2018 South Dakota Coyotes football team

Last updated

2018 South Dakota Coyotes football
South Dakota Coyotes wordmark.svg
Conference Missouri Valley Football Conference
Record4–7 (3–5 MVFC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorTed Schlafke (3rd season)
Offensive scheme Pro-style
Co-defensive coordinators
  • Brian Mohnsen (1st season)
  • Atiba Bradley (1st season)
Base defense 4–3
Home stadium DakotaDome
Seasons
  2017
2019  
2018 Missouri Valley Football Conference standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 1 North Dakota State $^  8 0   15 0  
No. 3 South Dakota State ^  6 2   10 3  
No. 23 Northern Iowa ^  5 3   7 6  
Indiana State  5 3   7 4  
Western Illinois  4 4   5 6  
Illinois State  3 5   6 5  
Youngstown State  3 5   4 7  
South Dakota  3 5   4 7  
Missouri State  2 6   4 7  
Southern Illinois  1 7   2 9  
  • $ Conference champion
  • ^ FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2018 South Dakota Coyotes football team represented the University of South Dakota in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by third-year head coach Bob Nielson and played their home games in the DakotaDome. They were a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. They finished the season 4–7, 3–5 in MVFC play to finish in a three-way tie for sixth place.

Contents

Preseason

Award watch lists

AwardPlayerPositionYear
Buck Buchanan Award [1] Darin GreenfieldDEJR

Preseason MVFC poll

The MVFC released their preseason poll on July 29, 2018, with the Coyotes predicted to finish in sixth place. [2]

Preseason All-MVFC Teams

The Coyotes placed seven players on the preseason all-MVFC teams. [3]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 16:00 p.m.at Kansas State * ESPN3 L 24–2750,063
September 82:00 p.m. Northern Colorado *No. 23 ESPN+
Midco
W 43–289,143
September 157:00 p.m.at No. 11 Weber State *No. 22 KELOland
Pluto TV
L 10–278,455
September 296:00 p.m.at Southern Illinois ESPN+W 31–248,546
October 62:00 p.m.No. 24 Missouri State Dagger-14-plain.png
  • DakotaDome
  • Vermillion, SD
ESPN3W 35–2810,092
October 136:00 p.m. Northern Iowa No. 24
  • DakotaDome
  • Vermillion, SD
ESPN+
Midco
L 28–429,513
October 205:00 p.m.at Youngstown State ESPN+L 17–2911,112
October 272:00 p.m.No. 1 North Dakota State
  • DakotaDome
  • Vermillion, SD
ESPN+
Midco
L 14–599,589
November 312:00 p.m.at Indiana State ESPN+L 48–51 3OT5,816
November 101:00 p.m. Western Illinois
  • DakotaDome
  • Vermillion, SD
ESPN+
Midco
W 17–128,761
November 172:00 p.m.at No. 5 South Dakota State ESPN+
Midco
L 27–498,517
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

Game summaries

At Kansas State

1234Total
Coyotes10140024
Wildcats3901527

Kansas State's Isaiah Zuber was credited for saving the game with two key plays: an 85-yard punt return with South Dakota leading 24–12. Later in the game caught a touchdown pass from Skylar Thompson with 7:21 left to give K-State its first lead of the second half.

Kansas State scored all but seven of its points on field goals and special teams. Sophomore kicker Blake Lynch scored Kansas State’s first 12 points on field goals of 22, 24, 38 and 44 yards. Kansas State racked up 13 penalties for 129 yards, but maintained more control of the ball with 37:39 of offense compared to South Dakota's 22:21. [4] going over 100 years for the first time since 2016 against Florida Atlantic. [5]

South Dakota quarterback Austin Simmons threw for 257 yards and one touchdown, continually finding receiver Levi Falck (11 catches, 140 yards) open against top K-State cornerback Duke Shelley. The Coyotes led 24–12 at halftime. [6] ESPN reported "... one solid takeaway is how well the Coyotes were in control for much of the game. They did a great job limiting the Kansas State offense for three quarters and had many Kansas State fans, players and coaches frustrated throughout the night." [5]

Northern Colorado

1234Total
Bears14001428
No. 23 Coyotes14200943

At Weber State

1234Total
No. 22 Coyotes030710
No. 11 Wildcats1173627

At Southern Illinois

1234Total
Coyotes7321031
Salukis1430724

Missouri State

1234Total
No. 24 Bears7147028
Coyotes14310835

Northern Iowa

1234Total
Panthers02171442
No. 24 Coyotes3108728

At Youngstown State

1234Total
Coyotes0010717
Penguins1930729

North Dakota State

1234Total
No. 1 Bison211471759
Coyotes077014

At Indiana State

1234OT2OT3OTTotal
Coyotes7771077348
Sycamores14701077651

Western Illinois

1234Total
Leathernecks300912
Coyotes703717

At South Dakota State

1234Total
Coyotes7071327
No. 5 Jackrabbits2877749

Ranking movements

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112Final
STATS FCS RV2322RVRVRV24RV
Coaches RVRV24RVRVRVRVRV

References

  1. "FCS football: 2018 Buck Buchanan Award watch list announced". August 2, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  2. "North Dakota State Picked to Win 2018 MVFC Title".
  3. "Preseason All-Conf and Team (PDF) - Missouri Valley Football Conference" (PDF).
  4. "South Dakota Coyotes vs Kansas State Wildcats (team stats)". ESPN. September 2, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Kansas State scores 2 late TDs, edges South Dakota 27–24". ESPN. September 2, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  6. Robinett, Kellis. "Kansas State survives against South Dakota 27–24 in season-opener". Wichita Eagle . Retrieved September 5, 2018.