What to know about Lamar at South Dakota

LAMAR (0-2) vs. SOUTH DAKOTA (1-1)
WHEN/WHERE: 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 at the DakotaDome in Vermillion
TV: Midco Sports
RADIO: KQSF-FM 95.7 (Sioux Falls), Coyote Sports Network
STREAMING: ESPN+
RECORD LAST YEAR: LU 1-10; USD 3-8
SERIES: Lamar leads 3-0
LAST TIME: Lamar beat USD 24-20 in Beaumont, Texas in 2010
LAST WEEK: Lamar lost 24-14 to Louisiana Monroe; USD beat St. Thomas 24-0
RANKINGS: USD is unranked; LU is unranked
COACHES: LU — Pete Rossomando (1st year); USD — Bob Nielson (8th year, 33-43)

Lamar hired veteran coach Pete Rossomando this offseason in efforts to rebuild a program that lacks a winning season since 2017.

Rossomando’s tenure began poorly, as Lamar was walloped 42-17 by FCS No. 5-ranked Idaho, however, the Cardinals showed improvement in Week 2, losing to FBS Louisiana-Monroe 24-14.

In USD’s final nonconference game, Coyote fans can expect to see a Lamar team with glimpses of talent that struggles on the interior.

“They’re in the process of building that program back up,” USD coach Bob Nielson said. “The Southland is a very good league, known for high-powered offense. Perimeter-wise, they’ve got some good skilled players, they want to be balanced, throw and run the football.”

Through two games, LU quarterback Robert Coleman has completed 34 of his 49 passing attempts for 309 yards and two touchdowns. His preferred targets, Andre Dennis and Kyndon Fuserlier, each have six receptions for 82 yards and 59 yards, respectively.

The Cardinals’ ground game is averaging just 2.7 yards per carry, and is headed by Khalan Griffin, who has 89 yards on 25 carries. Lamar’s rush defense, meanwhile, has allowed 7.3 yards per attempt.

Griffin was named Southland preseason first team all-conference, while wide receiver Sevonne Rhea and defensive back’s Kristian Pugh and Ramond Stevens were named second team all-conference.

Coming off the Coyotes’ first shutout victory in four years, a win on Saturday for USD would be its first over Lamar in four tries, while putting the Coyotes above .500 for the first time since 2021.

Jacob Nielson is a sports reporter for the Mitchell Republic. He joined the Mitchell Republic in July 2023 after graduating from Utah State University in 2023 with a degree in journalism and minor in history. He covers a variety of prep and collegiate sports throughout South Dakota.