Full Game Notes (.pdf) | Southern Illinois Notes (.pdf)

The Basics
No. 9 South Dakota (6-2, 4-1 MVFC) at No. 10 Southern Illinois (6-2, 3-2 MVFC)
Saturday, Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. (CDT)
Carbondale, Ill. | Saluki Stadium (16,368)
TV: None
Radio: Coyote Sports Network (John Thayer, Gary Culver & Jerry Palleschi)
Watch Online: ESPN+ ($)
Series: Tied 4-4 ... USD won 27-24 in Vermillion last year ... first game in Carbondale since 2018

About the Coyotes:  South Dakota matched its best win streak as an FCS program before running into SDSU last week ... it marked the first time the Coyotes had trailed in Valley game this year ... the offense, which had turned it over twice all season, had two passes tipped and intercepted vs. SDSU ... the defense remains top-10 in points allowed ... its led by all-Valley LBs Brock Mogensen and Stephen Hillis ... safety Dennis Shorter is the second-leading tackler and preseason all-American Myles Harden is a lockdown corner ... the offense has seen three different 100-yard rushers led by Travis Theis, the eighth-leading rusher in program history ... K Will Leyland hasn't missed all season

About the Salukis:  Southern Illinois' two losses are to Youngstown State (31-3) and SDSU (17-10) ... a 14-11 win at FBS Northern Illinois back in week two boosts the resume, and a trip to Fargo follows this one ... just three teams have managed 100 yards rushing against the defense and no FCS offense has reached 340 total yards against it ... the Salukis boast 27 total sacks and nearly eight tackles-for-loss per game ... multiple defenders get in on the act ... Javon Williams and Avante Cox have finally graduated, but QB Nic Baker, RB Ro Elliott and WR D'Ante' Cox remain ... Elliott and Lashaun Lester are both averaging better than 6 yards per carry ... WRs Izaiah Hartrup & Vinson Davis have emerged

Quick Hits
-USD is trying to reach seven regular season wins at the FCS level for the third time and five MVFC wins for the second time (2021)
-SIU is South Dakota's fourth top-25 foe (third top 10) in the last six weeks (2-1)
-QB Aidan Bouman's first collegiate action came in the win against SIU last season. He has started every USD game since.
-Bouman entered with a 21-7 deficit and helped USD to a 27-24 win. Eddie Ogamba's 44-yard field with 2:31 left was the difference.
-The only USD player who has competed in Carbondale is Jonathan Joanis
-SIU receiver Vinson Davis attended the same high school as USD cornerback Myles Harden and safety Josiah Ganues
-USD's offense has committed the fewest turnovers in all of FCS (4)
-LB Brock Mogensen (360) has the fourth-most tackles among all active FCS players and the fourth-most in program history

The Notes
South Dakota and Southern Illinois meet Saturday in one of two top-10 matchups taking place inside the FCS this week. The winner keeps hopes alive for a coveted top-eight seed in the FCS playoffs and the second-round home game that comes with it.

South Dakota and Southern Illinois enter with 6-2 records and three common opponents. South Dakota topped Murray State (38-7) and Youngstown State (34-31) and lost to South Dakota State (37-3). Southern Illinois topped Murray State (27-6), lost to Youngstown State (31-3) and lost to South Dakota State (17-10).

South Dakota topped Southern Illinois 31-24 in what was Bob Nielson's 200th career coaching victory back in 2018. That was the last time South Dakota appeared in Carbondale. The last three games were played in South Dakota including a first-round playoff contest in 2021.

No one runs against Southern Illinois this year, but it was a 205-yard ground attack that pushed South Dakota past the Salukis a year ago. Shomari Lawrence (now at FAU) ran 11 times for 122 yards and a score and Travis Theis added 108 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Ro Elliott gained 100 yards on 16 carries for Southern Illinois last year. This will be Elliott's fourth game against USD.

Head coach Bob Nielson hinted that running back Nate Thomas will be closer to 100 percent this week and that can only help the Coyotes' ground attack. Thomas' season is highlighted by a 164-yard, 2-touchdown effort against Lamar. He missed two games due to injury and has run three times in the two games since returning to the field.
   Thomas' absence paved the way for redshirt freshman Charles Pierre Jr. He has run 30 times for 131 yards and two touchdowns over the last three games.

South Dakota lost the turnover battle to Southern Illinois 5-1 in the 2019 contest and 4-0 in the 2021 playoff battle. USD won the turnover war 2-1 in last year's win.
   The Coyote offense committed two of their four turnovers this sesaon last week in a couple of tipped passes that went for interceptions against South Dakota State. Southern Illinois has 11 turnovers through eight games (4 INT, 7 fumbles).

