Coyote football looks for win at final home game

Dating back to last year, the South Dakota Coyote football team has lost 10 straight Missouri Valley Football Conference games. They have one more shot at home to put an end to that streak — but it won’t be easy.

The Coyotes (2-8, 0-6 Missouri Valley) host the Illinois State Redbirds (8-1, 5-1) Saturday at 1 p.m.

“It’s going to be a battle,” said head coach Joe Glenn.

Illinois State will come to the DakotaDome as the highest scoring team in the conference, averaging 37.4 points per game. That doesn’t bode well for South Dakota, who gives up a conference-high 35.4 points per game.

“It’ll be tough. Every game is tough,” Glenn said. “They have a lot of athletes, maybe the best running back in the league and have great balance.”

The Coyotes’ defense has been struggling all season. Only one time have they held their opposition under 20 points, and that was in their week two victory over William Penn. In its last three games, the Coyotes have given up 39.6 points per game.

“We’re not making enough plays,” sophomore linebacker John Wessel said after last weeks loss to Western Illinois. “You’re not going to win MVFC games giving up that many points.”

Last week Western Illinois sophomore quarterback Trenton Norvell threw for 287 yards and five touchdowns against the Coyotes. The week before against Youngstown State, the Coyotes issue was stopping the run, and the Penguins gashed the Coyotes for 313 yards on the ground.

“We have some good athletes, but not as good as the other teams right now,” Glenn said. “We’re having trouble shutting down the good teams.”

Glenn said his struggling defense will be the difference in this week’s game.

“It will depend if we can play defense and hold the score down with them,” Glenn said. “We have to finish on defense. We haven’t finished well the last two games.”

Despite the big numbers being recorded against them, Wessel doesn’t see an issue with the scheme.

Sophomore defensive back Tyson Graham, who leads the conference with 85 tackles, said it’s up to the players to turn the team’s game around.

“It’s definitely up to us to turn things around. The coaches are doing everything they can scheme-wise,” Graham said. “All we have to do is go out there and execute the game plan. I’m very confident in this team and believe that we’ll be able to pull things together.”

Graham said the biggest takeaway from the season-long struggles has been the team’s continued effort.

“No, (we won’t) quit…. my biggest takeaway is the effort from everyone,” Graham said.

The playoffs may be out of the picture, but the team still has two games left on its schedule and knows there is still a lot left to play for.

“We’re fighting to win. The players all want to play well as a team and win a game,” Glenn said. “There’s a lot of fight left in our team. I’ve never seen anybody quit. They care a lot and have a lot of fight.”

Graham said all the players are taking the final two weeks seriously. Every practice is taken as if the team is still fighting for a playoff spot.

“These next two weeks for us are very crucial — we need these two ball games badly,” Graham said. “It would be nice to end the season on a two-game winning streak and use that as momentum to build off of. You know it’s been tough ride, but I wouldn’t have wanted to take this ride with anyone other than these guys around me.”

The Coyotes will be on the road for their season finale, but won’t have to travel far. USD travels north to Brookings to take on the Jackrabbits Nov. 22.

(Photo: Senior running back Jasper Sanders runs the ball into the end zone Nov. 8 in the Coyote’s second-to-last home game against Western Illinois. The Coyotes will host the Illinois State Redbirds Nov. 15 in the DakotaDome. Chris Timmerman / The Volante)

 Game Notes:

• Glenn said the team needs to avoid giving up the big plays on defense. He said his team gave up 13 “big plays,” which his staff defines as a run that goes for 12 yards or longer or a pass that goes for 16 yards or longer.
• As of Monday, the team has only one healthy running back — redshirt first-year Khorey Kilgore. Kilgore had a 46-yard run last week. Senior Jasper Sanders is battling turf toe and sophomore Jordan Roberts hurt his hand.
• Senior Josh Vander Maten suffered a concussion last week and has not yet passed the concussion protocol.