North Dakota beat South Dakota 21-10 seven months ago in Grand Forks. Hawks running back Otis Weah ran for 163 yards and two touchdowns and North Dakota outgained South Dakota 489-328. It was the first game under Bob Nielson in which the Coyotes didn't win when holding an opponent to fewer than 27 points.
 
The last time North Dakota came to Vermillion was a different story altogether. South Dakota, No. 23 in the polls at the time and led by a quarterback named Chris Streveler, routed the 10^th-ranked Hawks 45-7 in a non-conference game in 2017. Streveler passed for 290 yards, ran for 62 and accounted for three touchdowns in a game that was over by halftime.
 
The Coyotes
This South Dakota defense is looking to earn the distinction for best in the program's Division I era. The Coyotes are coming off their top performance of the year in the win against Indiana State. They now rank 14^th in scoring defense, 17^th in rushing defense and 21^st in total defense. Preseason All-American Jack Cochrane has led the Coyotes in tackles in all but one game this season. Fellow team captain Elijah Reed has a pick in both games inside the Dome this year. Eleven different Coyotes have recorded a sack.
 
The Other Matchup
Much has been made about South Dakota's defense against North Dakota's offense and rightfully so. The other battle is just as intriguing as quarterback Carson Camp and the Coyote offense gets a second crack at the Hawks' aggressive 3-4 defense. North Dakota State managed just 280 yards against UND last week including 57 yards passing. In fact, Bison wide receivers hauled in one catch for minus-1 yard in that game. South Dakota passed for 199 and ran for 129 in Grand Forks back in March. The Hawks logged four sacks and had seven tackles-for-loss.
 
The Hawks
Weah is an all-American who pairs well with North Dakota's talented offensive line, but there are a plethora of other stars on North Dakota's offense. Fellow running back Luke Skokna is the lightning to Weah's thunder and is averaging 6.4 yards per carry this season. Quarterback Tommy Schuster was the second-team all-Valley quarterback as a redshirt freshman last season and is averaging 234 yards passing per game. Six different receivers have caught between 9-17 passes through four games.
 
One Last Thing
South Dakota has owned the first half against its four FCS foes, outscoring them 115-24 and outgaining them 1,221-496. Camp had his first three-touchdown day a week ago against Indiana State. All three touchdown passes came in the second quarter.

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