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

The Basics
Lamar (0-2, 0-0 Southland) at South Dakota (1-1, 0-0 MVFC)
Saturday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. (CDT)
Vermillion, S.D. | DakotaDome (9,100)
TV: Midco Sports (Jay Elsen; Andre Fields)
Radio: Coyote Sports Network (John Thayer, Gary Culver & Jerry Palleschi)
Watch Online: ESPN+ ($) | Midco Sports Plus ($)
Series: Lamar leads 3-0 (won 24-20 in Texas back in 2010 ... also played in 1959 & 1960)

About the Coyotes:  South Dakota is trying to return to playoff form after hosting its first playoff game in 35 years back in 2021 ... eight starters return on each side of the football ... the defense boasts three preseason all-Americans in CB Myles Harden and LBs Brock Mogensen and Stephen Hillis ... Hillis and Mogensen were the top tacklers in the Valley last season ... the offense is under the direction of new coordinator Josh Davis who won a national title at rival SDSU last season ... QB Aidan Bouman started the final four games of last season ... WRs Carter Bell and Jack Martens have caught 23 of Bouman's 31 completions through two games ... the run game has netted 152 yards through two games

About the Cardinals:  Lamar turned to veteran coach Pete Rossomando after posting a 3-19 record over the past two seasons ... Rossomando has served at Rutgers, Vanderbilt and most recently Charlotte ... the Cardinals opened this season with then-No. 8 Idaho (L, 42-17) and UL Monroe of the FBS (L, 24-14) ... QB Robert Coleman, making his second start at the D1 level, completed 19-of-25 passes for 190 yards and a TD last week ... LB Foday Jalloh has 12 tackles and a sack ... Lamar has surrendered 558 yards on the ground through two games ... RB Khalan Griffin has 87 yards and a TD

Quick Hits
-It is Hall of Fame week at USD. Former WR Will Powell will be inducted in a ceremony Friday and honored at halftime of Saturday's game.
-DT Nick Gaes is the reigning Valley and national defensive player of the week after registering 7 tackles, 5 TFL and 3 sacks vs. UST
-CB Myles Harden has forced a turnover in each of the first two games (forced six turnovers in six games last season)
-USD is in the midst of four home games out of five ... the last such streak came back in 2011
-LB Brock Mogensen needs two tackles to become the eighth player in program history to record 300 tackles
-QB Aidan Bouman has accounted for 12 TDs against two turnovers in six career starts
-WRs Jack Martens and Carter Bell have combined for 23 catches for 280 yards thru two games
-Seven defensive players have made between 10-12 tackles thru two games

The Notes
South Dakota rebounded from an opening day loss at the SEC's Missouri by shutting out St. Thomas 24-0 last Saturday in the Coyotes' home opener. It was the program's first shutout of an opponent since 2019 and it came against a team that is receiving votes in the top 25. In fact, the Tommies hadn't been held scoreless in a game for nearly 12 years. St. Thomas ran 11 plays on USD's side of the field and didn't draw closer than the Coyotes' 30-yard line.

A lot of the destruction Saturday was performed by junior defensive tackle Nick Gaes who registered three of South Dakota's four sacks and totaled five tackles-for-loss. Gaes is the first FCS player to record five tackles-for-loss in a game this season and only the second Coyote since 2001 to do so. Gaes is the third Coyote at the Division I level (since 2009) to record three sacks in a game, joining Darin Greenfield and Tyler Starr.

South Dakota surpassed 100 yards rushing against a talented St. Thomas front seven, but head coach Bob Nielson expressed a desire for more from its ground attack in week three. Travis Theis has been bottled up for the first two games. Mike Mansaray and Nate Thomas have spelled him at times. They face a run defense in Lamar that allowed 273 rushing yards to Idaho and 285 last week at Louisiana-Monroe.

One of the many highlights from last week was a dazzling 25-yard touchdown run by Thomas in the fourth quarter. It is the longest run by a Coyote this season. Thomas was South Dakota's leading rusher as a true freshman in 2021. He was injured during the 2022 spring semester and missed all of last season. Thomas has run seven times for 42 yards through two games. He reached the end zone for the sixth time in 12 games.

Preseason all-American linebackers Stephen Hillis and Brock Mogensen led the Valley and were among the national leaders in tackles last season. The Coyote defense has shared the load through two games this season and is getting prodution at all three levels. Cornerbacks Shahid Barros and Myles Harden are tied at the top with Hillis and Mogensen with 12 tackles. Safeties Dennis Shorter and Josiah Ganues have 11 and 10, respectively. Defensive lineman Micah Roane has 11 and we can add Nick Gaes' recent performance into the mix as well.

