2018 South Dakota Coyotes football team

{{Infobox college sports team season

|year=2018

|team=South Dakota Coyotes

|sport=football

|image=South Dakota Coyotes wordmark.svg

|conference=Missouri Valley Football Conference

|short_conf=MVFC

|division=

|STATSRank =

|FCSCoachRank =

|record= 4–7

|conf_record= 3–5

|head_coach= Bob Nielson

|hc_year= 3rd

|off_coach= Ted Schlafke

|oc_year = 3rd

|codef_coach1= Brian Mohnsen

|codc1_year = 1st

|codef_coach2= Atiba Bradley

|codc2_year= 1st

|off_scheme=Pro-style

|def_scheme=4–3

|stadium = DakotaDome

}}

The 2018 South Dakota Coyotes football team represented the University of South Dakota in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by third-year head coach Bob Nielson and played their home games in the DakotaDome. They were a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. They finished the season 4–7, 3–5 in MVFC play to finish in a three-way tie for sixth place.

Preseason

=Award watch lists=

class="wikitable"

{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=South Dakota Coyotes|Award|Player|Position|Year}}

Buck Buchanan Award{{cite web|title=FCS football: 2018 Buck Buchanan Award watch list announced|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2018-08-02/fcs-football-2018-buck-buchanan-award-watch-list-announced|date=August 2, 2018|accessdate=August 2, 2018}}

|Darin Greenfield

|DE

|JR

=Preseason MVFC poll=

The MVFC released their preseason poll on July 29, 2018, with the Coyotes predicted to finish in sixth place.{{Cite web|url=http://www.valley-football.org/news/2018/7/19/football-north-dakota-state-tabbed-as-favorite-to-win-2018-mvfc-title.aspx|title=North Dakota State Picked to Win 2018 MVFC Title}}

class="wikitable"
align="center" {{CollegePrimaryHeader\|team=South Dakota Coyotes\|Predicted finish\|Team\|Votes (1st place)}}
align="center" \| 1	North Dakota State	390 (39)
align="center" \| 2	South Dakota State	270
align="center" \| 3	Northern Iowa	258
align="center" \| 4	Youngstown State	248
align="center" \| 5	Illinois State	248
align="center" \| 6	South Dakota	206
align="center" \| 7	Western Illinois	163
align="center" \| 8	Southern Illinois	139
align="center" \| 9	Missouri State	90
align="center" \| 10	Indiana State	41

=Preseason All-MVFC Teams=

The Coyotes placed seven players on the preseason all-MVFC teams.{{Cite web|url=http://valley-football.org/documents/2018/7/31//2018_MVFC_Preseason_Team_and_Poll.pdf?id=41|title = Preseason All-Conf and Team (PDF) - Missouri Valley Football Conference}}

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

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 2018

| rankdivision = NCAA Division I FCS

| poll = STATS

| timezone = Central

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 1

| time = 6:00 p.m.

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Kansas State

| site_stadium = Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium

| site_cityst = Manhattan, KS

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 24–27

| attend = 50,063

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 8

| time = 2:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| rank = 23

| opponent = Northern Colorado

| site_stadium = DakotaDome

| site_cityst = Vermillion, SD

| tv = ESPN+
Midco

| score = 43–28

| attend = 9,143

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 15

| time = 7:00 p.m.

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| rank = 22

| opponent = Weber State

| opprank = 11

| site_stadium = Stewart Stadium

| site_cityst = Ogden, UT

| tv = KELOland
Pluto TV

| score = 10–27

| attend = 8,455

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 29

| time = 6:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Southern Illinois

| site_stadium = Saluki Stadium

| site_cityst = Carbondale, IL

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 31–24

| attend = 8,546

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 6

| time = 2:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| homecoming = y

| opponent = Missouri State

| opprank = 24

| site_stadium = DakotaDome

| site_cityst = Vermillion, SD

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 35–28

| attend = 10,092

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 13

| time = 6:00 p.m.

| w/l = l

| rank = 24

| opponent = Northern Iowa

| site_stadium = DakotaDome

| site_cityst = Vermillion, SD

| tv = ESPN+
Midco

| score = 28–42

| attend = 9,513

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 20

| time = 5:00 p.m.

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Youngstown State

| site_stadium = Stambaugh Stadium

| site_cityst = Youngstown, OH

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 17–29

| attend = 11,112

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 27

| time = 2:00 p.m.

| w/l = l

| opponent = North Dakota State

| opprank = 1

| site_stadium = DakotaDome

| site_cityst = Vermillion, SD

| tv = ESPN+
Midco

| score = 14–59

| attend = 9,589

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 3

| time = 12:00 p.m.

