SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The #19 University of Sioux Falls' defense has been a difference maker in 2014. On Saturday, the Cougars, ranked #7 in scoring defense in NCAA Division II, forced seven turnovers in a 44-20 win over Southwest Minnesota State (2-5, 1-2 NSIC South) before 2,112 in attendance at Bob Young Field.
With the victory, the Cougars moved to 7-0 for the first time since transitioning to NCAA DII in 2011. USF also improved to 3-0 in the NSIC South and sit in a first-place tie with #2 Minnesota State-Mankato (7-0, 3-0, NSIC South).
“We are really proud of the effort,” said USF head football coach Jed Stugart, who improved his coaching mark to 40-12 at the school. “Anytime you get seven takeaways (turnovers), it means you are playing hard and forcing opponents into mistakes. Overall, we had a solid game but we do have some things to clean up. Still, our guys have remained focused on the 1-0 approach every week and we are now 7-0 with a big game next week at Winona State,” he said.
Among the USF defenders stepping up today was junior defensive back Solomon St. Pierre who had seven tackles and three interceptions, including a 35-yard TD return. St. Pierre, who had three picks in a game for the second time this season, now has eight interceptions, which ranks among the national leaders. Junior linebacker Carter Ahlers also played a huge game with 11 tackles, including nine solo stops. Junior John Tidwell had seven tackles, a fumble recovery and his second interception of the season. Linebacker Connor Schoeff also had one of five interceptions by USF.
While the defense was creating opportunities, the offense also had a solid day. For the seventh straight game, USF recorded more than 400 yards in total offense. USF, which put up 40 points for the fourth time this season, generated 453 yards on 70 plays. For the seventh straight time, the Cougars defeated an opponent by a double digit margin. In addition, USF is now 49-3 all-time at Bob Young Field and 4-0 this year with a 159-to-43 point differential.
Leading the USF rushing attack was senior standout Nephi Garcia, who had 14 carries for 89 yards and two TDs, which gives him 13 on the season or three more than a year ago. Garcia, who also had a 17-yard TD reception, now has 1,786 career rushing yards and sits 13th all-time among USF career rushing leaders. QB Luke Papilion added 14 carries for 75 yards while completing 22-of-38 passes for 282 yards and two interceptions.
“We moved the ball today,” said Stugart. “But we didn't finish some drives and missed on some opportunities. We will look at whether that is the defense we are going against or our execution on offense.”
For the first time since 2011, the Cougars returned a kickoff for a score, a back-breaking 93-yard TD return by David Clark with 9:07 left in the fourth quarter. The return, which gave USF a 21-point lead midway through the fourth quarter, was Clark's first career KOR TD and USF's first kickoff return for a score since Michael Hicks had a 94-yard TD return against Minot State in 2011.
SMSU also moved the ball, producing 430 yards on 94 plays, including 351 yards passing. However, they were able to gain just 79 yards on 31 rushing attempts. SMSU QB Charlie Kern, who threw for 512 yards against the Cougars in 2013, was 29-of-46 for 271 yards with a TD pass and four interceptions.
The Mustangs also became the first team to score a touchdown this season against USF in the fourth quarter when Kern hit Jordan Cross on a 10-yard scoring strike. Even with that score, USF has produced an overwhelming 101-to-7 margin in the fourth quarter this year. Counting the first and fourth quarters, the Cougars own a 177-to-16 margin over their seven opponents.
Early on, both teams traded possessions without putting anything on the board. The Cougars finally broke through when senior placekicker Bradley Hatfield connected on a 23-yard field goal with 3:31 to play in the first quarter to cap a 12-play 90-yard scoring drive. SMSU answered on a 35-yard field goal from Mike Wenk with just 10 seconds left in the first quarter.
Two possessions later, USF found the end zone for the first time as Garcia scored the first of his three TDs of the day, hauling in a 17-yard TD strike from Papilion. Shortly thereafter, St. Pierre had his pick-six to build the USF lead to 17-3 with 9:33 left in the second quarter. A 37-yard field goal from Hatfield increased the margin to 20-3 with 4:15 left in the first half. SMSU was able to answer their score with a second field goal by Wenk from 28-yards. His kick capped a 10-play 68-yard drive in 1:57 late in the second quarter (:35).
With the opening drive of the second half, USF increased their lead. Garcia's one-yard TD run finished off a 9-play, 69-yard scoring drive which allowed USF to take a 27-6 lead with 11:45 left in the third quarter. On the drive. Papilion converted a pair of big third downs passes to keep the drive alive. From the SMSU 48, he hit Brady Rose, who had six catches for a game-high 86 yards, on a 17-yard strike for a first down. Then, facing a third and 10, he connected with Josh Angulo, who finished with five catches for 77 yards, on a 29-yard strike to set up the Garcia TD.
Shortly thereafter, SMSU answered the score as Kern had a one-yard TD run to cap a 15-play, 78-yard drive with 5:51 left in the third quarter. Early in the fourth quarter, the Cougars responded as Garcia scored on a one-yard run to increase the lead to 34-13. His scoring run capped a 12-play, 89-yard drive which took three minutes and 24 seconds.
But, SMSU kept grinding away and got into the end zone midway through the fourth quarter on Cross's TD reception from Kern which again cut the Cougars' lead to 14 points at 34-20. But, then Butler had his kickoff return for a TD, which put the game away. Hatfield finished the scoring with a 31-yard field goal with 8:29 to play.
Next Saturday, USF will travel to face South Division foe Winona State with game time set for 2:30 p.m. from Winona, Minn.
