# 2024 South Dakota Coyotes football team

The 2024 South Dakota Coyotes football team represented the University of South Dakota as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Coyotes were led by ninth-year head coach Bob Nielson and played their home games at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, South Dakota.

## Preseason
### MVFC poll

The MVFC released it preseason prediction poll on July 22, 2024. The Coyotes were predicted to finish third in the conference.
MVFC media poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | South Dakota State | 482 (42) |
| 2 | North Dakota State | 437 (1) |
| 3 | South Dakota | 371 |
| 4 | Southern Illinois | 293 |
| 5 | North Dakota | 276 |
| 6 | Illinois State | 264 |
| 7 | Youngtown State | 255 |
| 8 | Northern Iowa | 227 |
| 9 | Missouri State | 164 (1) |
| 10 | Indiana State | 68 |
| 11 | Murray State | 67 |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 29 | 7:00 p.m. | Northern State* | No. 5 | DakotaDomeVermillion, SD | ESPN+ | W 45–3 | 7,435 |
| September 7 | 2:30 p.m. | at Wisconsin* | No. 6 | Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI | FS1 | L 13–27 | 76,069 |
| September 14 | 3:00 p.m. | at Portland State* | No. 6 | Hillsboro StadiumPortland, OR | ESPN+ | Canceled | |
| September 21 | 1:00 p.m. | Drake* | No. 6 | DakotaDomeVermillion, SD | ESPN+ | W 42–3 | 6,529 |
| September 28 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 17 Southern Illinois | No. 5 | DakotaDomeVermillion, SD | ESPN+ | W 42–13 | 6,706 |
| October 5 | 2:00 p.m. | at Murray State | No. 4 | Roy Stewart StadiumMurray, KY | ESPN+ | W 59–0 | 6,437 |
| October 12 | 2:00 p.m. | Northern Iowa | No. 4 | DakotaDomeVermillion, SD | ESPN+ | W 42–17 | 8,934 |
| October 19 | 5:00 p.m. | at Youngstown State | No. 4 | Stambaugh StadiumYoungstown, OH | ESPN+ | W 27–17 | 8,560 |
| October 26 | 6:30 p.m. | at No. 3 South Dakota State | No. 4 | Dana J. Dykhouse StadiumBrookings, SD (rivalry) | ESPNU | L 17–20 $^{OT}$ | 19,351 |
| November 9 | 1:00 p.m. | Indiana State | No. 5 | DakotaDomeVermillion, SD | ESPN+ | W 49–0 | 5,515 |
| November 16 | 12:00 p.m. | at North Dakota | No. 5 | Alerus CenterGrand Forks, ND (Sitting Bull Trophy) | ESPN+ | W 42–36 | 8,974 |
| November 23 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 1 North Dakota State | No. 4 | DakotaDomeVermillion, SD | ESPN+ | W 29–28 | 9,062 |
| December 7 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 14 Tarleton State* | No. 4 | DakotaDomeVermillion, SD (NCAA Division I Second Round) | ESPN+ | W 42–31 | 6,231 |
| December 14 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 5 UC Davis* | No. 4 | DakotaDomeVermillion, SD (NCAA Division I Quarterfinal) | ESPN+ | W 35–21 | 6,135 |
| December 21 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 1 Montana State* | No. 4 | Bobcat StadiumBozeman, MT (NCAA Division I Semifinal) | ABC | L 17–31 | 20,557 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time |||||||||

## Game summaries
### Northern State (DII)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wolves (DII) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| No. 5 Coyotes | 10 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 45 |
at DakotaDome • Vermillion, SD
* Date: Thursday August 29, 2024
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: None (played indoors)
* TV: ESPN+
| Statistics | NORST | SDAK |
| First downs | 11 | 20 |
| Total yards | 207 | 351 |
| Rushing yards | 147 | 266 |
| Passing yards | 60 | 85 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 8-13-2 | 9-13-0 |
| Time of possession | 31:55 | 28:05 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Northern State | Passing | Daniel Britt | 8-11 60 Yards 1 INT |
| Northern State | Rushing | Hank Craft | 11 Carries 68 Yards |
| Northern State | Receiving | Tanner Branson | 2 Catches 25 Yards |
| South Dakota | Passing | Aidan Bouman | 9-12 85 Yards |
| South Dakota | Rushing | Charles Pierre Jr | 13 Carries 136 Yards 2 TD |
| South Dakota | Receiving | Carter Bell | 3 Catches 32 Yards |

