Matt Lee, right, and the Coyotes won their fourth straight game Saturday. (Photo by Caleb Wiegmann)

CEDAR CITY, Utah - - The University of South Dakota football team recorded its first-ever win over an NCAA Division I FCS foe with a 42-20 victory over Southern Utah Saturday in front of 4,012 fans in Cedar City, Utah.

In the game, Coyote quarterback Noah Shepard (Jr., Thornton, Colo.) set his second career record in as many weeks. Shepard now holds USD’s record for all-time passing yards, breaking the record held by Coyote quarterbacks coach Wes Beschorner. Shepard threw for 59 yards in the game and now has 6,246 for his career.

USD (6-4, 1-1 GWC) earned its first-ever Great West Conference win and extended its winning streak to four games. The Coyotes also clinched their fifth straight winning season under Coach Ed Meierkort.

While Shepard did set the new passing mark – it was a dominant performance by the Coyote ground game that was the difference. USD rushed for 445 yards and six touchdowns on 55 carries, an average of 8.1 yards per attempt.

The Coyote had three players rush for more than 100 yards for the first time in Meierkort’s tenure as USD coach. That included Chris Ganious (RFr., Houston, Texas) with 169 yards and two touchdowns; Shepard with 153 yards and four touchdowns; and Isaac Newton (Jr., New Orleans) with 102 rushing yards.

After Southern Utah took a 3-0 first quarter lead with a field goal, USD responded with an 8-play, 70-yard drive, which was capped off by an 11-yard touchdown by Ganious. That put the Coyotes ahead 7-0.

USD’s defense then set the Coyote offense up for its next score. Coyote defensive back Shane Potter (RFr., Becker, Minn.) intercepted a pass and returned it to the SUU 10-yard line. Two plays later, Shepard scored from eight yards out to make it 14-3 with 3:28 left in the opening quarter.

The Coyote defense then forced another turnover, as Isaiah Dixon (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn.) picked off a pass by Cody Stone and returned it to the SUU 33-yard line. Ten plays later, Shepard scored from two yards out, and the Coyotes held a 21-3 lead early in the third quarter.

Midway through the second quarter, USD’s offense started moving again. USD went 80 yards on seven plays – keyed by a 41-yard run by Shepard – and scored on a 9-yard run by Ganious. That extended USD’s advantage to 28-3 with 3:24 left in the first half.

Southern Utah scored twice late in the first half to get within 28-17 at the break – but the Thunderbirds would get no closer.

In the second half, USD put the game away with two more touchdowns. In the third quarter, the Coyotes went 87 yards on six plays, a drive keyed by a 48-yard run by Newton, and capped it off with a 4-yard scoring run by Shepard. With 3:19 left in the third quarter, USD held a 35-17 advantage.

Southern Utah managed another field goal to get within 35-20, but the Coyotes put the game out of reach with 12:49 left when Shepard scored from 13 yards out. That left the score at 42-20.

USD’s defense held SUU to just minus-4 yards. The Coyotes also had a 504-366 edge in total yards.

Potter had seven tackles to lead USD’s defense. Abe Booker (Jr., Brooklyn Park, Minn.), Blake Hojer (Sr., DeSmet, S.D.), Tyler Spease (Sr., Rapid City, S.D.) and Wayne Curry (Sr., Tampa, Fla.) had sacks.

Coyote punter Tim Stanek (Jr., Walthill, Neb.) also had an outstanding game. He averaged 46.5 yards per punt and had three punts of 50 yards or more.

The Coyotes were 6-of-7 on red zone opportunities and were 6-of-13 on third-down conversions.

USD’s “Drive For Five” resumes on Saturday, Nov. 22 when it plays host to former North Central Conference rival North Dakota. Game time is noon at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, S.D.

Notes: USD has not had a losing season under Meierkort…USD finished the season 2-4 on the road but won its last two road games…the Coyotes have outscored their last four opponents by a combined 176-23 margin…Meierkort is now fourth in all-time career coaching wins at USD with 39…it’s the fifth time this season USD has scored 34 points or more.