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South Dakota's first experience with the FCS Playoffs could not have been a whole lot more dramatic.
The Coyotes held off a furious second half charge from what was supposed to be an overmatched Nicholls team, ultimately securing the 38-31 win by forcing a fumble at the goal line with less than a minute remaining.
"That was a great football game," Coyotes head coach Bob Nielson said afterward. "[Nicholls] played really well. They executed really well. In some ways I think we were fortunate to win today. But I couldn't be prouder of our guys."
Up Next
With the program's first FCS Playoff win in tow, Nielson's team moves on to the second round and sixth-seeded Sam Houston State.
Unlike the Coyotes, the Bearkats (10-1) have been here before. Quite a lot, actually.
The perennial Southland Conference power is making its seventh consecutive postseason appearance. The previous six have included two trips to the FCS Championship Game (lost to NDSU in 2011 and 2012), as well as quarterfinal berths in each of the last three seasons.
Matchup: By The Numbers
| South Dakota | Sam Houston State | |||
| 37.8 | Scoring Offense |
> |
45.9 | |
| 514.2 | Total Offense | > | 544.6 | |
| 196.6 | < | Rushing Offense | 183.9 | |
| 317.6 | Passing Offense | > | 360.7 | |
| 24.2 | < | Scoring Defense | 28.5 | |
| 389.2 | < | Total Defense | 417.7 | |
| 145.0 | < | Rushing Defense | 170.4 | |
| 244.2 | < | Passing Defense | 247.4 |
Players To Watch
- #16 Jeremiah Briscoe, Quarterback
- 56%, 3,893 yards, 37 TD, 11 INT
- 2016 Walter Payton Award Winner
- 2017 Walter Payton Award Finalist
- 2nd Team All-Southland Conference
- #14 Davion Davis, Wide Receiver
- 61 rec., 990 yards, 14 TD | 1 Rush TD | 2 Punt Return TD
- Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year
- #81 Nathan Stewart, Wide Receiver
- 57 rec., 1,305 yards, 11 TD
- 1st Team All-Southland Conference
- #9 Yedediah Louis, Wide Receiver
- 53 rec., 710 yards, 5 TD
- 2016 Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year
- #6 Corey Avery, Running Back
- 839 yds (76.3/gm), 11 TD
- 1st Team All-Southland Conference
- #34 Remus Bulmer, Running Back
- 591 yds, 3 TD
- #92 P.J. Hall, Defensive Line
- 15.0 TFL, 6.0 Sacks
- 2017 Buck Buchanan Award Finalist
- 1st Team All-Southland Conference
- #97 Chris Stewart, Defensive Line
- 16.0 TFL, 11.0 Sacks
- 2nd Team All-Southland Conference
MidcoSN Podcast
For more in-depth conversation about what's going on with South Dakota football, click on the podcast below. Argus Leader Media's Mick Garry and I look back on the Coyotes' thrilling win over Nicholls and an early look at this week's second round matchup with sixth-seeded Sam Houston State.