### at Wisconsin (FBS)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 6 Coyotes | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 13 |
| Badgers (FBS) | 14 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
at Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI
* Date: Saturday September 7, 2024
* Game time: 2:30 PM CST
* Game weather: Sunny, 62 °F (17 °C); Wind: N 9 mph
* Game attendance: 76,069
* Referee: David Siegle
* TV announcers (FS1): Eric Collins (play-by-play) and Spencer Tillman (analyst)
| Statistics | SDAK | WIS |
| First downs | 13 | 23 |
| Total yards | 237 | 385 |
| Rushing yards | 123 | 171 |
| Passing yards | 114 | 214 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 12–23–0 | 17–27–0 |
| Time of possession | 27:31 | 32:29 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Dakota | Passing | Aidan Bouman | 12/23, 114 yards |
| South Dakota | Rushing | Charles Pierre Jr. | 12 carries, 83 yards |
| South Dakota | Receiving | Travis Theis | 4 receptions, 43 yards |
| Wisconsin | Passing | Tyler Van Dyke | 17/27, 214 yards, TD |
| Wisconsin | Rushing | Chez Mellusi | 16 carries, 60 yards, 2 TD |
| Wisconsin | Receiving | CJ Williams | 2 receptions, 53 yards, TD |

### at Portland State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 6 Coyotes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vikings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Hillsboro Stadium • Hillsboro, OR
* Date: Saturday September 14, 2024
* Game time: 3:00 PM CST
* Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| South Dakota | Passing |
| South Dakota | Rushing |
| South Dakota | Receiving |
| Portland State | Passing |
| Portland State | Rushing |
| Portland State | Receiving |

### Drake

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| No. 6 Coyotes | 14 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 42 |
at DakotaDome • Vermillion, SD
* Date: Saturday September 21, 2024
* Game time: 1:00 PM CST
* Game weather: None (played indoors)
* Game attendance: 6,529
* Referee: Jason Perkins
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Jay Elsen (play-by-play) and Andre Fields (analyst)
| Statistics | DRKE | SDAK |
| First downs | 18 | 25 |
| Total yards | 211 | 411 |
| Rushing yards | 93 | 192 |
| Passing yards | 118 | 219 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18–33–1 | 18–26–1 |
| Time of possession | 32:17 | 27:43 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Drake | Passing | Luke Bailey | 16/29, 107 yards, INT |
| Drake | Rushing | Dorian Boyland | 8 carries, 51 yards |
| Drake | Receiving | Trey Radocha | 7 receptions, 56 yards |
| South Dakota | Passing | Aidan Bouman | 18/24, 219 yards, TD |
| South Dakota | Rushing | Travis Theis | 9 carries, 94 yards, 2 TD |
| South Dakota | Receiving | Carter Bell | 4 receptions, 56 yards |

### No. 17 Southern Illinois

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 17 Salukis | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 13 |
| No. 5 Coyotes | 14 | 21 | 0 | 7 | 42 |
at DakotaDome • Vermillion, SD
* Date: September 28, 2024
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: None (played indoors)
* Game attendance: 6,706
* TV: ESPN+
| Statistics | SIU | SDAK |
| First downs | 16 | 24 |
| Total yards | 366 | 549 |
| Rushing yards | 60 | 302 |
| Passing yards | 306 | 247 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 23-41 | 11-17 |
| Time of possession | 24:41 | 35:19 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southern Illinois | Passing | Hunter Simmons | 23-41 306 Yards 2 TD |
| Southern Illinois | Rushing | Shaun Lester Jr | 10 Carries 31 Yards |
| Southern Illinois | Receiving | Keontez Lewis | 3 Catches 88 Yards 1 TD |
| South Dakota | Passing | Aidan Bouman | 11-17 245 Yards 2 TD |
| South Dakota | Rushing | Travis Theis | 25 carries 147 Yards 2 TD |
| South Dakota | Receiving | JJ Galbreath | 2 Catches 100 Yards 1 TD |

