South Dakota

FCS Playoffs Semifinal Preview & Prediction: No. 4 South Dakota at No. 1 Montana State

Published

1 year ago

December 21, 2024

FCS Playoffs Semifinal Preview & Prediction: No. 4 South Dakota at No. 1 Montana State

No. 4 South Dakota travels to No. 1 Montana State in the semifinals of the 2024 FCS Playoffs. Kickoff is scheduled for Dec. 21 at 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC.

The winner will advance to the FCS National Championship game, where they will face the winner of No. 3 South Dakota State at No. 2 North Dakota State.

2024 FCS Playoff Bracket

2024 Prediction Record: 174-45
2022-23 Record: 207-75

Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. CT (ABC)
Line: Montana State (-8)
Series History: Montana State leads 2-0

Key Players: Montana State

Tommy Mellott (QB): 182-for-259 (70.3%), 2,430 Passing Yards, 28 Passing TDs, 2 INTs, 790 Rushing Yards, 12 Rushing TDs

Scottre Humphrey (RB): 177 Carries, 1,325 Rushing Yards, 7.5 YPC, 14 Rushing TDs

Adam Jones (RB): 155 Carries, 1,068 Rushing Yards, 6.9 YPC, 14 Rushing TDs

Brody Grebe (DL): 34 Total Tackles, 9 TFLs, 7.5 Sacks, 5 PBUs, 8 QBHs, 1 FF

McCade O’Reilly (LB): 64 Total Tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 3 Sacks, 3 PBUs, 6 QBHs, 1 FF

Key Players: South Dakota

Aidan Bouman (QB): 194-for-283 (68.5%), 2,723 Passing Yards, 19 Passing TDs, 4 INTs

Charles Pierre Jr. (RB): 163 Carries, 1,187 Rushing Yards, 7.3 YPC, 15 Rushing TDs

Travis Theis (RB): 173 Carries, 1,062 Rushing Yards, 6.1 YPC, 18 Rushing TDs, 305 Receiving Yards

Mi’Quise Grace (DL): 59 Total Tackles, 18 TFLs, 9.5 Sacks, 9 QBHs, 2 FFs, 2 FRs

Gary Bryant III (LB): 101 Total Tackles, 3 TFLs, 2 INTs, 3 PBUs, 1 FF

After exceeding expectations all season, South Dakota has a chance to shake up the national title race with an upset over Montana State, who enters the game as the only undefeated FCS program in the nation. The Coyotes are looking to make their first national title appearance at the FCS level, while the Bobcats have not won the title since 1984.

Everything starts with South Dakota’s ability to limit explosive plays from a dangerous Montana State offense. The Bobcats lead the nation in total offense and yards per play, averaging almost 500 yards per game this season. South Dakota has done an excellent job against the run, ranking No. 10 nationally in rushing defense. However, the Coyotes have not seen a rushing attack this talented. The Bobcats average over 300 yards per game, led by Scottre Humphrey with 1,325 yards and Adam Jones with 1,068 yards.

The Coyotes have held their first two postseason opponents under 100 rushing yards. Mi’Quise Grace and Nick Gaes can create havoc off the edge, combining for 29 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks. Montana State’s offensive line has been dominant this season, featuring three players that earned All-American honors. The Bobcats allow a negative play on only 4.2% of all offensive snaps and have the lowest pressure rate in the postseason. The Coyotes will have to create some chaos at the line of scrimmage, which no other team has been able to do this season against the Bobcats.

Montana State’s offense may start with the rushing attack, but quarterback Tommy Mellott remains the biggest x-factor this weekend. He’s having the best season of his career, completing over 70% of his passes for 2,430 passing yards, 790 rushing yards, and 40 total touchdowns. South Dakota’s linebackers are extremely athletic and must contain Mellott in this game. Linebackers Gary Bryant III and Nate Ewell have combined for 175 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, and one sack.

South Dakota will also lean on an explosive rushing attack, which ranks third nationally in yards per carry. Charles Pierre Jr. and Travis Theis have combined for over 2,220 rushing yards and 33 rushing touchdowns. Montana State has held its past five opponents under 150 rushing yards, which should make this an interesting matchup in Saturday’s game. South Dakota’s offensive line is one of the best in the nation and has the size to challenge Montana State’s front seven.

Montana State has had a championship-level offense for multiple seasons, but the defense has failed to meet those expectations until this season. The Bobcats rank No. 10 nationally in total defense, holding opponents to 293.9 yards per game. This unit does an excellent job of generating pressure and creating negative plays. Brody Grebe and Kenneth Eiden IV are dangerous off the edge, combining for 17.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks. This will be the ultimate test for the Bobcats as South Dakota’s offense presents a unique challenge.

