South Dakota
Recap: Wisconsin Badgers edge past South Dakota 27-13 for 2-0 start to the season
The Wisconsin Badgers were able to come up with a close win against the South Dakota Coyotes with a final score of 27 -13.
A well fought game from both sides, Wisconsin was able to slip away, despite struggling at times, thanks to a strong start and finish.
1st Half
Wisconsin’s offense started the game on fire, taking the ball downfield and scoring in on a seven-play, 75 yard touchdown drive that lasted just 2:46 of game time.
A huge play to Vinny Anthony for 32 yards off a play action bootleg and a 22 yard catch-and-run from Bryson Green put Wisconsin in place for a Chez Mellusi touchdown run.
With Tawee Walker out for the game, Cade Yacamelli took the role of RB2 and really showed out. Yacamelli had seven carries for 59 yards, including a huge 29-yard gain where he broke off multiple tackles and nearly edged past the defense for a score. Yacamelli was also effective in the pass game taking in two catches for 13 yards.
The defense showed out and started off much stronger than last week, however mishaps were definitely present. Safety Hunter Wohler and inside linebacker Jaheim Thomas led the team tackles in the first half and were both making plays all over the field.
The defensive line continued to have issues when trying to create pressure and win at the line of scrimmage, with defensive coordinator Mike Tressel relying on blitz packages to really cause quarterback pressure. Creating pressure with the front four is going to be pivotal for the Badgers moving forward and even to finish this game.
After a questionable performance last week, Van Dyke looked much more comfortable in the pocket in the first half, going 9-11 for 147 yards with a 50-yard bomb to C.J Williams for a score. The rhythm for Van Dyke is slowly settling in as offensive coordinator Phil Longo dialed up more of his RPO actions as the first half progressed.
The big question with Van Dyke was his progressions. He started the game off well going through his reads well and fast, however; as the game progressed, his rhythm was getting more and more off. One major misthrow was when Van Dyke underthrew an open C.J Williams deep down the hashes, which should have been a touchdown.
Getting Van Dyke in rhythm with the rest of the offense is going to be very important to do well with a tough schedule, as the Big Ten teams are not going to give him the time he currently has to go through his reads.
2nd Half
The Coyotes received the ball to start the second and took it all the way to the house. South Dako opened the half with four consecutive run plays, of which three resulted in gains of over 10 yards. The defensive line struggled in the first possession, restricting the flow of the linebackers and leading to these huge gains.
Coyotes running back Keyondray Logan-James ended the drive with a 35-yard touchdown run off a one-cut zone run, cutting the lead to a single touchdown. Missed tackles from Jaheim Thomas really hurt the Badgers on this drive as did the poor flowing of the linebackers.
The Badgers offense also struggled, starting the half off with a short possession, giving the ball right back to the Coyotes. This time around, the defense was able to hold after an initial push from the Coyotes offense, but a muffed punt by Vinny Anthony gave South Dakota the ball at the Wisconsin 8 yard line.
From that point on, the defense and especially the defensive line played lights out, getting a tipped pass as well as a sack by transfer Elijah Hills to force the Coyotes to kick a field goal, despite starting with favorable field position. They even survived a targeting call against linebacker Jake Chaney, which kept him out of the game and will force him to miss the first half next week against Alabama.
The Coyotes would go on to get shut out the rest of the way, as they were limited to only seven yards in the whole fourth quarter.
Defensive tackle Curt Neal and backup linebacker Tackett Curtis, who replaced ejected linebacker Jake Chaney, especially shined in the second half, coming up with huge tackle for losses, and playing their gaps properly, limiting the Coyotes’ explosive run game.
Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke took a step down in the second half, only completing half of his 16 second-half passes, but the Badgers run game was able to get them into the end zone and run the clock down.
Running backs Chez Mellusi and Cade Yacamelli really helped take the pressure off of Van Dyke and create a sort of rhythm that was missing from this team in the early part of the second half. True freshman backs Darrion Dupree and Dilin Jones also saw the field during the Badgers last offensive possession as they bullied their way through the South Dakota defense to run out the clock.
The comeback of the Badgers defense and the methodical play calling of Phil Longo allowed the Badgers to escape with this win. However, as the season goes on, it is going to be very important for Van Dyke to get used to the RPO reads and the overall offense in order to compete with stacked Big Ten teams. The Badgers can not rely solely on their plethora of running backs to win them games.
Personal Thoughts
The Badgers struggling against both their preseason FCS matchups is not a good sign for this season.
The team definitely has the talent and coaching to be competitive in the Big Ten, but mental errors are really hurting this team. They need to get their offense on the same page in order to get the rhythm and timing necessary for Phil Longo’s offense.