### at Murray State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 4 Coyotes | 21 | 3 | 21 | 14 | 59 |
| Racers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Roy Stewart Stadium • Murray, KY
* Date: Saturday October 5, 2024
* Game time: 2:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
* Game attendance: 6.437
* TV: ESPN+
| Statistics | SDAK | MURR |
| First downs | 26 | 10 |
| Total yards | 582 | 213 |
| Rushing yards | 361 | 90 |
| Passing yards | 221 | 123 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 16-22-1 | 13-21-2 |
| Time of possession | 36:20 | 23:40 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Dakota | Passing | Aidan Bouman | 16-22 221 Yards 1 TD 1 INT |
| South Dakota | Rushing | Travis Theis | 14 Carries 132 Yards 2 TD |
| South Dakota | Receiving | Quaron Adams | 3 Receptions 83 Yards |
| Murray State | Passing | Jayden Johannsen | 7-13 84 yards 2 INT |
| Murray State | Rushing | Jawaun Northington | 11 Carries 46 Yards |
| Murray State | Receiving | JK Carter | 3 Receptions 54 Yards |

### Northern Iowa

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Panthers | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| No. 4 Coyotes | 7 | 21 | 14 | 0 | 42 |
at DakotaDome • Vermillion, SD
* Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
* Game time: 2:00 p.m.
* Game weather: None (played indoors)
* TV: ESPN+
| Statistics | UNI | SDAK |
| First downs | 16 | 24 |
| Total yards | 311 | 513 |
| Rushing yards | 56 | 192 |
| Passing yards | 255 | 321 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 19-28-1 | 18-21-0 |
| Time of possession | 24:31 | 35:29 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Northern Iowa | Passing | Matthew Schecklman | 18-26 250 yards 1 TD 1 INT |
| Northern Iowa | Rushing | Tye Edwards | 19 carries 53 yards 1 TD |
| Northern Iowa | Receiving | Desmond Hutson | 4 Receptions 94 Yards |
| South Dakota | Passing | Aidan Bouman | 17-20 284 Yards 2 TD |
| South Dakota | Rushing | Charles Pierre Jr | 21 Carries 105 Yards 2 TD |
| South Dakota | Receiving | AJ Coons | 2 Receptions 61 Yards 1 TD |

### at Youngstown State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 4 Coyotes | 0 | 14 | 10 | 3 | 27 |
| Penguins | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
at Stambaugh Stadium, Youngstown, OH
* Date: Saturday October 19, 2024
* Game time: 5:00 p.m.
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
| Statistics | SDAK | YSU |
| First downs | 19 | 22 |
| Total yards | 415 | 346 |
| Rushing yards | 192 | 138 |
| Passing yards | 223 | 208 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 12-18-0 | 22-32-0 |
| Time of possession | 26:01 | 33:59 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Dakota | Passing | Aidan Bouman | 12-18 223 Yards 1 TD |
| South Dakota | Rushing | Charles Pierre Jr | 21 Carries 153 Yards 2 TD |
| South Dakota | Receiving | JJ Galbreath | 3 Receptions 79 Yards |
| Youngstown State | Passing | Beau Brungard | 22-31 208 Yards 1 TD |
| Youngstown State | Rushing | Beau Brungard | 16 Carries 69 Yards 1 TD |
| Youngstown State | Receiving | Max Tomczak | 9 Receptions 90 Yards |

### at No. 3 South Dakota State (rivalry)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| No. 4 Coyotes | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
| No. 3 Jackrabbits | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 20 |
at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, Brookings, SD
* Date: Saturday October 26, 2024
* Game time: 6:30 p.m.
* Game attendance: 19,351
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Lowell Galindo (play-by-play) and Fozzy Whittaker (analyst)
| Statistics | SDAK | SDST |
| First downs | 18 | 19 |
| Total yards | 275 | 329 |
| Rushing yards | 82 | 166 |
| Passing yards | 193 | 163 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 21-35-1 | 21-29-0 |
| Time of possession | 28:22 | 31:38 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Dakota | Passing | Aidan Bouman | 20-32 163 Yards |
| South Dakota | Rushing | Travis Theis | 15 Carries 78 Yards 1 TD |
| South Dakota | Receiving | Jack Martens | 3 Receptions 66 Yards |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 20-27 163 Yards |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Angel Johnson | 14 Carries 81 Yards |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Griffin Wilde | 5 Receptions 61 Yards |