Through eight games last season, South Dakota had allowed 31 sacks including three in its win against Southern Illinois. This year's team has allowed seven sacks all season, tied for seventh-best nationally.
    Caden Ellingson returned to the lineup three weeks ago at right tackle but it was Bryce Henderson who earned the start there against South Dakota State. Ellingson had been out since week one at Missouri. Right guard Isaac Erbes is a sixth-year senior and team captain who has started 47 consecutive games. Joey Lombard is a two-year starter at center. The left side has Joe Cotton as the new left tackle this year and Sam Kohls has been the starting left guard since week three.

Keeping the quarterback upright is always a good thing and it has certainly led to an efficiency bonus for Aidan Bouman who has been one of the national leaders in quarterback efficiency this season. Bouman had thrown 18 touchdowns against two interceptions to begin his collegiate career. He was picked off twice last week against South Dakota State. Both were off tipped passes.

Carter Bell is featured on the Coyotes' top-10 list for receiving yards, catches and touchdowns (see next page). Another receiving option who has grown more reliable is tight end JJ Galbreath who ranks second among MVFC tight ends in yards (352) and touchdowns (4). Only Illinois State's Cam Grandy (439) has more yards. Galbreath was targeted 11 times last week and caught a career-high eight passes. No USD tight end had a catch in last year's contest against Southern Illinois.

A big reason for South Dakota's turnaround this season is its offense under new coordinator Josh Davis. Davis was a standout wide receiver at South Dakota State and won a national title on the coaching staff at SDSU last season. He served as offensive coordinator at Northwestern College (NAIA) for six seasons. After going 3-7 in year one, the Red Raiders were a combined 51-10 with five straight playoff appearances. Davis returned to SDSU last season and Northwestern won the 2022 NAIA national title.

Davis is one of six new coaches on Bob Nielson's staff. Others include Jeff Nady (OL at Nevada last year), Craig Bagnell (head coach at Mary), Tim Morrison (off. coord. at Upper Iowa), Rob Snyder (former LSU Tiger) and Steve Ferentz (former Iowa Hawkeye who has spent the last three years with the Miami Dolphins). More information on the Coyote coaching staff can be found on page four.

The Coyote defense ranks seventh in scoring defense (17.2 ppg) and 31st in total defense (340 ypg) among FCS scholarship teams. The unit is led by preseason all-American linebackers Stephen Hillis and Brock Mogensen who led the Valley and were among the national leaders in tackles last season. Hillis began his career at Air Force and transferred to USD in 2019 after being diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes. He served mainly on special teams until last year when a week one injury elevated Hillis to the starting lineup. Hillis went on to earn first-team all-MVFC honors while leading USD in tackles-for-loss (8.0) and sacks (4.0). Mogensen is a two-time all-Valley linebacker (2021 spring season and 2022 fall season) with 360 career tackles, fourth-most in program history and fourth-most among active FCS players.

Hillis and Mogensen have received support at all levels. Brendan Webb, Nick Gaes and Micah Roane on the front lines have combined for 12.5 sacks and 18.0 tackles-for-loss. Safety Dennis Shorter is the team's second-leading tackler and has forced two fumbles/turnovers over the last four games. Cornerback Myles Harden is a first-team, preseason all-American who has forced eight turnovers in his last 14 games dating back to last season. He has an interception and a recovered fumble this season.

South Dakota has boasted strong specialists throughout Nielson's tenure. This year's unit features all new starters. Punter Tyler Ebel is a redshirt freshman, Zeke Mata is a recent arrival from LSU who is handling kickoff duties and long snapper Caden Pellizzer is a new arrival from Northern Michigan. Will Leyland, a fourth-year sophomore, is 8-for-8 on field goals and 22-for-22 in extra points. He is one of two FCS players yet to miss a kick this season. He drilled a game-winning, 41-yard field goal to beat Youngstown State inside the Dome two weeks ago, and hit a career-long 50-yarder against SDSU last week.

Saturday's game is one of five FCS top-25 matchups this week. The other is No. 4 Montana (7-1) hosting No. 7 Sacramento State (6-2). In other action, South Dakota State (8-0) hosts No. 11 North Dakota State (6-2) and No. 14 Chattanooga (7-2) welcomes second-ranked Furman (7-1). No. 23 Albany (6-3) hosts No. 24 William & Mary (5-3).

South Dakota has a 2-1 record in road games this season and played turnover free in all three contests. Saturday is the team's third outdoor game this season with Missouri and Indiana State the other two.
     Aidan Bouman has completed 36-of-54 passes for 496 yards and three touchdowns in three road games. Carter Bell has 13 catches, 236 yards and two scores. Brock Mogensen has 34 tackles in three road contests.