On the other side of the ball, the defensive line needs to do a much better job of creating quarterback pressure and winning the line of scrimmage battles. Without a strong line push, it becomes difficult for linebackers to flow and make tackles, which is why the Coyotes were able to get the ball going on the ground.
While there were signs of good defensive play and offensive play that we know this team is capable of, the consistency has to be improved before the big game against Alabama next week.
Another key point is the emergence of Cade Yacamelli and his ability to really change the game. Yacamelli went for 73 yards on eight rushes, breaking out a huge run of 29 yards. His downhill running ability combined with great vision can be really helpful for the Badgers when they need a spark plug. Look to see him get integrated more and more into the game plan as the season progresses, even with the backs at hand.
Lastly, Fickell’s experimentation with the defensive backs looks to be working well. True freshman Xavier Lucas had another great game, and the rotation at nickel with Austin Brown, Max Lofy, and even Nyzier Fourqurean is really helping defensive coordinator Mike Tressel open up his defensive playbook.
With a big game against Alabama coming up next week, it is pivotal for the Badgers to get on the same page offensively and consistently drive the ball downfield. The defensive line has to be faster off the ball and better at maintaining their gaps to allow the second and third lines to flow and make tackles.
These small improvements will take this team to a different level and could even put them in the conversation for a possible top 25 ranking, should Wisconsin show out next weekend.
South Dakota
MN officials warn dogs adopted from South Dakota show ‘high prevalence of canine brucellosis’
Image on the left shows a dog waiting for adoption in a shelter (Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images). image on the right shows an optical microscope view of bacterium brucella canis causes brucellosis (Photo by: BSIP/Education Images/Un (Getty Images)
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health is warning that some dogs adopted from South Dakota are testing positive for canine brucellosis, a contagious and uncurable infection.
Dogs from South Dakota carrying canine brucellosis
By the numbers:
State officials say that so far in 2026, there have been seven canine brucellosis positive dogs traced to South Dakota.
What they’re saying:
Companion Animal Program Veterinarian Dr. Steve Kivisto shared the following statement on the matter.
“We’re evaluating new import requirements and quarantine procedures for dogs coming into Minnesota from South Dakota due to a high prevalence of canine brucellosis in dogs rescued from that geographic area in the past few years,” said companion animal program veterinarian Dr. Steve Kivisto. “We’ve also had recent cases imported from other states and will consider additional requirements if those also prove to contain a pattern of canine brucellosis.”
Dig deeper:
Canine brucellosis is an infection that primarily affects dogs, but there are strains capable of infecting other species, including humans.
The infection in dogs is not curable, and should an owner choose to attempt treatment, their pet could still continue to shed the bacteria. Infected dogs would either need to be quarantined for life or humanely euthanized to prevent the spread.
People who live with or work closely with animals are also at risk of contracting brucellosis.
What you can do:
Officials say anyone bringing dogs into Minnesota for resale or adoption must have a veterinarian examine the animal and sign off on a certificate of veterinary inspection certifying that it appears free from disease.
Testing is also highly recommended since infected dogs can appear healthy.
The Source: This story uses information shared by the Minnesota Board of Animal Health.
A Tyrannosaurus rex fossil discovered on a ranch in western South Dakota will be auctioned off in New York City on Tuesday with a possible sale price of $30 million or more.
The 38-foot long skeleton, nicknamed Gus, stands more than 12 feet tall and has one of the most complete T. rex skeletons ever found. According to Sotheby’s auction house, which is handling the sale, Gus could bring the highest sale price ever for a dinosaur fossil.
The dinosaur is from the late Cretaceous Period and was believed to have lived on Earth 67 million years ago.
The Harding County ranch where the skeleton was found lies in the famed Hell Creek Formation, a geological region of northwestern South Dakota and parts of Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming where dinosaur finds are fairly common.
Several other major dinosaur finds have been made there, including Sue, the famous T. rex discovered in 1990. After legal wrangling over ownership, Sue was auctioned in 1997 at a sale price of $8.3 million to the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, where it remains today.
(Photo: Malcolm Ritter)
The first piece of Gus, a metatarsal from the dinosaur’s foot, was found in 2021 sticking out of the ground on a Harding County ranch owned by Gary and Dana Licking. The find was made by paleontologists with Theropoda Expeditions, a Texas company specializing in commercial excavation, preparation and mounting of dinosaur fossils.
The fossil consists of 183 bone elements, making up 61% of the possible bones in the dinosaur’s body and representing 75% to 80% of the original bone mass by weight, Sotheby’s said.
The dinosaur Sue is 40 feet long and 13 feet tall and is considered the largest and most complete T. rex skeleton ever discovered at 90% of possible bone mass.
