USD blows out Drake in home opener
The Coyotes took the reins early with a rushing touchdown from junior running back Trevor Bouma and did not let up. USD went on to win 52-0, dominating nearly every facet of their home opener and moving to 2-1 on the season.
USD came out hot, as an early interception and return by junior defensive back Jacob Warner brought the Coyotes to the Drake one yard line. From there, Bouma just pushed it in for the score. On the next drive Drake was forced to punt and Paul Anderson had an impressive 35 yard return, which was bolstered by a Drake facemask call the put USD on the Drake 18.
Field position was the story of the day for the Coyotes. Thanks to punter Miles Bergner, they were able to pin Drake deep throughout the game – with three punts downed inside the 20 yard line.
“They just were always looking at a big long field, that’s really hard, kind of felt like the Kansas State game for them I bet,” USD head coach Joe Glenn said.
USD was able to start seven drives on the Drake side of the 50 yard line.
“Special teams got the ball inside the 10, inside the 20 and that’s a big part of it as well,” Warner said.
On offense, junior quarterback Ryan Saeger completed 11-19 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns, as well as 67 yards rushing.
Bouma had another top-notch performance with 118 yards rushing and three touchdowns, including a huge 54 yard run that set USD up for a touchdown.
Sophomore wide receiver Brandt Van Roekel led all USD receivers with 74 yards and a touchdown. The Coyote offense overpowered Drake with 476 total yards to Drake’s 282.
Defensively the Coyotes stood strong, shutting out their opponent.
Senior linebacker Keyen Lage led all USD players with seven total tackles, and Warner and senior defensive back Mike Lilly each came away with an interception. USD’s defense broke up 10 total plays. The Coyote defense came up big when it mattered.
Following a blocked punt, Drake gained possession at the USD 10 yard line. The Coyotes were able to force a fumble and gain possession back in their own red zone.
On special teams, Bergner had another big game with 174 yards punting and one field goal. USD’s special teams were able to block a Drake field goal attempt to keep the shutout alive.
“As soon as we got that block we wanted to just pitch a shutout so bad and it just got everyone so hyped on the sidelines,” Warner said.
There was a strong attendance by both fans and USD students alike, with the DakotaDome boasting 8,045 in attendance for its home opener. However, the mass halftime exodus by students left many empty seats on their side of the field.
That doesn’t upset the players too much.
“I know that they are not always sitting up there in the second half but we know that they’re probably going to the bars and watching the game, so they’re supporting us one way at least so you can’t be mad about that,” Saeger said jokingly.
USD has next week off before its Dakota Days matchup with Bo Pelini and Youngstown State on Oct. 3 at 2 p.m. in the DakotaDome. Looking ahead, Saeger appreciates the good position USD finds itself in.
“It’s been awhile since we’ve been on a win streak. A couple years for sure. But you know starting off the season that’s what everyone was thinking we had to do,” Saeger said. “Getting two wins, one on the road and one today, those are two must-wins for this team and for the program going forward. We all know what the Missouri Valley gauntlet is like and we’ve got Youngstown State coming in and it’s going to be a fist fight.”
(Photo: USD running back Michael Fredrick dives into the end zone to make a touchdown in Saturday’s game against Drake University in the DakotaDome. The Coyotes shutout the Bulldogs 50-0. Jacob Lutz / The Volante)
(Below is The Volante’s live blog that includes tweets and other coverage of today’s home opener game against Drake University.)
