Sycamores unable to slow down Coyotes in MVFC play, 38-10

Sycamores unable to slow down Coyotes in MVFC play, 38-10

Credit Source: Indiana State University Athletics

VERMILLION, S.D. – Indiana State was unable to keep pace with a strong South Dakota second quarter as the Sycamores fell to the host Coyotes 38-10 on Saturday afternoon inside the DakotaDome.

 

Indiana State (2-3, 0-2 MVFC) surrendered a trio of Coyote touchdowns in the second quarter to give host South Dakota (3-2, 1-1 MVFC) a 21-point halftime lead. The Sycamores battled back in the third quarter, but the comeback fell short as Indiana State was unable to fight all the way back in the conference loss.

 

South Dakota (3-2, 1-1 MVFC) was aided by Carson Camp’s strong first half (15-of-19, 181 yards, 3 TD) on their way to picking up their fifth win in the all-time series against the Sycamores. Camp finished with 200 yards and three touchdowns on the day to aid the Coyotes in their first conference win of the season.

 

The Sycamores were paced by Anthony Thompson’s 16-of-24 performance through the air for 135 yards and a touchdown. Thompson added a 30-yard reception, while five different Indiana State receivers hauled in multiple catches on the day paced by Zach Larkin’s five catches for a career-high 48 yards

 

Nate Thomas was among the Coyotes’ offensive leaders on the day with 11 carries for 111 yards and a fourth quarter touchdown, while the Coyotes receiving game was paced by Carter Bell’s big day with five catches for 87 yards and a score. Brett Samson added a pair of touchdown catches in the win.

 

Defensively, Michael Thomas led the Sycamores efforts with nine tackles and his first sack of the 2021 season. Geoffrey Brown and Gavin Dineen finished with seven tackles apiece, while four different Sycamores recorded sacks in the loss.

 

The Coyotes were paced by Jack Cochrane’s six tackles, while Tre Thomas and Tre Jackson added interceptions.

 

How They Scored

• South Dakota put the first points on the board as the Coyotes posted a 15-play, 75-yard drive that spanned 6:48 before Mason Lorber connected on a 22-yard field goal to put USD ahead 3-0 with 3:23 remaining in the first quarter.
• Alan Selzer tied the game up at 3-3 as the redshirt senior placekicker connected on a 41-yard field goal from the left hashmark at the 14:15 mark in the second quarter to cap an 11-play, 52-yard drive.
• South Dakota converted a 4th-and-Goal situation with Carson Camp finding Brett Samson for a one-yard touchdown pass at the 9:06 mark in the second quarter to cap the 12-play, 75-yard drive and put the Coyotes ahead 10-3.
• The Coyotes added to their lead at the 7:00 mark in the second quarter as Camp found Carter Bell for a 47-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the drive to go up 17-3.
• Camp added a third touchdown pass in the first half with a 10-yard target to Samson near the front right pylon at the 2:33 mark in the second quarter to put South Dakota up 24-3.
• Anthony Thompson found Zach Larkin for the 15-yard touchdown pass to cap off a seven-play, 84-yard drive with 3:03 left in the third quarter and narrowed the USD lead down to 24-10. The drive was highlighted by a 30-yard throwback pass from Larkin to Thompson to put the Sycamores across midfield.
• South Dakota added a Travis Theis 15-yard touchdown run at the 12:20 mark in the fourth quarter to put the lead back at 31-10 and ended a seven-play, 54-yard drive.
• The Coyotes added a late score on Nate Thomas’ 27-yard touchdown run with 5:34 to play to put the final margin at 38-10.

 

Inside the Numbers

• South Dakota picked up 417 total yards on the day and recorded 24 first downs to top the Sycamores in both offensive categories (205 yards, 13 first downs).
• The Sycamores passing game completed 20 passes to seven different receivers on their way to picking up 172 yards.
• Travis Reiner paced the punting game and field position game with seven punts averaging 42.0 yards per attempt in the contest.
• Indiana State was limited to 24:55 in the time of possession game and were penalized a season-high nine times for 58 yards.

 

News & Notes

• Daijon Collins hauled in his first receptions of the 2021 season in the first quarter of today’s game as the redshirt sophomore finished the day with four catches for 31 yards.
• Collins became the 11th different Sycamore to record a catch this fall as Indiana State continues to spread the ball, while quarterback Anthony Thompson became the 12th Sycamore to catch a pass as he hauled in a 30-yard throwback in the third quarter from Zach Larkin.
• Rontrez Morgan ran his streak of consecutive games with a catch to double-digits on Saturday afternoon as the senior wide receiver hauled in four catches for 10 yards in the loss. It also marked Morgan’s 10th consecutive game with multiple catches dating back to the 2019 season.
• Phazione McClurge’s 24-yard reception on the opening drive of the second half marked the Sycamores’ sixth pass play to eclipse 20-plus yards on the year and his second 20-yard reception of the season.
• Zach Larkin also kept his catch streak alive on Saturday afternoon as the big tight end hauled in a trio of catches for 42 yards on the touchdown drive late in the third quarter. Larkin has successfully caught a pass in 12 consecutive games dating back to the 2019 season.
• Cade Chambers saw his first action in the 2021 season as the freshman signal caller played lined up in both the third and fourth quarters on Saturday afternoon.
• Michael Thomas led the Sycamores’ tackling efforts for the third time in the 2021 season as the redshirt junior safety recorded nine stops and a sack in the loss.
• Geoffrey Brown tied his season-high with seven tackles in the game and added a TFL.
• Gavin Dineen set a new career mark with seven tackles (two solo).
• Michael Thomas, Dwayne Thompson II , and Kris Reid Jr. all recorded their first sacks of the 2021 season.
• Indiana State falls to 2-5 in the all-time series against South Dakota and 0-4 in games played in Vermillion dating back to the beginning of the series in 2012.

 

Up Next

Indiana State returns home to Memorial Stadium on Saturday, October 9, for a Missouri Valley Football contest against Western Illinois. Kickoff between the Sycamores and the Leathernecks is set for 1 p.m. ET and will be carried live on ESPN3 and 105.5 The Legend.

 

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