“This is our longest-term project ever,” Cassandra Hatton, worldwide head of Sotheby’s Science & Natural History division, said in the video. “From the day the first bone was discovered, we’ve been going back and forth to South Dakota to oversee this whole process.”
The lowest opening bid accepted will be $19 million, with an estimated sale price up to $30 million or more depending on buyer interest, Sotheby’s said.
Gus is named after rancher Gary Licking, whose nickname was Gus. Licking died at age 67 in February 2022, before the full extent of the T. rex skeleton was known.
Gary and Dana Licking married in 1983 and lived on their family ranch 11 miles west of Buffalo, according to Gary’s obituary.
Dana Licking said in Sotheby’s video that she was impressed at the level of skill and professionalism displayed by the paleontologists who discovered the skeleton.
“I’m really grateful that they found it because it could have been lost and nobody ever would learn anything about it,” she said.
Walter Stein, owner of PaleoAdventures in Belle Fourche, in western South Dakota, is an independent paleontologist who is also working to uncover fossils in the Hell Creek Formation.
Western South Dakota is likely to remain a hotbed for discovery of dinosaur fossils, said Stein, who last year opened the Dinosaurs of the Hell Creek Museum in Belle Fourche, a 6,500 square-foot museum with a working paleontology lab, interactive exhibits and dinosaur displays.
“Finding a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton with 183 bones doesn’t happen every day,” he said.
Stein said the auction of Gus could lead to a purchase by either a museum or a private individual or group.
But it is unlikely an American museum would have the funding to acquire Gus because many are struggling or struggling financially, Stein said. Across the world, however, interest remains high in major fossils in countries where funding may be more accessible, such as in Japan, Korea, China, Dubai, Saudi Arabia or in Europe, Stein said.
“On the one hand, I would love for this and every fossil I collect to go to a museum,” he said. “However, there’s so many dinosaur specimens and skeletons on display, it’s not going to affect the science that much if it ends up in private hands.”
— This story originally published on southdakotanewswatch.org.
Iverson Ford now offers the 2027 Ford Expedition, giving families throughout Huron, Mitchell, Aberdeen, Watertown, Brookings, De Smet, Redfield, Miller, and surrounding South Dakota communities access to a full-size SUV with advanced technology, impressive capability, and spacious three-row comfort.
— Iverson Ford is proud to offer the 2027 Ford Expedition, providing drivers throughout Eastern South Dakota with Ford’s latest full-size SUV engineered for growing families, outdoor adventures, towing capability, and everyday versatility. The newest Expedition combines three-row comfort, advanced driver-assist technologies, modern connectivity, and confident performance for today’s active lifestyles.
Located at 2500 Dakota Avenue South in Huron, Iverson Ford serves customers from Huron, Mitchell, Aberdeen, Watertown, Brookings, De Smet, Redfield, Miller, Woonsocket, and surrounding South Dakota communities. As part of the Iverson Auto Group, the dealership offers an extensive selection of new Ford vehicles supported by experienced product specialists, financing professionals, and certified Ford service technicians.
The 2027 Ford Expedition continues Ford’s commitment to delivering capability and comfort in one versatile SUV. Designed for families who need generous passenger space and flexible cargo capacity, the Expedition is well suited for daily commuting, weekend road trips, towing recreational equipment, and exploring South Dakota’s parks, lakes, and outdoor destinations.
“Our team enjoys helping customers find an SUV that fits both their lifestyle and long-term transportation needs,” said a representative of Iverson Ford. “The 2027 Ford Expedition offers the capability, technology, and versatility that many South Dakota families value, whether they’re traveling across town or across the state.”
Demand for full-size SUVs continues to grow as drivers seek vehicles that balance passenger comfort with towing capability and advanced safety features. Iverson Ford helps customers compare Expedition trim levels, explore available technologies, and select the model that best matches their family’s needs while providing continued support through financing, certified maintenance, and genuine Ford parts.
Drivers interested in the 2027 Ford Expedition are encouraged to browse available inventory online or visit Iverson Ford in Huron to experience the SUV firsthand.
About Iverson Ford
Iverson Ford is a full-service Ford dealership located in Huron, South Dakota. Serving drivers throughout Huron, Mitchell, Aberdeen, Watertown, Brookings, De Smet, Redfield, Miller, and surrounding communities, the dealership offers new Ford vehicles, quality pre-owned vehicles, financing, certified Ford service, genuine OEM Ford parts, and customer-focused automotive solutions backed by more than 75 years of service through the Iverson Auto Group.
Contact Info:
Name: Iverson Ford
Email: Send Email
Organization: Iverson Ford
Address: 2500 Dakota Ave S, Huron, SD 57350
Phone: +16053526464
Website: https://www.iversonford.com/
Release ID: 89197473
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