South Dakota led Missouri State 23-14 at halftime Saturday, but saw the Bears score 17 unanswered points in the second half. It's the first time in five seasons that the Coyotes dropped their conference opener.
 
Here are some other notes from week four:

• It was defense and special teams that set up the three Coyote touchdowns. Dalton Godfrey recovered a muffed punt, Jakari Starling had a strip sack, and Wesley Eliodor returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. All three plays came in the first half.
• Eliodor is one of 12 FCS players who have returned a kickoff for a score this season. He is the first Coyote to do so since 2008.
• Carter Bell had three catches for 102 yards including a 65-yard catch and run late in the fourth quarter. Bell's two career 100-yard receiving games have come against Missouri State.
• Nate Thomas (four carries, 60 yards) became the third Coyote running back this season to lead the team in rushing
• Carson Camp's 12 completions went for a season-high 231 yards
• Travis Theis has ran for a touchdown in all three of his games this season. He has four touchdowns this year and six for his career.
• An opposing running back has yet to find the end zone, though Bears quarterback Jason Shelley was the first to run for a score against the Coyote defense this season.
• Shelley scrambled five times for 51 yards and a touchdown.
• Shelley was sacked six times for 49 yards. It's just the 15^th time since 2000 that South Dakota has registered six sacks in a game.
• Nick Gaes scored his first two collegiate sacks and had four tackles in all
• Jackson Coker earned his first collegiate sack
• Jakari Starling, Brendan Webb and DeJaun Cooper notched their second sacks as Coyotes
• Jack Cochrane equaled his season-high with 13 tackles. His nine solo stops tied a career-best.
• Missouri State receiver Xavier Lane entered the contest with 17 catches for 226 yards and a touchdowns. He had one catch for six yards (no YAC) against USD.
  • Tre Jackson limited him to one target on 22 defensive assignments (one pass breakup)
  • Myles Harden limited him to one target on 16 defensive assignments (zero catches)

QUOTABLE
Sophomore wide receiver Wesley Eliodor
On the 99-yard kickoff return…
"The difference this week was just trusting myself to do it. We got the look we expected during practice and I saw the seam and hit it at full speed. I was able to make the kicker miss and sensed the defender behind me. I was able to stiff-arm him and go score.
 
"I knew it had been awhile since we had one. It was unfinished business from my freshman year when I had a 69-yarder and I knew that was the longest since 2011. We're playing as a team. No one's trying to stand out and all 11 people are doing their job on these special teams' units and it's paying off."
 
Redshirt-freshman wide receiver Carter Bell
On the result at Missouri State…
"We kind of shot ourselves in the foot. It's really one we wish we could have back in those last few drives. But we're a good team, we have another big opportunity this week, and we're just going to keep moving forward from here."
 
On the relationship with quarterback Carson Camp…
"I think it started on day one. He moved in with me my sophomore year when he early enrolled. So right from the start, we were working together. We knew that we were going to be here for the next four years together working side-by-side, so we built that connection early on and it's been going great."
 
Redshirt-freshman defensive tackle Nick Gaes
On the result at Missouri State…
"We had some mental errors that hurt us. But it was a competitive game, we didn't stop fighting, and in the last few minutes we caused two fumbles that gave us a chance. Their quarterback made some good plays. He's athletic and moved well."
 
On six sacks…
"That's definitely a good number, but we also missed 19 tackles which is not good. Being this first-year starting, I'm just trying to have fun and compete for a spot on the field. I'm working to improve every day, and as a team, we're going to try to limit explosive plays moving forward."