No. 1 South Dakota wins 26-21 vs North Dakota

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The top-ranked South Dakota Coyotes cemented their No. 1 status and maintained an unblemished conference record Saturday night, defeating rival North Dakota 26-21 in a thrilling, back-and-forth battle at the Alerus Center. A pivotal defensive score and a dominant ground game proved decisive for the Coyotes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference showdown.

South Dakota, now an impressive 7-1 overall and 5-0 in MVFC play, used key plays at critical junctures to hold off the Fighting Hawks, who fell to 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the conference. The win keeps the Coyotes firmly on track for a conference championship and a top seed in the FCS playoffs.

The game’s turning point came early in the fourth quarter with the Coyotes clinging to a narrow lead. South Dakota defensive lineman Brendan Webb burst through North Dakota’s offensive line, sacking quarterback Tommy Schuster and forcing a fumble. Linebacker Myles Lewis was in the right place at the right time, scooping up the loose ball and rumbling 60 yards for a touchdown. That electrifying play pushed South Dakota’s lead to 26-14 and dramatically shifted momentum in their favor.

Offensively, the Coyotes leaned heavily on running back Travis Phillips, who was a workhorse on the ground. Phillips gashed the Fighting Hawks’ defense for 114 yards on 18 carries, including an explosive 75-yard touchdown run on South Dakota’s very first offensive series of the game. His consistent production helped the Coyotes control the clock and keep North Dakota’s potent offense off the field for extended stretches.

Other scoring for South Dakota included a 10-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Aidan Bouman to tight end John Paul O’Connell in the second quarter, and a 23-yard field goal by kicker Will Leyland in the third quarter.

Playing in front of their home crowd, North Dakota mounted a spirited effort to stay in the game. Quarterback Tommy Schuster completed 21 of 33 passes for 219 yards, connecting with wide receiver Sammy Doppler for a touchdown. Doppler finished with five catches for 61 yards. Running back Garret Malek added two crucial 1-yard touchdown runs for the Fighting Hawks. His second score came with approximately five and a half minutes left in the game, tightening the score to 26-21 and setting up a dramatic finish. However, North Dakota’s subsequent onside kick attempt was unsuccessful, allowing South Dakota to run out the clock and secure the victory.

The hard-fought road win further solidifies South Dakota’s claim to the top spot in the FCS rankings and bolsters their resume for a deep postseason run. For North Dakota, the loss makes their path to a playoff berth significantly more challenging, highlighting the fierce competition within the Missouri Valley Football Conference.