Full Game Notes (.pdf) | Montana Notes (.pdf)

The Basics
South Dakota (0-1, 0-0 MVFC) vs. No. 2/3 Montana (1-0, 0-0 Big Sky)
Saturday, Sept. 10 at 1:30 p.m. (MDT)
Missoula, Mont. | Washington-Grizzly Stadium (25,217)
TV: ABC/Fox Montana (Dennis Patchin, Grady Bennett, Shaun Rainey)
Radio: Coyote Sports Network (John Thayer, Gary Culver, Carter Woodiel)
Watch Online: ESPN+ (subscription required)
Series: Montana leads 13-6 ... won last six ... won 31-17 in Vermillion in 2019 (last meeting)

About the Coyotes:  South Dakota was shutout for the first time under Bob Nielson (64 games) last week at Kansas State ... the Coyotes returned to the playoffs for the second time in four full seasons a year ago, and hosted an FCS playoff game for the first time ... they got there with a balanced offense and the program's best defense statistically at the FCS level (since 2009) ... preseason all-American MLB Brock Mogensen had a game-high 12 tackles last week and leads a group with nine other veteran starters ... QB Carson Camp (17 starts) was one of the most efficient passers in the FCS a year ago ... RB Shomari Lawrence is back from injury and led USD with a career-high 84 yards rushing at KSU

About the Griz:  Montana is one of seven FCS programs that pitched a shutout in week one, blanking lowly Northwestern State 47-0 ... the Griz were national quarterfinalists again last season and were 10-3 overall ... coach Hauck is 29-12 in this his second stint at his alma mater (since 2018) ... Montana is favored to win the Big Sky ... the defense features three players on the Buchanan Award Watch List (National Defensive POY) in LB Patrick O'Connell, CB Justin Ford and S Robby Hauck ... QB Lucas Johnson, a San Diego State transfer, passed for 208 yards and four TDs and ran for 76 yards last week

Quick Hits
-USD was 7-5 last year and advanced to the FCS playoffs for the second time in four years
-LB Brock Mogensen, LT Alex Jensen and LS Dalton Godfrey are preseason all-Americans. Jensen did not compete last week (inj.), ending a string of 28 consecutive starts
-Mogensen needs eight tackles for 200 in his career
-RB Travis Theis needs 65 yards rushing to reach 1,000 in his career
-LB Michael Scott had eight tackles, 3 TFL and 2 sacks in his Coyote debut last week
-South Dakota is taking on the toughest schedule in the FCS this year. Preseason #1, #2, #3, #5 and #9 are on the slate.
-USD's last win in Missoula was in 1965 (15-14). Montana has won all eight since.
-The Coyotes' last win in the series came in Vermillion in 1974 (24-10)

The Notes
South Dakota begins year seven under Bob Nielson coming off the program's second FCS playoff appearance in the last four full seasons. The Coyotes were 7-5 last year, including a 5-3 record in the toughest conference in FCS football, the Missouri Valley Football Conference. That mark was good for third place in the league, USD's best finish in 10 seasons. The program was rewarded by hosting its first NCAA playoff game in 35 seasons. USD was ranked 18/20 in the final rankings.

Great opportunity awaits. That's the theme as South Dakota is set to tackle the toughest FCS schedule in the nation. In addition to facing Kansas State in week one, the Coyotes will face the current No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the FCS within the next four games. Two of those three games are road contests. Beyond that, three more current top-25 teams are featured on the schedule. Such is life in the MVFC, which had a higher SOS than three FBS conferences in 2021 (Sun Belt, Mid-American, C-USA).

South Dakota returns to Missoula for the first time since 2014. Saturday will mark the fifth meeting between the two teams at the FCS level. The last matchup came in the season opener of 2019 when Montana quarterback Dalton Sneed passed for 427 yards and three scores in a 31-17 win in Vermillion. South Dakota's Austin Simmons passed for 246 yards. Coyote receiver Kody Case tied a program record with 11 catches. He had 144 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

More than a dozen current Coyotes competed in that 2019 contest including five who started:  Alex Jensen (LT), Isaac Erbes (RT), Jakari Starling (LB), Jonathan Joanis (LB) and Dalton Godfrey (LS).

Injury Update. Nielson told reporters that it was a coin flip on whether Alex Jensen would be able to play this week at Montana. Jensen had started all 28 games over the last three seasons. Nielson also said Joey Lombard's and Jakari Starling's status were still to be determined.

Caden Ellingson, a redshirt freshman from Tea, started in place of Jensen at tackle and got stronger as the game went on Saturday accoring to Nielson. Another South Dakota native, Ben Kohls from Sioux Falls, took over at center. Stephen Hillis had a career-best eight tackles while earning increased snaps at LB.