South Dakota is in year eight under Bob Nielson who has led the Coyotes to the playoffs twice in his tenure including two seasons ago in 2021. USD played the toughest schedule (ever?) in FCS last season, lost its offensive coordinator two games in and finished 3-8. This year's schedule sees USD playing six homes games for the first time since 2019.

New offensive coordinator Josh Davis won a national title with rival South Dakota State last season. Davis was a standout wide receiver at SDSU. 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.

Fourth-year sophomore Aidan Bouman is the starting quarterback in Davis' system. Bouman, who spent his first two years at Iowa State, led South Dakota back from a 21-7 deficit against 14th-ranked Southern Illinois on Dakota Days (homecoming) last season and remained QB1 for the final four games of 2022. He has now played in 6.5 games and thrown 185 passes. He has accounted for 13 touchdowns (11 pass) against two turnovers (1 INT, 1 lost fumble).

Bouman is one of six team captains on this year's team. Another is fifth-year junior running back Travis Theis who has earned honorable mention all-MVFC honors in two seasons as the starter. He ranked sixth in the conference with 775 yards on 4.7 ypc last season and was second on the team in receptions with 25. 

South Dakota's receiving room is expected to be anchored by fifth-year junior Carter Bell, a high school quarterback, who has 98 collegiate catches for 1,382 yards and 11 touchdowns. It's being complemented by Jack Martens who backed up a career-high 81 yards receiving in the opener at Missouri with five catches for 73 yards and a 30-yard touchdown catch last week. Fourth-year tight end JJ Galbreath is a returning starter who was South Dakota's second-leading receiver last year with 286 yards on 22 catches.

USD's offensive line features three veterans in the middle and two young tackles. Right guard Isaac Erbes is a sixth-year senior and team captain who has started 41 consecutive games. Joey Lombard is a two-year starter at center and left guard Bryce Henderson was the starter there a year ago. Caden Ellingson is the right tackle this year after earning three starts a year ago. Left tackle Joe Cotton made his USD debut in the season opener.
     Ellingson was injured in Saturday's game against St. Thomas. His status for this Saturday is unknown. Redshirt freshman Jordan Larsen made his collegiate debut and replaced Ellingson at right tackle.

Linebackers Stephen Hillis (115) and Brock Mogensen (106) were the top tacklers in the Valley 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). He has racked up 298 tackles in 39 collegiate games. Just seven players in program history have made 300 tackles.

Defensive coordiantor Travis Johansen has moved sixth-year senior Brendan Webb from defensive end to rush backer, a hybrid position in Johansen's scheme that routinely leads the unit in sacks and tackles-for-loss. Webb is a three-year starter who has compiled 8.0 sacks and 16.0 tackles-for-loss in 39 collegiate games. He earned his first sack at the new position in the season opener at Missouri.

Veteran safeties Josiah Ganues and Dennis Shorter man the back line. Shorter was USD's third-leading tackler last season. Ganues is a two-year starter who surpassed 100 career tackles last week. Ganues, Harden and safety Tim White all attended Miramar High School in Florida. White, listed behind Shorter in the two deep, attended Robert Morris last season.

The defensive line is headed by returning tackles Blake Holden and Nick Gaes. Nebraska transfer Mosai Newsom is expected to make an immediate impact in the middle as well. Mi'Quise Grace, a promising redshirt freshman, and sixth-year senior Micah Roane will rotate at defensive end.

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, kicker Zeke Mata is a recent arrival from LSU who handled kickoff duties against Missouri and long snapper Caden Pellizzer is a new arrival from Northern Michigan. Will Leyland, a fourth-year sophomore, has handled placekicking duties. Leyland made a 40-yard field goal in Missouri and banked in a 25-yarder Saturday.

Saturday is part of Hall of Fame Weekend at USD. In addition to Will Powell, this year's inductees include national champion 800 runner Emma (Erickson) Ladwig '11, high jump and long jumper Paul Brozik '04, pole vaulter Marci (Miller) Gassen '05, swimmer Leita Rolfe '08 and two-sport athlete Todd Poling '88 as a special contributor. Special recognition is also being given to the 2006 men's track and field team coached by Dave Gottsleben.