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Indiana State

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Terre Haute, IN

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 48–51

| overtime = 3OT

| attend = 5,816

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 10

| time = 1:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| opponent = Western Illinois

| site_stadium = DakotaDome

| site_cityst = Vermillion, SD

| tv = ESPN+
Midco

| score = 17–12

| attend = 8,761

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 17

| time = 2:00 p.m.

| w/l = L

| away = y

| opponent = South Dakota State

| opprank = 5

| site_stadium = Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium

| site_cityst = Brookings, SD

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = ESPN+
Midco

| score = 27–49

| attend = 8,517

}}

Game summaries

=At Kansas State=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Coyotes

|R1=10

|R2=14

|R3=0

|R4=0

|Home=Wildcats

|H1=3

|H2=9

|H3=0

|H4=15

}}

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.{{cite web|publisher=ESPN|title=South Dakota Coyotes vs Kansas State Wildcats (team stats)|url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/matchup?gameId=401013057|date=September 2, 2018|accessdate=September 5, 2018}} going over 100 years for the first time since 2016 against Florida Atlantic.

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.kansas.com/sports/college/big-12/kansas-state/article217672265.html|accessdate=September 5, 2018|title=Kansas State survives against South Dakota 27–24 in season-opener|first=Kellis|last=Robinett|publisher=Wichita Eagle}} 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."{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/undefined|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=September 5, 2018|title=Kansas State scores 2 late TDs, edges South Dakota 27–24|date=September 2, 2018}}

=Northern Colorado=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Bears

|R1=14

|R2=0

|R3=0

|R4=14

|Home=No. 23 Coyotes

|H1=14

|H2=20

|H3=0

|H4=9

}}

=At Weber State=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=No. 22 Coyotes

|R1=0

|R2=3

|R3=0

|R4=7

|Home=No. 11 Wildcats

|H1=11

|H2=7

|H3=3

|H4=6

}}

=At Southern Illinois=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Coyotes

|R1=7

|R2=3

|R3=21

|R4=0

|Home=Salukis

|H1=14

|H2=3

|H3=0

|H4=7

}}

=Missouri State=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=No. 24 Bears

|R1=7

|R2=14

|R3=7

|R4=0

|Home=Coyotes

|H1=14

|H2=3

|H3=10

|H4=8

}}

=Northern Iowa=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Panthers

|R1=0

|R2=21

|R3=7

|R4=14

|Home=No. 24 Coyotes

|H1=3

|H2=10

|H3=8

|H4=7

}}

=At Youngstown State=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Coyotes

|R1=0

|R2=0

|R3=10

|R4=7

|Home=Penguins

|H1=19

|H2=3

|H3=0

|H4=7

}}

=North Dakota State=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=No. 1 Bison

|R1=21

|R2=14

|R3=7

|R4=17

|Home=Coyotes

|H1=0

|H2=7

|H3=7

|H4=0

}}

=At Indiana State=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Coyotes

|R1=7

|R2=7

|R3=7

|R4=10

|R5=7

|R6=7

|R7=3

|Home=Sycamores

|H1=14

|H2=7

|H3=0

|H4=10

|H5=7

|H6=7

|H7=6

}}

=Western Illinois=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Leathernecks

|R1=3

|R2=0

|R3=0

|R4=9

|Home=Coyotes

|H1=7

|H2=0

|H3=3

|H4=7

}}

=At South Dakota State=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Coyotes

|R1=7

|R2=0

|R3=7

|R4=13

|Home=No. 5 Jackrabbits

|H1=28

|H2=7

|H3=7

|H4=7

}}

{{see also|2018 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team|South Dakota–South Dakota State football rivalry}}

Ranking movements

{{Ranking movements

| poll1title = STATS FCS

| poll1firstweek = 0

| poll1lastweek = 13

| poll1_0=RV

| poll1_1=23

| poll1_2=22

| poll1_3=RV

| poll1_4=RV

| poll1_5=RV

| poll1_6=24

| poll1_7=RV

| poll1_8=NR

| poll1_9=NR

| poll1_10=NR

| poll1_11=NR

| poll1_12=NR

| poll1_13=

| poll1_14=

| poll1_15=

| poll1_16=

| poll1_17=

| poll1_18=

| poll1_19=

| poll1_20=

| poll2title = Coaches

| poll2firstweek = 0

| poll2lastweek = 13

| poll2_0=RV

| poll2_1=RV

| poll2_2=24

| poll2_3=RV

| poll2_4=RV

| poll2_5=RV

| poll2_6=RV

| poll2_7=RV

| poll2_8=NR

| poll2_9=NR

| poll2_10=NR

| poll2_11=NR

| poll2_12=NR

| poll2_13=

| poll2_14=

| poll2_15=

| poll2_16=

| poll2_17=

| poll2_18=

| poll2_19=

| poll2_20=

}}

References

South Dakota

Category:South Dakota Coyotes football seasons

South Dakota Coyotes football