VERMILLION, S.D. — A spectacular showing from new starting quarterback Austyn Modrzewski against Central Connecticut State in his collegiate debut this past weekend saw him be the first Division I era Coyote to throw for six touchdown passes has put the redshirt freshman on national notice as he earns Stats Perform National Freshman of the Week and Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) Offensive & Newcomer of the Week honors.
 
It was a debut that Modrzewski, along with Coyote Nation, will remember for a long time. He became the first Coyote quarterback in the FCS era to throw for 300+ yards in their first start at quarterback and became the fifth Yote to win their debut.
 
After the opening drive, the Littleton, Colorado native settled right down and led nine-straight scoring drives to completely dominate the game, including eight-straight touchdown drives. CCSU struck first but it was all Coyotes by halftime, leading 42-10.
 
He completed 80 percent of his passes on the day (16-for-20) for 304 yards and six touchdowns. The six touchdowns also tying an all-time South Dakota single-game record for passing touchdowns in a game, tying a record also done by Wesley Beschorner in a Division II era game in 2005.
 
On the day, he threw six touchdown passes to five different receivers setting USD QB debut records for both passing yards and touchdown tosses.
 
Not only did the redshirt freshman impress with his arm, he also led the team with his 81 rushing yards that included a 68-yard touchdown run in the first half to give South Dakota the 14-7 lead.
 
South Dakota returns to action this weekend (September 5) for their first road game of the season when they hit the gridiron for a night contest at Northern Colorado on Saturday with a 7 p.m. (CT) kickoff on ESPN+.