Coyotes look forward to State game, possible playoff berth
It’s that time of year again when the state of South Dakota is preparing for the clash between the Jackrabbits and the Coyotes.
Past games and the transition to Division I have been difficult for the Coyotes. They have been roughed up by SDSU in past years they’ve squared off, but this year they hope it will be a different story.
USD has a chance to go to the FCS Playoffs for the first time, but to do so they will have to beat SDSU and Illinois State – two of the better teams in the country.
SDSU is currently ranked at No. 5 in the country and Illinois State sits at No. 6, after losing to SDSU last week. These next few games will be a tough test for the Coyotes, but they are confident they can take it head on.
“We’re just going to play it game by game. We say at the beginning of the week that we just want to be 1-0 on Saturday and that’s our mindset going into it, just be 1-0,” senior defensive lineman Drew Iddings said.
Iddings came up big in the Coyotes’ win over Southern Illinois last week, forcing the fumble that led to USD’s game-winning score and blocking Southern Illinois’ potential game-winning field goal.
He is one of the veterans this team is built on and he knows his impact will matter as USD continues to fight in the years ahead.
“I want to leave a good impression on the school and I just want kids to look up to me and say ‘I want to play like him,’ ” Iddings said.
The Coyotes are having their best season since going D-I and have a chance to start something special.
Offensive Coordinator Wesley Beschorner is in his tenth season as a coach and has helped the Coyotes throughout the transition.
“Our guys are really excited that all the work they put in, all the stuff they’ve been doing throughout the summer and in the previous years is coming to a culmination in this kind of success,” Beschorner said. “It’s great and I think it’s really helping our program. It’s helping our fan base and hopefully it helps the university.”
Moving on has been the team’s motto all year. Getting passed each win or loss has been the Coyotes’ key to success. They are not dwelling on who they’re playing or what they have to do down the line, but are just taking it week by week.”
“South Dakota State is a really good Missouri Valley football team, they’re a really good FCS football team and they’re coming in our place and we take a lot of pride in being successful in the Dome. Really that’s what it comes down to,” Beschorner said.
When the whistle is blown it’s not who’s on the other side as much as what we are doing. We’ve got to control what South Dakota is doing, don’t let the game of football beat us and if we do that we’ve got a chance to be successful.”
After knocking off North Dakota State earlier in the season, a win over SDSU would not be Earth shattering. The Coyotes’ recent successes are coming as no news to the players.
“To be honest, it’s a feeling of not being surprised when we win these type of games and we shouldn’t be. We’re a good team, we’ve got good players and we’re believing right now. It’s just about going 1-0 this week,” junior quarterback Ryan Saeger said.
Saeger had one of the best games of his career against Southern Illinois with 269 yards on 26 of 39 passing for three touchdowns.
With the playoffs looming, the Coyotes know what they have to do to punch their ticket to the playoffs and what they have to do when they take on SDSU on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the DakotaDome.
“Obviously we’re still fighting for our playoff lives. South Dakota State is probably in with their record and how they’ve played this year. They’re a solid squad, they’re a great team, well coached,” Saeger said. “We started the playoffs last weekend. We won, we’re surviving and we’ve just got to do it again this week.”
