VERMILLION — A week ago, the University of South Dakota football team departed Fargo with an unpleasant aftertaste after being dominated in all three phases of the game against top-ranked North Dakota State.
A week later, back at home for Dakota Days, it was a different story for the Coyotes on homecoming Saturday.
South Dakota nabbed five touchdowns in its first six drives of the game during the first-half offensive barrage on its way to a decisive 49-24 victory over Murray State inside the DakotaDome.
Sophomore running back L.J. Phillips Jr. bounced back from his 38-yard rushing performance against the Bison last week with 244 yards on 24 carries and four touchdowns on the ground — matching a career-high. In the first half, Phillips combined for 172 yards on 22 rushing attempts and three scores.
With 47 rushing attempts on the game for USD’s offense, senior quarterback Aidan Bouman was limited against the Racers, which gives up the most rushing yards per game in the FCS with 285.2. Despite the small volume, Bouman completed 11-of-16 passes for 185 yards and three scores, with a passer rating of 227.8 in three quarters of work.
Marcus Traxler / Mitchell Republic
Sophomore wide receiver Larenzo Fenner hauled in three receptions for 108 receiving yards and one touchdown, as senior tight end Zach Witte found the end zone in the first half from 6 yards out on third down. Senior wide receiver Jack Martens caught his second touchdown on the year with a 28-yard reception from Bouman.
The Coyotes held the Racers offense in-check during the first half, limiting them to 114 total yards — 70 passing and 44 rushing. Murray State (0-5) tacked on two touchdowns and a field goal in the second half, finishing with 312 total yards — 212 passing and 100 rushing. Starting their third year in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, the Racers are now 1-16 against Valley teams in that span.
Sophomore linebacker Gabriel Hardman led the charge for South Dakota’s defense, combining for eight total tackles — four solo. Sophomore cornerback Mikey Munn tallied four total tackles for the Coyotes, two tackles-for-loss and one pass breakup.
South Dakota (3-3) heads east next week to face Indiana State at noon on Oct. 11 in Terre Haute, Indiana, for the Sycamores’ homecoming.
Trey Houchin is a sports reporter for the Mitchell Republic. Trey graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in sports media and covers a wide variety of topics. A Missouri native, Houchin can be reached at [email protected].
