USD drops final game to undefeated NDSU

The University of South Dakota (4-8) finished its 2013 campaign with a 42-0 loss to undefeated Missouri Valley Conference champions North Dakota State University (11-0) in Fargo, N.D. Saturday.

In the last two meetings between the pair of schools, the Bison have outscored the Coyotes 96-0, with the previous meeting in 2012 ending 54-0.

The Bison proved their dominance early on with a 28-yard rushing score from running back John Crockett and a 64-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brock Jensen to wide receiver Ryan Smith.

USD struggled on offense all day long, being held to just 214 total yards and entering the red zone just once, which ended in an interception by sophomore quarterback Kevin Earl.

Earl completed 10-for-26 passes for 101 yards and 2 interceptions on the day.

Meanwhile, the USD defense allowed the Bison to gain 553 total yards, 296 of which came on the ground. Running responsibility for the Bison was split between Crockett and Sam Ojuri who ran for 116 and 118 yards, respectively.

Each running back tacked on two rushing touchdowns, the longest being a 55-yard scamper by Ojuri on first drive of the second half.

Saturday’s game marked the 20th consecutive win for the Bison, their last loss coming from Indiana State 17-14 Oct. 13, 2012.

With first-year running back Trevor Bouma out with injury, the team’s other first-year running back Jordan Roberts carried the load for the Coyotes on offense. Roberts rushed for 107 yards, half of the team’s total offensive yards.

Arguably the biggest story going into Saturday for the Coyotes ended in disappointment as senior Tyler Starr fell one sack short of becoming USD’s all-time leader in sacks.

Starr needed just one sack to eclipse the record.

With the loss, the Coyotes end their season on a five game losing streak after starting the season 4-3.