Senior linebacker Jon Lakatos and his 11th-ranked South Dakota Football teammates (7-1, 5-0 NCC) head to Minnesota State for an important road encounter with the Mavericks (2-6, 0-5 NCC). The game time for the USD-MSU is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato, Minn.

VERMILLION, S.D. (Wednesday, October 25, 2006) --The 11th-ranked South Dakota Football Team (7-1, 5-0 NCC) will go for its fourth straight win and a hold on first place in the North Central Conference when it faces Minnesota State (2-6, 0-5 NCC) at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato, Minn.

South Dakota moved to 5-0 in the NCC with a 38-14 win over Augustana (5-3, 3-3 NCC) on Family Day before 9,798 at the DakotaDome. With the win, USD won its 18th straight game at the DakotaDome. Minnesota State fell to 0-5 in league play after dropping a 16-3 decision to St. Cloud State on the road last Saturday. The Coyotes won its sixth straight NCC game, dating back to a 42-30 win over North Dakota in the season finale in 2005. USD is 7-1 for the third straight year. The Coyotes jumped two spots in the AFCA Coaches Poll this week and are ranked 11th. USD moved up to 8th in the d2football.com poll and is ranked 8th by the Don Hansen Football Gazette and 12th by the College Sports Report. USD has been ranked 21 of the last 22 week and 32 of the past 33 weeks.

USD/Augie Hold Freidel Fundraiser: The athletic departments of The University of South Dakota and Augustana College combined for a joint fund-raising effort in the week leading up to the Coyote-Vikings football game on Saturday, Oct. 21, with all monies raised by this effort being donated to the “Benefit Fund for Mike Freidel.” The final total raised through the two school’s combined efforts totaled $14,830. This figure includes the online auctions held on usdcoyotes.com and goaugie.com in the week prior to the game, a game-day auction held in the concourse of the DakotaDome as well as a raffle, and matching corporate gifts.

Shepard Named NCC Co-Offensive Player of the Week: USD’s Noah Shepard was named the NCC’s Co-Offensive Football Player of the Week on Monday. Shepard accounted for four TDs to lead the Coyotes to a 38-14 win over Augustana on Saturday. The win allowed USD to stay unbeaten in NCC play and atop the league standings at 5-0. Shepard was honored with Nebraska-Omaha’s Zach Miller. In his second career start, Shepard of Thornton, Colo., accounted for four TDs in leading South Dakota to a 38-14 win over Augustana in NCC football on Saturday (Oct. 21) before 9,798 at the DakotaDome. Shepard completed 6-of-12 passes for 121 yards and three TDs. He also had 78 yards rushing on eight carries and an eight-yard scoring run. He threw TD passes of 43 and 34 yards to Rico Hatter and also completed a 24-yard TD pass to Alex Perkowski. Shepard set up USD’s first score with a career-best 41-yard run. Then on a third down play, he found Perkowski in the end zone to help forge a 7-7 tie with the Vikings. Midway through the second quarter, Shepard connected with Hatter on a 43-yard TD pass to again draw USD even with Augustana at 14-14. He scored on an eight-yard run that gave USD its first lead of the game at 21-14 with 2:14 to play in the half. Then, he had a 21-yard run that helped set up a USD field goal by Frank Leibfarth as time ran out in the half and give USD a 24-14 lead. In the second half, his 34-yard TD pass to Hatter provided USD with a 38-14 advantage with 10:22 to play in the third quarter. With this week’s honor, Shepard became USD’s fifth NCC weekly honoree this season. On Oct. 9, senior defensive end John Barker (Sioux City, Iowa) and junior wide receiver Brooks Little (Castlewood, S.D.) earned their first-ever NCC Player of the Week honors. Barker was USD’s third defensive player (Jordan Davis, Sept. 5; Blake Hojer, Sept. 18) to earn the NCC honor in 2006. Shepard and Little are the two Coyotes on offense to pick up NCC honors this fall.

