SIOUX FALLS -- In a game that featured a number of unusual bounces in momentum and results, the No. 24 University of Sioux Falls Football Team (2-1, 2-1 NSIC South) had a breakout performance on offense in a 39-21 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference win over Southwest Minnesota State (0-3, 0-3 NSIC South) before 2,156 fans on Military Appreciation Night at Bob Young Field.

Led by quarterback Caden Walters, running back Gabriel Watson and receiver Nate Johnson, the Cougars, which never trailed against SMSU, totaled 500 yards in total offense for the first since rolling up 557 in a 51-7 victory over Upper Iowa on Nov. 5, 2016 also at Bob Young Field.

USF, which now has a 66-8 all-time record at Bob Young Field, led 12-0 after the first quarter and 26-14 at halftime. Both teams scored a touchdown in the third quarter and USF added a fourth quarter score for the final verdict and a seventh straight win over SMSU in a series dating to 1968.

"I was pleased with the way we broke out on offense tonight," said USF Head Football Coach Jon Anderson. "We had a big night running the ball and certainly had some big plays in the passing game. Defensively, we came up with big stops when needed. We have some things to get corrected but any win in the NSIC South is important," added Anderson, whose team has been ranked 51 consecutive weeks with that streak likely to continue.

USF Offensive coordinator Jim Chapin had the USF offense humming along through the air and on the ground.

Led by Watson, who had 19 carries for 193 yards and two TDs, the USF rushing attack provided a season-best 304 yards rushing on 55 carries or 5.5 yards per carry. USF totaled over 300 yards rushing for the first time since rushing for 318 in a playoff win in 2016 over Azusa Pacific (34-21) on Nov. 19, 2016. Watson, who set a career-best with an 81-yard TD gallop in the first quarter, entered the game ranked third in NCAA DII in rushing and likely will hold or better the position. He now has rushed 75 times for 565 yards with six TDs in three games, which is the best three-game total to open a USF career in the NCAA DII era (since 2012). He upped his average per game total to 188.3 yards per game.

Complimenting Watson was junior running back Colton Myles with 21 carries for a career-high 71 yards.  Myles had the impressive total, despite losing a 57-yard TD run erased by penalty.

But perhaps the biggest story of the night was the breakout performances by both Walters and Johnson. Walters completed 12-of-17 passes for 196 yards with four TDs. Three of Walters's fourth TD passes were to the explosive Johnson, who hauled in four catches for 87 yards. He caught TD throws of 57, four and 15 yards. Walters also tossed a 41-yard TD pass to senior wide receiver Michael Maxwell in the second quarter.

On defense, junior linebacker Brody Grantham had another solid performance with six tackles and his first career interception, which he returned 48 yards and stymied an SMSU scoring threat. Sophomore Joey Wehrkamp added six tackles with a sack and a TFL. Defensive back Parker Gregston added five tackles with his first career sack.

Scoring Breakdown – USF led the entire game
USF opened the scoring as Johnson hauled in a 57-yard TD toss from Walters with 9:08 to play in the first quarter, capping a four-play, 84-yard scoring drive that took just 1:59 off the clock. However, SMSU blocked the extra point. Less than three minutes later, the Cougars found paydirt again as Watson founded an opening on the left side and sprinted 81 yards for a touchdown. Once again, USF failed on the conversion try and led, 12-0.

Early in the second quarter, Gimbel directed SMSU to a TD to draw within, 12-7.  With completions of 11 and 15 yards as well as a personal foul on USF, SMSU moved inside the USF five-yard line and Max Simmons finished off the 14-play, 94-yard drive with a three-yard TD run.

USF responded with a long drive of their own. Walters connected with Maxwell on a 41-yard TD throw and with Thomas Chapin's kick, the Cougars led, 19-7 with 5:19 to play in the first half. On the drive, USF moved the ball 78 yards on seven plays in 3:22.

SMSU had the answer as Gimbel, who was 24-of-42 for 301 yards and two TDs, connected with Daniel Davis, who had seven catches for 105 yards, on a 26-yard TD pass at the 2:43 mark to cut USF's advantage to 19-14 at the 2:43 mark.

In a back-and-forth second quarter, the Cougars responded again. This time, it was the combination of Walters and Johnson who finished off a 13-play, 70-yard scoring drive with a four-yard TD connection and just 13 seconds left in the half. With Thomas Chapin's extra point, USF took a 26-14 lead to halftime.

USF immediately extended their lead with the opening drive of the third quarter as Watson scored his second TD from one-yard out with 9:49 left on the third quarter clock. On the 10-play, 67-yard scoring drive, Watson had five carries for 37 yards and Maxwell caught a 24-yard pass from Walters.

Once again, Gimbel marched SMSU down the field with his 13-yard TD toss to Aaron Murphy with 4:15 left in the third quarter drawing the Mustangs within 33-21.

Then, the action shifted to a bit of the unusual. After SMSU's Davis returned a punt inside USF's five-yard line, the Cougars put up a goal line stand with senior defensive tackle Steven McKee stopping Gimbel inside the three yard line as he attempted to scramble for a TD on fourth down.

Just one possession later, USF generated a pair of first downs as Watson had a 14-yard run and Myles broke free for 10 yards. However the drive stalled and on fourth down, the snap on the punt sailed over Chapin's head. However, the redshirt freshman showed his moxie, picked up the ball and while being chased by SMSU defenders near the USF goal line nailed a 33-yard punt, which was actually over 50 yards if one counted where he actually kicked the ball. When USF's Jack Schelhaas stopped Davis with no yards on the return, what seemed to be a momentum changer to SMSU seemed to shift to the Cougars.

But on this night, momentum changed hats all evening. On SMSU's possession, Gimbel connected with Carter Kirk, a former SMSU basketball player, for a 54-yard pitch-and-catch to the USF 13-yard line as Ryan Nieman of USF made a clutch TD-saving tackle. Two plays later, USF's defense pressured Gimbel whose pass was tipped at the line and Grantham picked off the pass and returned it 48 yards, ending the final SMSU scoring threat.

After a personal foul penalty on SMSU moved the ball to the SMSU 26-yard line, Walters hit Maxwell for an 11-yard gain and then connected with Johnson for a third time with the 15-yard TD pass providing USF with a 39-21 lead and 8:15 left to play in the game. From there, USF's defense stopped SMSU and the Cougars used its powerful rushing attack to wind the clock down and earn a win. Meanwhile SMSU lost for an 11^th straight time in league play.

Next for USF will be the city rivalry matchup with Augustana at Kirkeby-Over Stadium at 1 p.m., on Saturday, Sept. 22.

Notes –
~ Through three games, USF is effectively running the ball and stopping it on defense. The Cougars have a 246.0-to-102.0 rushing per game advantage over opponents.

~ USF, which is averaged 27.0 points per game, is producing 419.7 yards in total offense and 6.3 yards per play. Opponents are at 348.7 yards per game and 5.1 yards per play.

~ Wide receiver Nate Johnson leads USF in receiving with eight catches for 156 yards and three TDs. Michael Maxwell has seven catches for 176 yards and a TD.

~ Quarterback Caden Walters has connected on 30-of-50 passes for 452 yard with six TDs and two interceptions. He owns a 167.54 efficiency ranking.

~ Breaking down the scoring shows USF with a 26-0 advantage over opponents in the first quarter and a 27-17 edge in the fourth quarter. Opponents have a 28-14 edge in the second quarter.