South Dakota

Swaffar: Three observations from USD’s 42-13 victory over Southern Illinois

Published

1 year ago

September 29, 2024

Swaffar: Three observations from USD’s 42-13 victory over Southern Illinois

VERMILLION — The University of South Dakota football team opened its conference slate with a bang on Saturday with a dominant 42-13 victory over Southern Illinois in the DakotaDome.

Aidan Bouman had yet another big performance with a season-high 247 yards and two touchdowns on 11-for-17 passing. Travis Theis was the leading rusher with 147 yards and two touchdowns. Charles Pierre had 126 yards and two touchdowns. JJ Galbreath was the first receiver to eclipse the 100-yard mark this season with 100 yards and a score.

With that, here are three observations from the game …

USD won the trenches on both sides of the ball

The battle in the trenches was one to watch in this one. Coming into the matchup, SIU led the Missouri Valley Football Conference in sacks but also led the league in sacks allowed. So the Coyotes needed to stand firm on both sides of the ball, and they did just that with high efficiency.

On the defensive side, the front four especially looked good throughout the game. The Coyotes were getting consistent pressure in the passing game and forced Saluki quarterback Hunter Simmons to get rid of the ball quickly on numerous occasions. In the run game, SIU couldn’t get anything rolling as the USD defense was plugging holes and forcing the running back to switch direction at the line. The defense finished with two sacks and six tackles for loss on the day. SIU only averaged 2.4 yards per rush.

South Dakota left tackle Joe Cotton blocks Southern Illinois pass rusher Louis Wilbert during a college football game on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.

Marcus Traxler / Mitchell Republic

Offensively, the line held up extremely well. In pass protection, Bouman had plenty of time to throw and didn’t force the ball out of his hands due to pressure very often. In the run game, the line opened up holes and set the edge on the outside for efficient gains. In the end, the line gave up no sacks and helped the run game average 6.4 yards per attempt.

It’s an encouraging game for both the offensive and defensive line. This was a tone-setting matchup to open up the conference season and both sides of the ball were up for the challenge.

The offense looked explosive

Throughout the offseason and heading into this season, coaches and players alike talked about how they needed the offense to create explosive plays. The offense showed some flashes through three games of underlying explosivity, but Saturday resembled the type of offense the Coyotes have been looking for.

First, Bouman was dropping passes right into the receivers’ breadbasket. He was especially finding success over the top of the Saluki secondary. His two first-half touchdown passes came on plays over the top of the defense and went for 80 and 61 yards. He finished the first half with a season-high 220 yards and two touchdowns.

092824 USD SIU Charles Pierre3.JPG — South Dakota running back Charles Pierre Jr. carries the ball during a college football game on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.

But the run game was having plenty of success as well. Like usual, Theis was a workhorse and Pierre complemented him nearly perfectly. The Coyote offense averaged over 11 yards per play in the first half and scored a touchdown on five of their seven possessions.

In the end, the Coyotes averaged 8.58 yards per play, a season-high. They also amassed a season-high 549 total yards of offense. In terms of explosiveness, this is a monumental step in the right direction and hopefully signals similar performances going forward.

A perfect conference start

When you looked at this game on paper, this was a huge game. It’s the conference opener against the No. 17 team in the country. This was a game that the Coyotes looked likely to win and ended up doing so in a dominant fashion.

It was a complete performance on both sides. The offense was explosive as mentioned previously and the defense was very solid overall. The Coyotes outgained the Salukis 549-366 despite running fewer overall plays. The offense was in sync, the defense was flying around and no mistakes were made on special teams. Overall, it’s almost as good a performance to open the Missouri Valley slate as one could ask for.

092824 USD SIU Theis sideline.JPG — South Dakota’s Travis Theis smiles on the sideline following a Coyote touchdown during a college football game on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.

This adds up to a few different things. One, it’s always important to open up conference play with a victory, especially in a conference where one game could make all the difference. Two, a blowout victory against a top-20 team will look good on the resume when it comes time for playoff seeding. Finally, it’s a huge momentum and confidence boost as the Coyotes embark on what is sure to be a long and grueling conference schedule.

