| 2018South Dakota Coyotes football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Missouri Valley Football Conference |
| Record | 4–7 (3–5 MVFC) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Ted Schlafke (3rd season) |
| Offensive scheme | Pro-style |
| Co-defensive coordinators |
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| Base defense | 4–3 |
| Home stadium | DakotaDome |
Seasons | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 1North Dakota State $^ | 8 | – | 0 | 15 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 3South Dakota State ^ | 6 | – | 2 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 23Northern Iowa ^ | 5 | – | 3 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana State | 5 | – | 3 | 7 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western Illinois | 4 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois State | 3 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youngstown State | 3 | – | 5 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Dakota | 3 | – | 5 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Missouri State | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southern Illinois | 1 | – | 7 | 2 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The2018 South Dakota Coyotes football team represented theUniversity of South Dakota in the2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by third-year head coachBob Nielson and played their home games in theDakotaDome. They were a member of theMissouri Valley Football Conference. They finished the season 4–7, 3–5 in MVFC play to finish in a three-way tie for sixth place.
| Award | Player | Position | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buck Buchanan Award[1] | Darin Greenfield | DE | JR |
The MVFC released their preseason poll on July 29, 2018, with the Coyotes predicted to finish in sixth place.[2]
The Coyotes placed seven players on the preseason all-MVFC teams.[3]
Offense 1st team Shamar Jackson – WR 2nd team Tyler Ciurej – OL Nick Jensen – OL Mason Scheidegger — OL | Defense 1st team Darin Greenfield – DL Andrew Gray – DB 2nd team Brady Schutt – P |
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 1 | 6:00 p.m. | atKansas State* | ESPN3 | L 24–27 | 50,063 | ||
| September 8 | 2:00 p.m. | Northern Colorado* | No. 23 | ESPN+ Midco | W 43–28 | 9,143 | |
| September 15 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 11Weber State* | No. 22 | KELOland Pluto TV | L 10–27 | 8,455 | |
| September 29 | 6:00 p.m. | atSouthern Illinois | ESPN+ | W 31–24 | 8,546 | ||
| October 6 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 24Missouri State![]() |
| ESPN3 | W 35–28 | 10,092 | |
| October 13 | 6:00 p.m. | Northern Iowa | No. 24 |
| ESPN+ Midco | L 28–42 | 9,513 |
| October 20 | 5:00 p.m. | atYoungstown State | ESPN+ | L 17–29 | 11,112 | ||
| October 27 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 1North Dakota State |
| ESPN+ Midco | L 14–59 | 9,589 | |
| November 3 | 12:00 p.m. | atIndiana State | ESPN+ | L 48–513OT | 5,816 | ||
| November 10 | 1:00 p.m. | Western Illinois |
| ESPN+ Midco | W 17–12 | 8,761 | |
| November 17 | 2:00 p.m. | at No. 5South Dakota State | ESPN+ Midco | L 27–49 | 8,517 | ||
| |||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coyotes | 10 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Wildcats | 3 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 27 |
Kansas State's Isaiah Zuber was credited for saving the game with two key plays: an 85-yard punt return with South Dakota leading 24–12. Later in the game caught a touchdown pass from Skylar Thompson with 7:21 left to give K-State its first lead of the second half.
Kansas State scored all but seven of its points on field goals and special teams. Sophomore kicker Blake Lynch scored Kansas State’s first 12 points on field goals of 22, 24, 38 and 44 yards. Kansas State racked up 13 penalties for 129 yards, but maintained more control of the ball with 37:39 of offense compared to South Dakota's 22:21.[4] going over 100 years for the first time since 2016 against Florida Atlantic.[5]
South Dakota quarterback Austin Simmons threw for 257 yards and one touchdown, continually finding receiver Levi Falck (11 catches, 140 yards) open against top K-State cornerback Duke Shelley. The Coyotes led 24–12 at halftime.[6] ESPN reported "... one solid takeaway is how well the Coyotes were in control for much of the game. They did a great job limiting the Kansas State offense for three quarters and had many Kansas State fans, players and coaches frustrated throughout the night."[5]
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
| No. 23 Coyotes | 14 | 20 | 0 | 9 | 43 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 22 Coyotes | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| No. 11 Wildcats | 11 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 27 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coyotes | 7 | 3 | 21 | 0 | 31 |
| Salukis | 14 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 24 Bears | 7 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
| Coyotes | 14 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 35 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panthers | 0 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
| No. 24 Coyotes | 3 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 28 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coyotes | 0 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 17 |
| Penguins | 19 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 29 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Bison | 21 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 59 |
| Coyotes | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | 2OT | 3OT | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coyotes | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 48 |
| Sycamores | 14 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 51 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leathernecks | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 12 |
| Coyotes | 7 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coyotes | 7 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 27 |
| No. 5 Jackrabbits | 28 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 49 |
| Week | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
| STATS FCS | RV | 23 | 22 | RV | RV | RV | 24 | RV | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Coaches | RV | RV | 24 | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | |