VERMILLION, S.D. — The No. 4-ranked University of South Dakota football team (5-1, 3-0 MVFC) takes their four-game win streak into the eastern time zone for their second Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) road trip of the season when they face the Youngstown State Penguins (2-5, 1-2 MVFC) at 5:00 p.m. (CT) / 6:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN+ and Midco Sports Two.
 

Game 8 | No. 4/4 South Dakota (5-1, 3-0 MVFC) at Youngstown State (2-5, 1-2 MVFC)
Date | Time	Saturday, October 19 | 5:00 PM (CT) / 6:00 PM (ET)
Location	Youngstown, Ohio | Stambaugh Stadium (20,630)
Fan Information	Tickets | Fan Information & Parking
Television	ESPN+ - Drae Smith (PxP) & Dante Nania (Analyst)
Radio	Coyote Sports Network (John Thayer, Gary Culver, Jerry Palleschi) [KVHT 106.3 FM]
Live Stats	(Youngstown State): SIDEARM | StatBroadcast
Game Notes	South Dakota | Youngstown State | MVFC
Social Media	@SDCoyotesFB  | #GoYotes x #WeAreSouthDakota | @sdcoyotesfb  | Facebook

GAME STORYLINES

• MVFC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Gary Bryant III recorded his first-career interception and was tied for the game-high with 11 tackles, including a tackle for loss.
• This weekend is the only game of the regular season to take place in the eastern time zone, and just the second game (scheduled) this year outside of the central time zone.
• USD has won their first three MVFC games in each of the last two season, looking to make it four-straight for the second-straight year.
• Only twice before has USD won four-straight MVFC games and both have been under Nielson (2017, 2023).
• The Yotes remain No. 4 in both polls (AFCA Coaches' & STATS Perform) entering Week 8.
• South Dakota has scored 40+ points in all four home games this season.
• They've also scored 40-straight points in four-straight games for the first time in the MVFC era and doing so for the first time since the 2005-06 seasons.
• Offensively, the Yotes sit sixth in scoring offense at 40.5 points per game, just six teams have averaged 40+ points a game this season.
• The Coyote rushing attack sits 7^th in the FCS (239.3 yards per game) after 192 rushing yards in the win over UNI.
• The Coyote defense leads the MVFC in scoring defense at 10.5 ppg (third in FCS) and total defense at 282.2 total yards per game (7th in FCS).
• Teams have struggled to score against the Yotes in the red zone, converting only 61.5% of the time (fifth in the FCS).
• HC Bob Nielson has coached in 92 career games at South Dakota, sitting at 47 career wins at USD.
• Five more wins for Nielson will put him fourth all-time in program history for games won at USD.
• DEFENDING THE DOME: Since the 2021 season, South Dakota is 17-6 inside the DakotaDome.

 
YOTES TO NOTE

• Aidan Bouman has thrown for at least 200 passing yards and one touchdown in the last four games.
• Quaron Adams has been a spark in the wide receivers group, averaging an MVFC-best 24.6 yards per catch.
• The rushing attack of Charles Pierre Jr. (92.0) and Travis Theis (86.3) sit No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the Valley in rushing yards per game.
• The same duo also sits No. 1 and No. 2 in the Valley in rushing scores with 10 and eight, respectively.
• Gary Bryant III leads the defense with his 47.0 tackles per game, while Dennis Shorter has a team-best two interceptions.
• Nick Gaes sits tied for the MVFC-lead in sacks, sitting at 5.5 on the season. He has recorded at least one sack in five of the six games played.

 
HIGH SCORING COYOTES!

• South Dakota has put up 40+ points in four-straight home games.
• The overall streak is up to four-straight games, as the Yotes continue to lead the MVFC in points per game (40.5).
• It's the first time putting up 40 or more points in four-straight games since 2005-06, and the first in the Division I era.
• It marks the first time putting up 40+ points in four-straight home games in the Yotes MVFC era.

 
PASSING GAME HEATS UP

• Since opening Valley play on Sept. 28 when the Yotes sat 104^th in the nation in passing offense (139.3 yards per game) that has now jumped up to 201.2 yards per game entering the fourth MVFC game of the season.
• It went from being 104^th in the nation to 64^th.
• Five different Yotes have led the team in receiving in each of the six games so far this season.

 
DOMINANT RUSHING GAME

• The run game continues to be a huge part of the Coyote offense, 239.3 rushing yards a game.
• It sits second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
• The backfield of Theis & Pierre Jr. have combined for five 100-yard rushing games (both did so against SIU).
• The two running backs have combined for 75% of the team's rushing yards this season, plus 60% of the team's offensive touchdowns.
• Charles Pierre Jr. recorded a career-best three rushing scores in the win at Murray State.
• Pierre Jr. and Theis sit No. 1 and No. 2 in the Valley in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns with 10 and eight, respectively.
• The duo also both sit top-20 in the FCS in yards per carry.

 
STOUT DEFENSE

• The Yotes have hung their hat with their defense early in the season.
• South Dakota has six interceptions as a team with five different Yotes having one.
• Back-to-back weeks have seen a pair of Yotes record their first-career INT: Gabriel Hardman (Murray State) and Gary Bryant III (Northern Iowa).
• LB Gary Bryant III leads the defense with his 47 tackles this season.
• Nick Gaes leads the team in sacks (5.5) and tackles for loss (6.5).  

 
INDIVIDUAL ACCOLADES & MILESTONES

• Keyondray Jones-Logan is one of two FCS athletes to return two kickoffs back for touchdowns this season.
• At Wisconsin, Aidan Bouman cracked the top-10 in program history for career passing yards.
• Last week against SIU, he became the ninth Coyote to eclipse 4,000 career passing yards.
• He sits eighth with 4,329 passing yards, aiming to move into seventh this week (Dante Warren, 4,361).
• Bouman now also sits in sole possession of T9th all-time in program history in career passing touchdowns (27).
• Travis Theis continues to move up the USD rushing record book, entering the week: second in carries (625), fourth in rushing yards (3,012), and T5th in rushing touchdowns (29).
• Theis eclipsed the 3,000-career rushing yard mark in the Dakota Days win over UNI.
• Carter Bell moves up to third in receiving yards (2,422) and T5th in touchdown receptions (16).
• He also now sits T2nd in career receptions (158), now eyeing the program's all-time receptions lead (Brooks Little, 2004-07, 165 receptions).  

 
INSIDE THE YOUNGSTOWN STATE SERIES

• Youngstown State leads the all-time series, 8-3.
• The Penguins have won all six meetings in Youngstown heading into this year's game.
• All three USD wins over YSU have been in the Nielson era.
• The Yotes sit 2-0 against the Penguins when playing them as a top-25 team.
• The home team has won the last seven meetings, dating back to the 2016 season.

 
YOUNGSTOWN STATE QUICK HITS

• Both of YSU's two wins have come at home this season (Valpo, Indiana State).
• The Youngstown State offense leads the nation in time of possession, holding the ball for 37+ minutes a game.
• The Penguins are led by dual threat QB Beau Brungard who leads the team in rushing yards (532) and passing yards (1,182).
• The defense has been a weak spot for YSU, allowing 37.9 points per game (114^th in the FCS) and 423.1 yards per game (92^nd FCS).