Region Rankings: USD is fourth in the most recent NCAA Division II Northwest Regional Poll. Grand Valley State (8-0), the top-ranked Division II team in all the major polls, is ranked first in the region with Nebraska-Omaha (6-1), second; and North Dakota, (6-1) third.

Quick Takes: USD has opened 5-0 in NCC play for the first time since the 1974 team started 5-0 and finished 5-2 and a tie for the NCC title. The 1973 team also was 5-0 before losing to North Dakota, 54-21 at Inman Stadium. The 1978 team was 5-0-1 and won the league crown but split with Nebraska-Omaha with the games counting as a tie in league standings. In that season, UNO won the first game played in Omaha, Neb., with USD earning a tie for the league title with a win at USD later in the season. With a win on Saturday, the Coyotes would be the first Coyote squad since the 1951 USD team to go 6-0 in NCC play. The 1951 team was 6-0 in league play and finished 7-1 overall en route to an NCC crown. The 1938 Coyote squad was 5-0 and won an NCC title (7-1 overall). The 5-0 start is the best by a Coyote team in the head coach Ed Meierkort era. Both of his Coyote squad has gone 4-2 in NCC with the 2005 team earning a share of the league title.

About South Dakota Head Football Coach Ed Meierkort: Meierkort has an overall record of 25-5 (.833) in his third season at USD. He owns a 13-4 (.765) record in league play, including 5-0 in 2006. Meierkort is 80-60 (.571) in his collegiate coaching career of 13 seasons. Meierkort’s 25-5 record is the best start by a Coyote coach in school history. A year ago, he directed USD to an NCC title (shared with three others), which was the Coyotes’ first crown since the 1978 season. He has led USD to back to back 9-2 seasons, which included consecutive 4-2 league records. He has led USD to back to back 9-2 seasons, which included consecutive 4-2 league records. USD finished second in the NCC in 2004. He has a 17-0 record at the DakotaDome. A year ago, Meierkort led USD to top-five national rankings and his team finished as the highest scoring team in the nation at 49 points per game while USD also led the nation in total offense at 583.3 yards per game. His football team has been ranked in the top 20 for the past 21 weeks, dating back to the start of the 2005 season. He was hired at USD in 2004. A 1982 graduate (B.A., business administration) of Dakota Wesleyan, Meierkort came to USD from Wisconsin-Stout where he had coached since 1993. He also has a M.A. (athletic administration) from South Dakota State. He also coached at Southwest Minnesota State and was a graduate assistant at SDSU. He is just one of two Coyote head coaches ever to win nine games as a first-year coach.

Series - USD vs. MSU: South Dakota has defeated MSU three straight times, including a 35-14 Dakota Day win at the DakotaDome in 2005. In 2004, USD rallied for a 30-23 win over MSU in Mankato, Minn. USD also won 30-0 in 2003 at USD. The last MSU win was a 23-17 decision at Blakeslee Stadium in 2002. USD owns an 18-11 advantage in the overall series between the schools. USD won six in a row over MSU in 1975, 1982-86. MSU defeated USD five straight times from 1989-94. The most points scored by USD against MSU were in the 39-3 win in 1973. MSU’s highest point total was a 57-40 win in 1974. The largest margin of victory for USD was 39-3 in 1973 and MSU had a 27-point win in a 35-8 decision in 1990. The Coyotes won the first four games played in the series before MSU won, 57-40, in 1974. USD won 10-of-11 games to open the series. From 1989 to 1997, MSU won seven of eight against USD.

