South Dakota Athletic Communications
| Sioux Falls Argus Leader
The South Dakota football team took down South Dakota State, 24-17, behind a huge day from running back L.J. Phillips Jr.
The Coyote rusher posted a big day of 168 yards and two touchdowns on the ground to power South Dakota to its first win over its in-state rival since 2021. One of his scores was a 32-yard scamper, which was the only score of the second half.
The win improved USD to 7-4 overall and 5-2 in conference play, while it dropped the Jackrabbits to 7-3 and 3-3 in league play.
The Jackrabbits provided the opening score 11 seconds into the game as wide receiver Jack Smith took a pitch through a seam on the right side and outraced the USD secondary for a 75-yard touchdown run.
USD also found the end zone on its first possession, stringing together a 15-play, 70-yard drive in which the Coyotes extended the march by converting on fourth-and-3. Phillips closed out the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run.
SDSU regained the lead on a 40-yard field goal by Eli Stader later in the first quarter, which was answered by a 34-yard field goal by the Coyotes’ Will Leyland at the 4:14 mark of the second quarter.
The Coyotes came up with a quick strike of their own as they grabbed the lead for the first time late in the first half. After a personal foul against SDSU on the first play of the drive, Aidan Bouman found Larenzo Fenner down the left side for a 37-yard gain before the duo hooked up a play later in the right corner of the end zone for a 19-yard score with 1:03 to play in the first half.
Henry, who became the third SDSU starter at quarterback this season, ran the two-minute drill to knot the game for a third time. The redshirt freshman completed 5-of-6 passes over 52 seconds, three of which were completed to Alex Bullock. Henry’s final pass of the drive covered 27 yards on a post route to Bullock with five seconds remaining in the half to make the score 17-17.
USD put together what would prove to be the game-winning drive on the first possession of the second half. Facing third-and-6 at the SDSU 32, Phillips took a handoff and knifed his way through the middle of the Jackrabbit defense for his second touchdown of the afternoon.
The Jackrabbits were unable to move the ball into USD territory on their two possessions of the third quarter, but were in position to tie the game early in the fourth quarter behind an 18-yard pass from Henry to Smith and a pair of first-down runs by Julius Loughride that advanced the ball to the Coyote 23. The drive would end, however, when Henry’s pass to the end zone was intercepted by Dejuan Lewis.
The SDSU defense came up with a much-needed stop to get the ball back at its own 41 with under five minutes to play. Once again, the offense couldn’t convert as the Jackrabbits turned the ball over on downs and USD was able to run out the clock.
USD finished with a 333-330 advantage in total offense. Bouman completed 14-of-21 passes for 158 yards, with Fenner catching four balls for 68 yards.
For the Jackrabbits, Smith ended the day with 197 all-purpose yards, including 82 on the ground after his opening touchdown. He also led the SDSU receiving corps with a career-high six catches for 61 yards.
Loughridge added 44 yards on 10 carries, with Henry ending the day 13-of-24 passing for 139 yards.
