2018 South Dakota Coyotes football team

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.

2018 South Dakota Coyotes football
ConferenceMissouri Valley Football Conference
Record4–7 (3–5 MVFC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorTed Schlafke (3rd season)
Co-defensive coordinatorBrian Mohnsen (1st season)
Co-defensive coordinatorAtiba Bradley (1st season)
Home stadiumDakotaDome
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

Preseason

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Award watch lists

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Award Player Position Year
Buck Buchanan Award[1] Darin Greenfield DE JR

Preseason MVFC poll

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

Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 North Dakota State 390 (39)
2 South Dakota State 270
3 Northern Iowa 258
4 Youngstown State 248
5 Illinois State 248
6 South Dakota 206
7 Western Illinois 163
8 Southern Illinois 139
9 Missouri State 90
10 Indiana State 41

Preseason All-MVFC Teams

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

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 16:00 p.m.at Kansas State*ESPN3L 24–2750,063
September 82:00 p.m.Northern Colorado*No. 23ESPN+
Midco
W 43–289,143
September 157:00 p.m.at No. 11 Weber State*No. 22KELOland
Pluto TV
L 10–278,455
September 296:00 p.m.at Southern IllinoisESPN+W 31–248,546
October 62:00 p.m.No. 24 Missouri State 
  • DakotaDome
  • Vermillion, SD
ESPN3W 35–2810,092
October 136:00 p.m.Northern IowaNo. 24
  • DakotaDome
  • Vermillion, SD
ESPN+
Midco
L 28–429,513
October 205:00 p.m.at Youngstown StateESPN+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 StateESPN+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 StateESPN+
Midco
L 27–498,517
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

Game summaries

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At Kansas State

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1 2 3 4 Total
Coyotes 10 14 0 0 24
Wildcats 3 9 0 15 27

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

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1 2 3 4 Total
Bears 14 0 0 14 28
No. 23 Coyotes 14 20 0 9 43

At Weber State

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1 2 3 4 Total
No. 22 Coyotes 0 3 0 7 10
No. 11 Wildcats 11 7 3 6 27

At Southern Illinois

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1 2 3 4 Total
Coyotes 7 3 21 0 31
Salukis 14 3 0 7 24

Missouri State

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1 2 3 4 Total
No. 24 Bears 7 14 7 0 28
Coyotes 14 3 10 8 35

Northern Iowa

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1 2 3 4 Total
Panthers 0 21 7 14 42
No. 24 Coyotes 3 10 8 7 28

At Youngstown State

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1 2 3 4 Total
Coyotes 0 0 10 7 17
Penguins 19 3 0 7 29

North Dakota State

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1 2 3 4 Total
No. 1 Bison 21 14 7 17 59
Coyotes 0 7 7 0 14

At Indiana State

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1 2 3 4OT2OT3OT Total
Coyotes 7 7 7 10773 48
Sycamores 14 7 0 10776 51

Western Illinois

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1 2 3 4 Total
Leathernecks 3 0 0 9 12
Coyotes 7 0 3 7 17

At South Dakota State

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1 2 3 4 Total
Coyotes 7 0 7 13 27
No. 5 Jackrabbits 28 7 7 7 49

Ranking movements

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Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112Final
STATS FCSRV2322RVRVRV24RV
CoachesRVRV24RVRVRVRVRV

References

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  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. ^ a b "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.