Opinion by
Nathan Swaffar

Nathan Swaffar is a sports reporter for the Mitchell Republic. He joined the Mitchell Republic in July 2024 after graduating from the University of Kansas in May of 2024 with a degree in journalism and a minor in history. He covers a variety of prep and collegiate sports throughout South Dakota including USD Football.

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South Dakota

Feeding South Dakota

Published

6 hours ago

February 27, 2026

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Millionaire for Life winning numbers for Feb. 26, 2026

Published

18 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

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

Here’s a look at Feb. 26, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from Feb. 26 drawing

03-14-22-50-57, 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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South Dakota

SNAP soda ban headed to desk of South Dakota governor, who’s concerned about costs

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

SNAP soda ban headed to desk of South Dakota governor, who’s concerned about costs

State Sen. Sydney Davis, R-Burbank, speaks in the South Dakota Senate at the Capitol in Pierre on Feb. 10, 2026. Davis is sponsoring a bill that would ban the use of SNAP benefits for soda purchases. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

By: John Hult

PIERRE, S.D. (South Dakota Searchlight) – The question of whether South Dakota moves to ban the use of government food assistance for sugary drinks is in the hands of Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden, who has signaled his opposition to the bill all through the 2026 legislative session.

The state Senate voted 27-6 on Wednesday to endorse House Bill 1056, after the House passed it earlier 58-11. Assuming the same levels of support, both margins are wide enough to overcome a Rhoden veto, should he choose to issue one.

The bill directs the Department of Social Services to ask for a federal waiver to allow the state to bar the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for the purchase of soft drinks.

SNAP is a federal program, managed by the state, through which people with low incomes get a monthly allowance for food through a debit-like card that can be used at most stores to buy nearly any consumable grocery item save alcohol and prepared foods.

Representatives from Rhoden’s office testified against the bill in House and Senate committees, arguing that the administrative costs would be too high. A fiscal note attached to the bill between its passage in the House and its appearance on the Senate’s Wednesday calendar estimated that implementation would cost $310,000 through the first two years. Those costs would come from hiring an extra employee and contracting for software to track sales, file reports and help retailers determine which drinks are banned.

Backers see long-term savings to the state, though. A high percentage of SNAP recipients are also on Medicaid, a taxpayer-funded health insurance program open to disabled and income-eligible people.

On Wednesday, Burbank Republican Sen. Sydney Davis noted the connection between excess soda consumption and health problems like obesity, diabetes and tooth decay. Medicaid dental costs alone add up $51 million a year, she said.

Mitchell Republican Sen. Paul Miskimins, a retired dentist, told the body he once counted 32 cavities and seven abscesses in the mouths of 2-year-old twin boys who were covered by Medicaid.

He attributed the tooth decay to sugary beverages.

“I don’t know if that first visit was more traumatic on the boys or on my dental staff and myself,” said Miskimins.

Tamara Grove, R-Lower Brule, was the lone senator to speak in opposition on the Senate floor. She argued that some stores might stop accepting SNAP payments due to the administrative burden of sorting barred products from the rest of their inventories, and pointed out that the bill wouldn’t do a thing to prevent SNAP recipients from loading up on sugary foods like ice cream or snack cakes.

“It gives this look as if there’s going to be this big, huge change in the way that people buy products, but it’s really not going to be,” Grove said.

Some surrounding states, including Nebraska, have moved to ask for a waiver to ban soda sales through SNAP. Such waivers are now an option, as President Donald Trump’s administration is willing to consider granting them. Former President Joe Biden’s administration was not.

Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt, the South Dakota bill’s prime sponsor, got a letter last week from Trump administration officials expressing support for her proposal.

In response, Rhoden spokeswoman Josie Harms told South Dakota Searchlight that the governor “has always been supportive of the Trump Administration’s efforts to Make America Healthy Again,” using a reference to the policy agenda branding used by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“We have met directly with his Administration on this issue, and at no point has our opposition been directed at President Trump or his efforts to reform SNAP,” Harms said. “Our focus has always been on ensuring the implementation of SNAP reform works effectively for our state.”

Harms said Wednesday that Rhoden would answer questions about the bill at a Thursday press conference.

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