Last Time – USD 35 Minnesota State 14 (DakotaDome): A year ago, South Dakota, ranked fifth in the nation, rolled to a 35-14 win over Minnesota State in NCC play at the DakotaDome on Oct. 8 (Dakota Day) before 9,577 in attendance. USD, which had 489 yards in total offense, was hurt by four fumbles and an interception but never trailed in the game. USD jumped to a 7-0 lead on a first quarter TD pass of 31 yards from Wesley Beschorner to Derek Gearman. MSU tied the game at 7-7 when Tyrell Smith hauled in a 23-yard pass from Joshua Bryant. The Coyotes moved ahead, 14-7, when Desmond Allison caught a 10-yard pass from Beschorner with 4:56 to play in the first half. Travis Mlady helped USD to a 21-7 lead when he romped 44-yards for a TD at the 12:05 mark of the fourth quarter. At the 11:06 mark, Beschorner scored on a six-yard run as USD led, 28-7. Smith caught his second TD pass on a 27-yard throw from Bryant with 9:05 left in the game. USD iced the game on a five-yard TD run by Mlady at the 7:10 mark. USD had 324 yards rushing and 165 yards passing. Stefan Logan rushed for 155 yards and became USD’s career rushing leader. Beschorner completed 12-of-18 passes and had two TDs. Mlady rushed for 62 yards with two TDs. The Coyotes defense limited MSU to just 77 yards rushing on 37 attempts. MSU had just 114 yards passing. Ryan Hedden led the defense with 13 tackles as the Coyotes defense had five quarterback sacks, including two by A.J. Schable, who now plays for the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL.

Home Cooking: The Coyotes continued its winning ways at the DakotaDome with its 18th straight home win in a 38-14 win over Augustana on Oct. 21. USD improved its overall mark at the Dome to 108-52 (.673) since beginning play at the facility in 1979. USD is 5-0 at home this season and 17-0 while head coach Ed Meierkort has been at South Dakota.

CSN Expands Broadcast Network: South Dakota Football games will be broadcast on the Coyote Sports Network, which has added KELO-AM (1320), Sioux Falls, S.D.; KSQP 1450 AM, Pierre, S.D.; and KJRV 93.3 FM of Mitchell/Huron, S.D., to the broadcast radio network. The broadcast team will include the Voice of the Coyotes Kevin Culhane as play-by-play announcer and color analysts Jeff Culhane and Max Hawk. All Coyotes will be available on the internet at www.usdcoyotes.com or at www..kvht.com.

Reaching out to the Public: The Ed Meierkort Show can be heard every Wednesday at 6:05 p.m. on Sports radio KVTK 1570 AM “The Ticket” in Yankton/Vermillion, S.D. Meierkort will also address a booster club each Monday at 7 p.m. (during the season) at C.J. Callaway’s in Sioux Falls, S.D., and another public session at Pro’s in Vermillion, S.D., every Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Scoring Differential: South Dakota has outscored opponents, 262-85, after eight games of the 2006 season. The Coyotes are averaging an NCC-best 32.8 points per game while allowing an NCC-best 10.6 to its opposition. USD has outscored opponents, 156 to 54 in the first half and 106 to 31 in the second half. By quarter, USD owns a significant advantage, including first quarter, 63-27; second quarter, 93-27; third quarter, 65-17; and fourth quarter, 41-14. The Coyotes have allowed just 31 points in the second half all season.

Ground Tough: South Dakota’s defense has been ground tough on defense in 2006, leading the NCC in rushing defense. After eight games, the Coyotes have allowed just 48.8 yards per game or 1.7 yards per carry. The 48.8 yards per game leads not only the NCC but NCAA Division II. The USD defense has not allowed any opponents more than 85 rushing yards in a game this season. Twice this season, the defense has limited its opponents to less than 10 yards rushing in a game, including Minnesota-Crookston, who had 25 carries for seven yards and Central Washington, who had 0 yards on 29 carries. In fact, Central Washington had minus yards until the final play of the game netted nine yards on a fumble recovery. The longest run against the defense this season was a 26-yard TD run by Russ Brown in the fourth quarter of a 24-0 loss to Central Arkansas and a 26-yard jaunt by Western Washington’s Calvin McCarty on Oct. 14. Central Washington managed just 18 yards on five second half possessions on Oct. 7. Western Washington finished with 58 yards on 23 carries but was held to a -2 yards rushing by USD in the first half. Augustana had 55 yards in the first half but had just 23 yards on nine carries in the second half.