South Dakota football received Sports Illustrated's Play of the Year Award last December. Trailing 20-17 with :01 left against rival South Dakota State, Carson Camp completed a 57-yard Hail Mary to Jeremiah Webb for the winning score that ultimately clinched the Coyotes' playoff bid. Camp and Webb received the award on behalf of the football program during a ceremony held Dec. 7 in Hollywood, Florida. NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal presented the award.

Camp, a sophomore eligibility wise, is back for his third season as the starting quarterback. In 17 starts, he has thrown for more than 3,300 yards with 20 touchdowns. He completed 65 percent of his passes last year and his 149 passer rating ranked 14th nationally. Aidan Bouman, a redshirt freshman transfer from Iowa State, was listed second on the initial depth chart. He is the son of former NFL QB Todd Bouman.

Travis Theis heads a running back group that lost Nate Thomas to a non-contact, season-ending injury last spring. Thomas was USD's leading rusher last year as a true freshman despite not seeing the field until week three. Thomas emerged when Shomari Lawrence was injured in week four. Lawrence (33 rush, 160 yds in 2021) returned to the field Saturday and led South Dakota with 84 yards on 14 carries (6.0 ypc). Both are career highs. The Coyotes also feature Mike Mansaray, who broke out with a 141-yard and two-touchdown performance last season in a week three win against Cal Poly.

Of the 199 receptions recorded a year ago, 110 came from players not on last week's travel roster. Carter Bell, the team's leading receiver last year, is back. He had 41 catches for 673 yards and five touchdowns last year. The only other active receiver (not tight end or running back) who logged a catch last year is Wesley Eliodor, who caught nine passes for 108 yards and a score. Javion Phelps (3 catches, 25 yards), Jack Martens (2 for 35), Andrew Jacobs (1 for 5) and Jordan Sommerville (1 for 1) all made their first collegiate catch last week against Kansas State. Montana State transfer Jamahd Monroe was also targeted.

It has taken three short seasons – including a COVID year – for defensive coordinator Travis Johansen to take South Dakota's defense to new heights. Last year's squad allowed 344 yards and 20 points per game, both of which are program bests at the FCS level.

Eight starters on defense last week have significant starting experience at USD. Michael Scott isn't included in that group, but he certainly has experience. Scott is a graduate transfer from Akron who played in 27 games over the last three seasons for the Zips. He started in Johansen's edge rush linebacker position, previously held by Jacob Matthew who led USD in sacks and tackles-for-loss in each of the last three seasons. Scott had eight tackles including two sacks and three tackles-for-loss in his Coyote debut last week.

Safety Josh Manchigiah, not included in the numbers in note 12, has more experience than anyone. He played in more than 50 games at South Dakota State the last five seasons. Manchigiah started at safety against Kansas State and rotated in with Dennis Shorter.

Coach Nielson said in fall camp that his depth at defensive back is as good as its been in his seven seasons at USD. Several starting cornerbacks return including Myles Harden and Da'Raun McKinney who turned in solid performances in week one. Harden got home on a corner blitz and forced a fumble to end a KSU drive for his first collegiate sack. He and McKinney both logged five tackles each. Josiah Ganues was an instant hit at safety last year and had a career-best eight tackles last week.

Kansas State passed for just 95 yards on 19 pass attempts in week one. South Dakota had four sacks and forced KSU quarterbacks to scramble on several other dropbacks. The Wildcats didn't have a pass go for more than 10 yards until their final drive of the game.

Veterans DeValon Whitcomb and Jackson Coker have graduated on the defensive line. Young stars Nick Gaes, Brendan Webb and Micah Roane return. Blake Holden is poised for a larger role at tackle after competing in five games last year and redshirt freshmen Earl Miller Jr. and Dominic Caggiano made their collegiate debuts Saturday. New additions there include Ben Gansallo, a graduate transfer who started four games for New Mexico in 2019, but played in six games since. Mi'Quise Grace is a true freshman who performed well in fall camp.

For the first time in Bob Nielson's 30 years of coaching, a special teams player has been voted a team captain. That player is all-American long snapper Dalton Godfrey, who doubles as an academic all-American. Godfrey will be working with two new specialists this year and both are seniors. Eddie Ogamba, who transferred from Iowa State prior to last season, has won the kicking duties. John Bickle, who had success at Division III Wheaton College last year, is the punter.

Bickle had a solid debut despite being under pressure on several attempts Saturday. His first punt went for 61 yards and he finished with a 45.7-yard average on six punts, none of which were returned.

South Dakota was one of 10 FCS teams that returned both a kickoff and punt back for a touchdown during the regular season last year. Wesley Eliodor had a 99-yard kickoff return against Missouri State. Carter Bell had a 47-yard punt return for a score against North Dakota State. Eliodor broke two tackles on a 35-yard return against Kansas State last week that set USD up at its own 41-yard line.