BROOKINGS, S.D. — In the 118^th meeting between South Dakota and South Dakota State, and the first-ever overtime game in series history, the No. 4-ranked University of South Dakota football team (6-2, 4-1 MVFC) dropped a 20-17 heartbreaker to No. 3-ranked South Dakota State (6-2, 3-1 MVFC) Saturday night at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.
 
With his five receptions on the night, senior wide receiver Carter Bell (Bettendorf, Iowa) became the program's career leader in receptions. He sits at 167 receptions and 2,532 receiving yards (second in program history).
 
South Dakota received the opening kickoff in front of a packed crowd inside Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. Utilizing the passing game, the Yotes drove down the field with 53 yards passing from Aidan Bouman (Jr., Buffalo, Minn.). Travis Theis (Sr., Pratt, Kan.) capped off opening 10-play, 65-yard drive with his 30^th career rushing touchdown as a Coyote to make it 7-0 early.
 
The Jackrabbits didn't waste any time putting together a scoring drive of their own, behind the arms and legs of quarterback Mark Gronowski to knot the game up at 7-7 with six minutes to play in the opening frame.
 
The defenses would step up as the next three possessions would go by without any points put on the scoreboard. Midway through the second quarter, South Dakota State would take their first lead of the night on an eight-play, 46-yard drive to make it 14-7 with five minutes left in the half.
 
Following the SDSU touchdown, Bell would pick up his 166^th career reception, making him the sole leader in South Dakota program history in career receptions as the Coyotes pushed the ball into Jackrabbit territory. The drive would stall and the Yotes would pin the Jacks deep, while the defense would get the ball back in the offense's hand with just over a minute left in the half.
 
At the halftime break, South Dakota State would hold the touchdown lead at 14-7. A fairly even first half saw the Jackrabbits with the slight edge at 182 yards of total offense to South Dakota's 132. The Coyotes held the edge in the passing game, 98-93.
 
The defense came out of the locker room to get a stop on the first drive of the second half with a three-and-out. Quaron Adams (So., Phoenix, Ariz.) would keep the USD opening drive of the second half alive. A trick play of 39 yards as Bell would find Jack Martens (Jr., Cumberlands, Wis.) to take the Yotes into Jackrabbit territory. The drive would stall again as Tyler Ebel (So., DeForest, Wis.) would pin SDSU inside their own 20.
 
A big rush play up the middle for the Jacks of 32 yards from Angel Johnson would put SDSU in Coyote territory, but a massive fourth down stop would put the ball back in the hands of the offense. The defenses would be the main attraction in the third quarter with neither team adding any points in the frame with South Dakota State taking the 14-7 to the fourth.
 
With a chance to go up two scores, SDSU would miss a 47-yard field goal attempt as the Yotes would take over down a touchdown with 11 minutes to play. Later, the offense would get the ball back near midfield and Bouman would target sure-handed senior tight end JJ Galbreath (Sr., Arvada, Colo.) in back-to-back plays to push the Yotes inside the SDSU 40. A promising drive would end in deep in State territory with South Dakota State claiming the first turnover of the contest.
 
The next play from scrimmage would change the game. South Dakota State, content to work some clock, would fumble the ball, forced by Dennis Shorter (Sr., Daytona Beach, Fla.), and recovered and returned for a touchdown by Mi'Quise Grace (So., Cincinnati, Ohio) to knot things up at 14-14 with under five minutes to play for the first defensive touchdown of the season for the Coyotes.
 
The ensuing drive would see the Coyote defense play with renewed confidence and energy, getting South Dakota State off the field. The Yotes would take over on their own five-yard line with three minutes to play in tied ballgame. South Dakota would drive again into SDSU territory and would attempt a go-ahead field goal that would be wide left, keeping the game knotted at 14-14 at the end of regulation.
 
Heading into overtime, SDSU won the toss and elected to go on defense first. South Dakota was forced to settle for a field goal, as Will Leyland (Jr., Souderton, Pa.) would convert the 40-yard attempt to make it 17-14 Yotes. State would convert on a fourth down and short to keep their drive alive, eventually to punch it in for the game-winning score, 20-17.
 
Up Next: South Dakota will head into the bye week next week (Nov. 2) before returning to the DakotaDome to host Indiana State on Saturday, November 9.