VERMILLION - South Dakota’s pre-eminent rivalry will once again be on display Saturday as the University of South Dakota Coyotes and the No. 19 South Dakota State Jackrabbits meet for the 107th time.
USD leads the series 50-49-7, but the Jackrabbits have won the last four games, including last year’s matchup. SDSU beat the Coyotes last season 31-8 at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium in the teams’ first meeting since 2003.
In last year’s contest, running back Zach Zenner ran for 164 yards and one touchdown. Zenner looks for another 100-yard game again Saturday when the teams face off at 1 p.m. at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.
This season, Zenner leads SDSU (6-4, 3-3 MVFC) on the ground with 240 carries for 1,372 yards and 17 touchdowns. Jackrabbit quarterback Austin Sumner has completed 179 of 311 passes for 2,283 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions.
The last time USD defeated its in-state rival was in 2001, when the Coyotes came away with a 41-8 win.
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If USD (4-6, 3-3 MVFC) is to win, it must get a big game from its defense led by defensive back Devin Taverna and linebacker Tyler Starr. Taverna has a team-leading 65 tackles to go along with two interceptions, while Starr has a team-leading nine sacks and 59 tackles.
Quarterback Kevin Earl leads the Coyote offense. In eight games, Earl has completed 134 of 240 passes for 1,494 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions.
Augustana College (4-6, 4-6 NSIC) vs. Southwest Minnesota State (6-4, 6-4 NSIC), 1 p.m. Saturday in Sioux Falls
SIOUX FALLS - The Augustana Vikings look to finish their season on a high note with a win over Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foe Southwest Minnesota State at 1 p.m. Saturday at Kirkeby-Over Stadium.
All four of Augustana’s wins this season have come at home. The Vikings hold a 15-2 lead over the Mustangs in the all-time series. Augustana came away with a 38-35 win last year in Marshall, Minn.
The Vikings (4-6, 4-6 NSIC) will also honor 12 seniors prior to the game.
Leading the way for Augustana will be quarterback Trey Heid. The redshirt freshman has completed 149 of 264 passes for 1,537 yards, nine touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Heid’s main targets are wide receivers Grant Gebhardt and Matt Gerry. Gebhardt has hauled in 36 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns, while Gerry has caught 30 passes for 327 yards.
The Mustangs (6-4, 6-4 NSIC) will count on running back Tyler Tonderum and quarterback Charlie Kern to lead the way.
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Tonderum has rushed for 1,864 yards and 18 touchdowns on 284 carries, while Kern has completed 236 of 366 passes for 2,759 yards, 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
University of Sioux Falls (5-5, 5-5 NSIC) vs. Wayne State College (2-8, 2-8 NSIC), 1 p.m. Saturday in Wayne, Neb.
WAYNE, Neb. - The University of Sioux Falls ends its season against North Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponent Wayne State in the Egg Bowl.
USF (5-5, 5-5 NSIC) looks to earn its sixth win of the season, while Wayne State (2-8, 2-8 NSIC) looks to get its third win.
The Cougars are led by running back Nephi Garcia, who has run for 1,068 yards and 10 touchdowns on 200 carries. The USF defense is led by linebacker John Batinich, who has registered 86 tackles and three sacks.
Running back Charlie Davidson leads the way Wayne State. Davidson has rushed for 1,191 yards and 11 touchdowns on 251 carries. Quarterback Zach Osborn has tallied 2,076 yards and 17 touchdowns through the air for Wayne State.
Northern State University (4-6, 4-6 NSIC) vs. University of Minnesota-Duluth (9-1, 9-1 NSIC), at 1 p.m. Saturday in Aberdeen
ABERDEEN - The Northern State Wolves will play their last home game of the season Saturday as they face the University of Minnesota-Duluth Saturday.
Northern State (4-6, 4-6 NSIC) is coming off a shut out win over Minnesota-Crookston.
No. 5 UMD (9-1, 9-1NSIC) has won seven straight games, including a 32-14 win over the University of Mary last week. The Bulldogs came away with a 49-31 win in last year’s matchup against the Wolves.
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The Bulldogs are second in the NSIC in scoring with an average of 42.5 points per game. The UMD offense is led by running backs Austin Sikorski and Logan Lauters.
Sikorski has a team-leading 993 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on 155 carries. Lauters is second on the team in rushing with 750 yards and 12 touchdowns on 108 carries.
The NSU defense is led by defensive back Blaine Schmidt, who has registered 54 tackles and three interceptions.
Quarterback Jared Jacobson leads the NSU offense with 1,860 yards and 18 touchdowns through the air.
Black Hills State University (1-8) vs. Fort Lewis (4-6), 1 p.m. CST Saturday in Durango, Colo.
DURANGO, Colo. - The Black Hills State University Yellow Jackets travel to play Fort Lewis Saturday in hopes of winning their second game of the year.
The teams met last year in Spearfish where BHSU won the game 23-0.
Saturday, the Yellow Jackets will be led by dual-threat quarterback Ward Anderson. In nine games, Anderson has completed 209 of 384 passes for 2,356 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has also rushed for 327 yards and eight touchdowns on 86 carries.
Wide receiver Luke Whalen is Anderson’s main target. He has hauled in 47 passes for 638 yards and three touchdowns.
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Fort Lewis is led by running back Dewaun Wesley, who has tallied 512 yards and three touchdowns on 146 carries.