Despite not losing an FCS game in regulation, South Dakota has continued to be doubted all season. The Coyotes have the talent to pull off the upset in Bozeman, but I have yet to see any major flaws in this Montana State team. The Bobcats have too many weapons and are led by arguably the most dynamic player in the nation. All this will be too much for the Coyotes to overcome as Montana State advances to Frisco.

Prediction: Montana State (31-21)

Behind The Numbers: 2024 FCS Playoffs Semifinals Preview
2025 FBS-To-FCS Football Transfer Tracker
2025 FCS-To-FCS Football Transfer Tracker
2025 FCS-To-FBS Football Transfer Tracker
2024 FCS Playoffs: Official Bracket, Schedule, Scores

Follow FCS Football Central on social media for ongoing coverage of FCS football, including on X, Facebook, and YouTube.

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South Dakota

Argus Leader First/Second Five: South Dakota’s best girls high school basketball players

Published

29 minutes ago

March 30, 2026

Press Room

Argus Leader First/Second Five: South Dakota’s best girls high school basketball players

More than 40 years ago, a tradition was born to honor the top high school basketball players in South Dakota, regardless of class: the Argus Leader First and Second Five.

Here are the 2025-26 First and Second Five teams for girls basketball, which celebrate those athletes who made individual impacts and lifted their teams to new heights.

First Five

Alyvia Padgett

Brandon Valley | 5-7 | Sr. | G

Padgett broke the Brandon Valley career scoring record this season after averaging 26.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists on 60.0% shooting from the field and 44.0% shooting from beyond the arc. The Class AA Spirit of Su winner led her Brandon Valley team to an unbeaten regular season thanks to a 40-point outing against O’Gorman in the season opener. The Lynx lost in the Class AA state championship game.

“She loves the work and it has loved her back,” Brandon Valley head coach Mike Zerr said. “She just always continues to find a way to level up her game each year. She has worked hard to become a three-level scorer, is at her best in transition offensively or defensively and has a tremendous vision for the game.

“Liv is not someone who craves the spotlight but has handled it all with grace. Those things will continue to stay with her in life on her next steps and continue to make her a tremendous player and person.”

Sydney Terveen

O’Gorman | 5-11 | Sr. | G

Terveen became the eighth O’Gorman girls basketball player to hit 1,000 career points, hitting that mark in her final regular season game. Then scored 33 points in her final high school game to help the Knights win their third Class AA state title in a row. The Omaha commit averaged 18.4 points on 50.4% from the field and 35.6% from three, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

“Sydney is a tremendous basketball player and she is at her best when the lights are shining the brightest,” O’Gorman head coach Kent Kolsrud said. “She is such a versatile player that makes huge plays and is a great leader. She can score at all three levels, is great in transition and so active in our presses. She has meant a tremendous amount to our basketball program for the last four years.”

Ashlyn Koupal

Wagner | 6-3 | Sr. | G/F

Koupal was the first South Dakotan girl named to the McDonald’s All-American Game this year, and the Nebraska commit rewarded the selection committee by going for 28.3 points, 14.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 58.8% from the field and 48.4% from deep. She also recorded 60 steals and 82 blocks. Wagner went 19-5 and finished eighth in the Class A state tournament.

“Just knowing her personality and who she is, she’s a team-oriented kid who looks out for the team first,” Wagner head coach Mike Koupal said. “All the accolades she’s gotten over the years mean really nothing to her, because in the long run it’s what did she accomplish with her teammates at Wagner.

“Skill-wise, she’s a three-headed monster because she can score with her back to the basket, she can score off the dribble and she can score from the perimeter. In South Dakota the last couple years, we didn’t really get to see a lot of that because she’s picked up 90 feet with people hanging all over her. It’s hard to see what she’s really capable of.”

Ashlan Carlow-Blount

Maȟpíya Lúta | 6-0 | Sr. | G

Carlow-Blount may not have won a Class A state championship at Maȟpíya Lúta, but her teams went 80-4 over the last three years and finished as runners-up the last two seasons after going unbeaten heading into the state title game. The South Dakota commit averaged 17.2 points on 46.0% from the field and 40.0% from deep, 7.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists to go with 99 steals. Carlow-Blount also won the Class A Spirit of Su award.

Jaelyn Huntimer

Arlington | 5-9 | Sr. | G

Huntimer was Arlington’s do-it-all guard, averaging 28.8 points per game, 10.3 rebounds per game and 2.5 assists per night at 5-foot-9. Her nightly heroics weren’t enough for a SoDak 16 appearance, as Arlington finished 15-7 and lost in the Class B Region 2 semifinals as the top seed.