Defense Ranks No. 2 in Nation Against Run: The South Dakota defense has been one of the best in the nation this season. Through eight games, the Coyotes rank second nationally by allowing just 48.8 rushing yards per game. USD is also second in scoring defense (10.6 ppg) and sixth in total defense (232.2 ypg) in Division II statistics released by the NCAA this week. The Coyotes run the ball effectively with All-American Stefan Logan lead a rushing attack that is third in the nation at 276.4 yards per game. USD also ranks fourth nationally in kickoff returns at 26.8 per return. Individually, Logan ranks fourth in all-purpose yards at 196.6 per game. He is ninth in average rushing yards per game at 133.9 yards per game. He is also ninth in punt returns at 16.4 yards per return. The Coyotes rank 12th in D-II in total offense at 422.6 yards per game. USD is 18th nationally in scoring offense.

All-American Stefan Logan Leading the Offense: All-American running back Stefan Logan, a candidate for the Harlon Hill trophy (Division II Player of the Year), has totaled an NCC-best 1,071 rushing yards on 140 carries for an average of 7.7 yards per carry. He has nine overall TDs, including seven by rush. He is averaging an NCC-best 133.9 yards per game and owns an 88-yard run this season. Logan is averaging 196.6 all purpose yards per game, which ranks third in NCAA Division II and leads the NCC. Logan had 201 all purpose yards vs. Augustana on Oct. 21. He has seven kickoff returns for 263 yards (37.6 yard average) including a 94-yard return for a TD. He also has 11 punt returns for 180 yards or 16.4 yards per return. He also owns a 66-yard punt return for a TD. On Oct. 7, Logan became the 11th player in NCAA Division II history to surpass 5,000 yards rushing and 6,000 all purpose yards in his career. In his career, Logan has rushed for a school record 5,322 yards on 716 carries or 7.4 yards per carry. He had 138 yards vs. Augustana as he recorded his 31st career 100-yard rushing game. He has rushed for 100 yards in 23 of his last 25 games. Logan owns a school-record 6,772 all purpose yards in his career. He surpassed the 6,000 all-purpose yard mark in USD’s 20-10 win over St. Cloud State on Sept. 23.

Logan Moves into DII’s Top-20 in Rushing, All Purpose Yards: All American Stefan Logan continues to move up the NCAA Division II charts in rushing and all purpose yards. He has 6,772 career all purpose yards and has moved into 16th place all-time in NCAA Division II. He recently passed Richard Huntley of Winston-Salem (6,619, 1992-95); Steve Roberts, Butler, (6,674, 1986-89); Johnny Cox, Fort Lewis, (6,694, 1990-93); and Damian Beane, Shepherd (6,762, 1996-99). Just ahead of Logan is Eddie Acosta, Bemidji State, 15th, 6,811. To move into the top 10, Logan will need 7,217 yards (Roger Graham, New Haven, 1991-94). Logan needs 442 yards to pass Graham. Logan’s 2005 total of 2,353 yards ranks 20th on the NCAA Division II all purpose yards list for a career.

Logan Ranks 16th All-time in Division II Rushing: Logan’s current total of 5,322 yards career rushing yards places him 16th on the all-time DII list (Logan needs 750 total carries or 38 more totes to qualify by NCAA requirements). Just ahead of Logan is Rashaan Dumas of St. Conn. State, who had 5,396 yards from 1996-99. Logan is averaging 7.44 yards per rush and 133.1 rushing yards per game in his career, which ranks 21st all-time in Division II. He moves into the top 20 if he finishes with an average of 136.8 (Philip Moore, North Dakota, 136.7 yards per game, 1995-98). Logan is one of three current D-II players in the top 16 rushers in D-II alltime. The other two are Germaine Race of Pittsburg State with 6,256 career rushing yards and Danny Woodhead of Chadron State, who has 5,919 yards.

