Story by
The Daily Republic, Mitchell, S.D.
Preview: USD football hosts Southern Illinois in a top-25 matchup
- Story byThe Daily Republic, Mitchell, S.D.
- Preview: USD football hosts Southern Illinois in a top-25 matchup
Oct. 6—VERMILLION, S.D. — The South Dakota Coyotes return to the DakotaDome for the second-straight week when they host Southern Illinois for a top-25 matchup on Saturday afternoon.
USD will aim to earn its seventh-straight victory inside the DakotaDome dating back to last season with the No. 25-ranked Salukis traveling to Vermillion for Hall of Fame weekend.
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How to watch the Coyotes and what to know about both programs:
Week 6: No. 10 South Dakota Coyotes (4-2, 1-1 MVFC) vs. No. 25 Southern Illinois Salukis (3-3, 1-1 MVFC)
When: Saturday, Oct. 10, at 1 p.m.
Where: DakotaDome in Vermillion, South Dakota
TV: ESPN+ / Midco Sports — Jay Elsen (Play-by-Play), Andre Fields (Analyst)
Radio: Coyote Sports Network (John Thayer, Gary Culver, Jerry Palleschi) [KVHT 106.3 FM]
Streaming: ESPN+ / Midco Sports
Records last year: USD 10-5, Southern Illinois 7-5
Series: USD leads the all-time series over Southern Illinois, 7-4
Last time: USD defeated Southern Illinois in a thrilling five-overtime game 53-51 in last year's regular-season finale in Carbondale, Illinois.
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Last week: USD defeated Indiana State at home 44-14, while Southern Illinois lost to Youngstown State at home 28-16.
Rankings: USD is ranked No. 10 and Southern Illinois is ranked No. 25 in the FCS
Coaches: USD — Matt Vitzthum (first year, 4-2); Southern Illinois — Nick Hill (11th year, 58-64)
Leading passers: USD — Austyn Modrzewski (90-for-138, 1,313 yards, 18 TDs, 5 INTs); Southern Illinois — DJ Williams (72-for-132, 992 yards, 4 TDs, 3 INTs)
Leading rushers: USD — Charles Pierre Jr. (447 yards, 75 carries, 6 TDs); Southern Illinois — Chandler Chapman (396 yards, 85 carries, 0 TDs)
Leading receivers: USD — Tennel Bryant (11 receptions, 319 yards, 3 TDs); Southern Illinois — Kyle Thomas (26 receptions, 457 yards, 3 TDs)
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Top defenders: USD — Wade Abrams (50 total tackles, 32 solo tackles, 3 TFLs, 3 PBUs, 2 QBHs, 1 FF); Southern Illinois — Ben Fiegel (51 total tackles, 19 solo tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 2 PBUs, 2 QBHs, 2 FFs, 2 FRs, 1 INT)
Quick game hits: South Dakota and Southern Illinois are set to meet for the 12th time on Saturday, as USD has won the last four meetings. The two teams have met once in the FCS Playoffs in 2021, which SIU won, it being the last Saluki victory in the series. ... Southern Illinois is the second top-25 opponent for the Coyotes this season (At No. 11 Youngstown State) and the first to be played at the DakotaDome. ... The 2026 Dakota Days game last Saturday for USD marked the largest on-record attendance for a Homecoming game at 9,002 fans. It also marked the sixth-largest crowd in the Dome since 2019, and the most of any non-North Dakota State/South Dakota State contest. ... USD has scored 40-plus points in all three home games this season and has outscored opponents 144-40. ... USD punter Brook Honore Jr. was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference special teams player of the week following his career-best 70-yard punt, and three of his six punts being 50-plus yards against the Sycamores last weekend. ... USD is one of the least penalized teams in the FCS this season, with just 26 penalties through six games, the 4.3 average per game sits No. 7 in the nation. ... Austyn Modrzewski became the fastest Coyote in program history to throw for 18 touchdowns in just six games after his three-touchdown performance against Indiana State last week, all coming in the first half. He cracked the USD all-time single season top-10 list for passing touchdowns (18) last week, sitting tied for 10th. ... After scoring two more rushing touchdowns last week to move his career total to 27, Charles Pierre Jr. now sits eighth all-time and second-best in the FCS era in career rushing scores at USD. ... The Missouri Valley's top-two tacklers go head-to-head on Saturday in Vermillion with Southern Illinois' Ben Fiegel 51 tackles to lead the league and USD's Wade Abrams right behind him with 50 tackles. ... Southern Illinois coach Nick Hill is 3-6 all-time against USD. ... After starting the season with a 34-31 road loss to new FCS West Florida, Southern Illinois rattled off back-to-back non-conference wins against Samford and Southeast Missouri State. ... To open MVFC play, the Salukis downed Murray State on the road before falling 28-16 in their league home opener to Youngstown State last time out. ... SIU quarterback DJ Williams averages just 200 yards per game through the air, as SIU relies on the pass offense at 228.7 yards per game. ... The run offense for SIU sits at 154 yards per game. ... When the two teams squared off last year in its five-overtime thriller in a 53-51 win for USD, it marked the longest game in program history for the Coyotes.