### Indiana State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Sycamores | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 5 Coyotes | 7 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 49 |
at DakotaDome • Vermillion, SD
* Date: Saturday November 9, 2024
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game weather: None (played indoors)
* Game attendance: 5,515
* TV: ESPN+
| Statistics | INST | SDAK |
| First downs | 5 | 21 |
| Total yards | 129 | 622 |
| Rushing yards | -3 | 317 |
| Passing yards | 132 | 305 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 12-23-0 | 15-21-0 |
| Time of possession | 27:15 | 32:45 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Indiana State | Passing | Elijah Owens | 11-21 131 Yards |
| Indiana State | Rushing | Shen Butler-Lawson | 10 Carries 15 Yards |
| Indiana State | Receiving | Zavion Taylor | 4 Receptions 66 Yards |
| South Dakota | Passing | Aidan Bouman | 14-20 238 Yards 2 TD |
| South Dakota | Rushing | Charles Pierre Jr | 11 Carries 165 Yards 2 TD |
| South Dakota | Receiving | Quaron Adams | 2 Receptions 133 Yards 2 TD |

### at North Dakota (Sitting Bull Trophy)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 5 Coyotes | 0 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 42 |
| Fighting Hawks | 7 | 14 | 0 | 15 | 36 |
at Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND
* Date: Saturday November 16, 2024
* Game time: 12:00 p.m.
* Game weather: None (played indoors)
* Game attendance: 8,974
* TV: ESPN+
| Statistics | SDAK | UND |
| First downs | 25 | 23 |
| Total yards | 512 | 323 |
| Rushing yards | 322 | 143 |
| Passing yards | 190 | 180 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 20-31-0 |
| Time of possession | 32:44 | 27:16 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Dakota | Passing | Aidan Bouman | 15-21 190 Yards 3 TD 1 INT |
| South Dakota | Rushing | Charles Pierre Jr | 15 Carries 173 Yards 1 TD |
| South Dakota | Receiving | Charles Pierre Jr | 4 Receptions 75 Yards 1 TD |
| North Dakota | Passing | Simon Roufo | 20-30 180 Yards 3 TD |
| North Dakota | Rushing | Sawyer Seidl | 7 Carries 68 Yards 1 TD |
| North Dakota | Receiving | Bo Belquist | 10 Receptions 96 Yards 1 TD |

### No. 1 North Dakota State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 1 Bison | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| No. 4 Coyotes | 7 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 29 |
at DakotaDome • Vermillion, SD
* Date: Saturday November 23, 2024
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game weather: None (played indoors)
* Game attendance: 9,062
* TV: ESPN+
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| North Dakota State | Passing |
| North Dakota State | Rushing |
| North Dakota State | Receiving |
| South Dakota | Passing |
| South Dakota | Rushing |
| South Dakota | Receiving |

### No. 14 Tarleton State (NCAA Division I Playoff–Second round)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 14 Texans | 7 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 31 |
| No. 4 Coyotes | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | 42 |
at DakotaDome • Vermillion, SD
* Date: Saturday December 7, 2024
* Game time: 2:00 p.m.
* Game attendance: 6,231
* TV: ESPN+
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Tarleton State | Passing |
| Tarleton State | Rushing |
| Tarleton State | Receiving |
| South Dakota | Passing |
| South Dakota | Rushing |
| South Dakota | Receiving |

### No. 5 UC Davis (NCAA Division I Playoff-Quarterfinal)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 5 Aggies | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| No. 4 Coyotes | 14 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
at DakotaDome • Vermillion, SD
* Date: Saturday December 14, 2024
* Game time: 2:00 p.m.
* Game attendance: 6,135
* TV: ESPN+
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| UC Davis | Passing |
| UC Davis | Rushing |
| UC Davis | Receiving |
| South Dakota | Passing |
| South Dakota | Rushing |
| South Dakota | Receiving |

### at No. 1 Montana State (NCAA Division I Playoff–Semifinal)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 4 Coyotes | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
| No. 1 Bobcats | 14 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 31 |
at Bobcat Stadium • Bozeman, MT
* Date: Saturday December 21, 2024
* Game time: 2:30 p.m.
* Game attendance: 20,557
* TV: ABC
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| South Dakota | Passing |
| South Dakota | Rushing |
| South Dakota | Receiving |
| Montana State | Passing |
| Montana State | Rushing |
| Montana State | Receiving |