Logan Getting Closer to All-time NCC Rushing Leaders: With 419 yards, Stefan Logan will move into the top-five all-time rushers in NCC history (conference games only). Logan currently has 3,382 rushing yards in 24 NCC games. Of those 24 games, he has bettered 100 yards 20 times against NCC schools. The top five all-time rushers in the NCC include:

Top Five NCC Rushers - All-time
1. Josh Ranek, SDSU (1997-2001), 34 games, 5,257 yards (909 carries)
2. Phillip Moore, UND (1995-98), 36 games, 4,892 yards (988 carries)
3. Harry Jackson, SCSU (1986-89), 36 games, 4,212 yards (807 carries)
4. Randy Martin, SCSU (1993-96), 34 games, 3,971 yards (714 carries)
5. Shannon Burnell, UND (1990-93), 35 games, 3,700 yards (745 carries)

Little Moves Up Career Receiving Chart: With two receptions (22 yards) against Western Washington, junior wide receiver Brooks Little of Castlewood, S.D., sits fifth on the all-time receiving chart at USD. He now has 93 career receptions for 1,303 yards. Little, who has 21 catches for 256 yards and a TD in 2006, needs five more receptions to move into fourth place, which is currently held by Mark Neumann, who had 97 receptions for 1,432 yards and six TDs from 1973-76. The top receivers at USD all-time includes Chris Mikkelsen, first, 150 receptions for 2,279 yards and 16 TDs, 2001-04; Rod Tweet, second, 140 receptions for 2,557 yards, 16 TDs, 1983-85; Phillip Meehan, third, 108 receptions for 1,153 yards, nine TDs, 1995-98 and Neumann, fourth.

Shepard Accounts for Four TDs in Win over Augustana: Noah Shepard, a redshirt freshman from Thornton, Colo., put his name into Coyote lore with his pitch and catch to Brooks Little that resulted in the game-winning TD by the Coyotes over Central Washington on Oct. 7, which was Dakota Days. Shepard’s play helped South Dakota win a school record sixth straight homecoming game. Shepard made his first career start memorable by completing 11-of-15 passes for 204 yards and a TD in a 42-10 win on the road against Western Washington on Oct. 14. He also rushed for 59 yards on 12 carries and had an eight-yard TD scamper. Shepard’s TD pass was 28 yards to Jordan Murphy, who made his first career TD reception against WWU. Shepard continued his fine play by accounting for four TDs in USD’s 38-14 win over Augustana on Oct. 21. Now 2-0 as a starting quarterback, he completed 6-of-12 passes for 121 yards and three TDs vs. Augustana. He also had a career best 78 yards rushing on eight carries with a TD vs. the Vikings. Overall, he has completed 48-of-83 passes (57.8 pct.) for 844 yards with 10 TDs and three interceptions. He leads the NCC with a pass efficiency rating of 175.78 In addition, Shepard has rushed 40 times for 248 yards or 6.2 yards per carry. In the win against Augustana, Shepard was efficient with three TDs passing among his six completions. He also had an eight-yard run for a TD and has two rushing scores this season.

Rushing Attack Leads Offense: The Coyotes lead the NCC in total offense, scoring offense and rank second in rushing yards. USD is averaging 32.8 points per game as the squad is totaling 422.6 yards in total offense each game. The Coyotes average 7.4 yards per play and have 3,381 yards in total offense. Breaking it down, USD averages 276.4 yards rushing per game. The Coyotes have 2,211 yards rushing on 316 attempts for an average of 7.0 per carry. Through the air, USD has totaled 1,170 yards, completing 82-of-141 passes with 12 TDs and six interceptions. USD is averaging 146.2 yards passing each game. USD has converted 39-of-85 third downs or 46 percent and 6-of-13 fourth down tries. The USD offensive line has been solid, permitting an NCC-best five sacks in eight games.