“Jaelyn has been part of our varsity program since seventh grade, and watching her grow into the player and person she is today has been truly special,” Arlington head coach Tara King said. “The time, heart and dedication she’s poured into this game is something you don’t always see, and it shows in everything she does. She has a special ability to take over a game, even when all the attention is on her. But what stands out most isn’t just her talent, it’s her heart. She’s faced a lot throughout her career and has lead with strength and resilience through it all. Jaelyn isn’t just a great basketball player, she’s someone who left a lasting impression on our basketball program, school and community, and we have been so blessed to watch her compete as a Cardinal.”

Second Five

Dana Harpe

Sioux Falls Washington | 6-0 | Sr. | G

Harpe provided Washington with a go-to scorer and playmaker with the size of a forward. She contributed 18.2 points a night on 48.7% shooting, 5.9 rebounds per game and 6.8 assists per outing to lead the Warriors to a third-place finish at Class AA.

“Dana has a motor that doesn’t quit,” Washington head coach Jamie Parish said. “She always plays hard on both sides of the ball and is a great teammate. She will be missed.”

Ruby Moore

O’Gorman | 5-8 | Jr. | G

Moore was in control of O’Gorman’s fast-paced offense all season and frequently had the ball in her hands in big moments. The South Dakota State commit averages 15.3 points and 4.6 assists while shooting 49.5% from the floor and 45.7% from deep. She also got 82 steals.

“Ruby is a very dynamic player that makes huge plays when the game is on the line,” Kolsrud said. “Great basketball IQ, tremendous floor general, can score in so many ways. She has been a huge part of our basketball program for the past three years. Great passer, leader in steals, tremendous shooter, big time player.”

Brinley Altenburg

Sioux Falls Jefferson | 5-10 | Jr. | G

Altenburg was Jefferson’s top option all season, and she delivered time and time again. The junior has garnered lots of interest from power conference schools like Iowa, Ohio State and Kansas. She paced the Cavaliers with 18.8 points per game on 45.8% shooting and 32.2% from 3-point range.

“Brinley is a huge piece of our offense, and she is our leading scorer this season,” Jefferson head coach Shaunteva Pruett said. “She is super quick and gets our offense going in transition. Brinley has a very fast first step that helps her get by defenders. She is capable of scoring from anywhere on the court, including deep threes. She tends to be the other team’s focus for each game, and she sees a lot of different defenses thrown at her. She has really grown throughout the season on learning how to contribute to the team on other levels besides just scoring. She is long and athletic and is developing a nose for the ball on defensive and offensive rebounds, as well as reading the defense for steals. Brinley is an extremely hard worker who is the definition of a gym rat.”

Taylor Reuvers

Vermillion | 5-5 | So. | G

Reuvers has an extremely quick release and good feel for getting to the rim with the ability to finish in a variety of different ways for Vermillion. The sophomore guard went for 27.8 points per night, 6.8 rebounds per game, 4.7 assists per game with 114 steals on 41.0% from the field and 37.0% from beyond the arc. The Tanagers lost in the Class A Region semifinals to cap a 13-9 season.

“Taylor is a true point guard who can do everything on the floor,” Vermillion head coach Jon Brooks said. “Her ability to shoot from distance along with her quickness getting to the hoop makes her very difficult to defend. She is very unselfish and always seems to make the correct play. Her basketball IQ is as high as any player I have ever been around. Taylor is always a step ahead on the court, which allows her to let things develop around her. With how talented she is, what separates her the most is her competitive drive. It doesn’t matter if it’s a shooting drill in practice or the biggest game of the year, she never wants to lose.”

Mak Scott

Lyman | 6-0 | Sr. | F

Scott was the Class B Spirit of Su winner and led Lyman to the top seed in the state tournament thanks to her size, positioning and finishing ability by the rim. The 2,000-point scorer averaged 15.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists as she and her sister Jordyn helped lead the Raiders to a 22-4 season and a fifth-place finish in the Class B state tournament.

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South Dakota

TBD vs. South Dakota Coyotes – Live Score – March 31, 2026

Published

13 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

TBD vs. South Dakota Coyotes – Live Score – March 31, 2026 | FOX Sports

LEADING SCORERS

PREVIOUS GAMES

TBD

– No Data Available –

SDAK

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Powerball, Lotto America winning numbers for March 28, 2026

Published

1 day ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 28, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 28 drawing

11-42-43-59-61, Powerball: 25, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from March 28 drawing

15-29-30-32-35, Star Ball: 09, ASB: 05

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Dakota Cash numbers from March 28 drawing

04-08-13-31-35

Check Dakota Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 28 drawing

12-14-17-22-55, Bonus: 04

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.

When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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