Coyotes show off explosive side in victory over Southern Illinois
VERMILLION — Just shy of the two-minute mark into the second quarter during South Dakota’s college football clash with Southern Illinois, the offense was ready to ignite.
Starting their third drive from their own 20-yard line, the Coyotes wasted no time covering the entire field. Quarterback Aidan Bouman launched a deep pass that landed perfectly in the hands of JJ Galbreath. With a clear path to the end zone, Galbreath sprinted for an 80-yard touchdown, marking the longest offensive score of the season.
In a commanding 42-13 win, the Coyotes showcased their best offensive performance yet. They racked up 549 total yards, their first time surpassing 500 yards since last season’s game against Western Illinois, according to USD. The team rushed for 302 yards, while Bouman passed for 249 yards and two touchdowns. However, it was the explosive plays that truly fueled the offense.
With an impressive average of 8.6 yards per play, the Coyotes recorded 12 plays of 15 yards or more, five of which led to touchdowns. This was their most dynamic performance of the season, leaving both coaches and players thrilled.
Bob Nielson emphasized that the secret to creating more explosive plays lies in creatively incorporating playmakers into the game plan and establishing a strong run game from the outset.
“We’re beginning to find ways to engage our perimeter players through motions and get the ball out wide,” Nielson explained. “We’re also taking deeper shots, something we didn’t do much of last year, which can complement our running game. We need to build on these strategies. We were highly efficient in the first half, scoring 35 points against a Missouri Valley defense, which is quite an achievement. We executed some big plays that set up scoring opportunities, and our consistent running game allowed those big plays to develop. Likewise, making those big plays enhances our ability to run the ball effectively.”
Bouman noted that the explosive nature of the offense was exceptionally well-executed against Southern Illinois, providing the Coyotes with another avenue to advance the ball.
“To be a successful offense, you need those explosive plays,” Bouman said. “But we also prioritize efficiency. While those four and five-yard gains might not seem flashy, they contribute significantly as we move down the field. We can be a good offense in either scenario, but those big plays on Saturday were definitely key for us.”
In the running department, the dynamic duo of Travis Theis and Charles Pierre delivered another strong performance. Theis broke through defenders for substantial gains, while Pierre navigated open spaces to reach the second level. Theis concluded the game with 147 yards and two touchdowns, while Pierre tallied 124 yards and two scores. Overall, six different Coyotes recorded at least one rushing attempt.
While Theis and Pierre carried much of the load on Saturday, Theis pointed out that any player in the backfield could have a breakout game, making the offense even more formidable.
“That’s the essence of a Coyote offense,” Theis remarked. “We really have a true one through five punch. It can be anyone. It was exciting to see everything come together like we practiced.”
Though the run game accounted for a significant portion of the total yardage, the passing game proved equally effective. The two biggest plays of the game were both long passes from Bouman: an 80-yard touchdown to Galbreath and a 61-yard touchdown to Quaron Adams just before halftime.
Most of these big passing plays occurred over the top of the defense, with Bouman excelling at lofting the ball high and deep, often landing perfectly in the receivers’ hands. Bouman explained that he felt confident making long throws throughout the game because the Saluki defense was committed to stopping the run.
“They were really focused on stopping the run since they know we’re an excellent running team, so we capitalized on our outside matchups early,” Bouman said. “We have a lot of skill and speed out there, and my job is to give them a chance to make a play, which they did incredibly well today.”
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