Hojer Leading Defense: Sophomore linebacker Blake Hojer is leading a balanced and fast defense, which will rank as one of the best in school history. Hojer of Lake Preston, S.D., has 43 total tackles, including 27 solo stops. He has a team-high 6.5 tackles for loss and three quarterback sacks, and a fumble recovery. Ryan Hedden, a senior linebacker from Fairmont, Neb., has 35 tackles, including 3.0 TFLs, a quarterback sack and a fumble recovery. John Barker, a senior defensive tackle from Sioux City, Iowa, has 32 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three quarterback sacks and two forced fumbles. Overall, the defense leads the NCC in rushing yards (48.8 per game), total defense (232.2 yards per game and scoring defense (10.6 per game). USD ranks second in the nation in rushing defense, fourth in scoring defense and fifth in total defense. USD has 20 sacks (-138 yards), 62 tackles for loss (-252 yards), nine interceptions, six fumble recoveries and three blocked kicks.

About MSU Head Coach Jeff Jamrog: Jamrog is in his third season as head coach at MSU with an overall mark of 10-20 (.333) over two-plus seasons, including 2-6 and 0-5 in the NCC this season. He was the architect of the greatest single-season turnaround in Minnesota State history and one of the best in NCAA Division II history when MSU went from 0-11 in 2003 to 6-5 in 2004, which was the school’s first winning season since 1994. Jamrog, 41, led MSU to a 2-9 mark in 2005 with five of those losses coming by five points or less. Jamrog spent four years on the staff at the University of Nebraska prior to joining Western Illinois. He was the defensive line coach and special teams coordinator for Nebraska in 2003 and was the defensive tackles coach and defensive special teams coach for the Cornhuskers from 2000 through 2002. He also spent three years at New Mexico State University (1997-99) as the defensive coordinator, was the defensive coordinator at the University of Nebraska-Omaha for three years (1994-96) and worked as the inside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at the University of South Dakota from 1990-93.

About MSU: MSU is coming off a 16-3 loss to St. Cloud State. MSU opened the season with a 34-16 win at home vs. Truman State on Aug. 23. Then, the Mavs gave second-ranked and unbeaten Northwest Missouri State fits in a 31-14 loss on the road. MSU returned home to hand Wisconsin-Oshkosh a 33-22 loss. Since that 2-1 start, MSU has lost five straight games, including several close encounters.
In week four, Augustana scored on a late play to give MSU a 21-16 loss. Then, nationally-ranked Nebraska-Omaha hung a 21-14 loss on MSU before fourth-ranked North Dakota took a 24-3 win in the Alerus Center. On Oct. 14, Minnesota-Duluth blocked a field goal in overtime to win a 16-13 decision at Blakeslee Field before last weekend’s tough road loss to rival St. Cloud State. Quarterback Ben King leads MSU on offense. King has completed 176-of-310 passes for 1,744 yards and 10 TDs. King has throw 11 interceptions and owns a passing efficiency mark of 107.58, which is ninth in the NCC. King’s passing averaged of 221.7 yards per game ranks fourth in the NCC. On the ground, Brian Alberty is averaging 34.5 yards per game with 276 yards rushing on 62 attempts. He is also the team’s leading receiver with 47 catches for 424 yards and two TDs. Bryan Dalton has 41 receptions for 488 yards and two TDs while Tyrell Smith owns 40 receptions for 488 yards and three TDs. Mervin Matlock is fourth in the nation in kick returns with a 31.7 yard average. He has 23 returns for 730 yards. On offense, MSU has produced 294.5 yards per game or 4.5 yards per play. MSU is averaging 60.8 yards rushing and 233.8 yards passing each game. On defense, they Mavericks allow 147 rushing yards per game. MSU allows 187 yards passing per game. Overall, opponents average 334 yards in total offense per game. MSU has been outscored 167 to 130, including 49-41 in the first quarter; 52-45 in the second quarter, 23-19 in the third quarter and 43-25 in the fourth quarter and overtime. Defensively the Mavs are led by Blake Freese, who has 56 tackles and two fumble recoveries. Former Coyote Telema Bobmanuel has 43 tackles.