DULUTH, MINN. – Cougar Football hit the road for the second consecutive week to take on (RV) Minnesota Duluth. USF fell 42-34 and move to 1-2 on the season as they return home to host Minot State next weekend.
Both teams found success on the ground as all 11 touchdowns on the day were rushing.
Sioux Falls struggled to find the end zone in the first quarter after an early fumble during their second possession which resulted in Duluth's second touchdown of the day. UMD led 14-0 following the first quarter.
The Coo bounced back after answering back to open the second quarter with a 1-yard touchdown by quarterback Camden Dean. Dean got the drive started with a 34-yard pass to tight end Travis Yohnke before marching his team down the field for seven.
After an interception by freshman linebacker Matt Goehring and a return of 26-yards, USF took over on the UMD 29-yard line just before running back Matt Grzybowski rumbled in for a 2-yard touchdown to tie the game at 14. Duluth would then respond after quarterback Kyle Walljasper broke loose for a 46-yard touchdown to take a 21-14 lead at the half.
Duluth opened the second half with a 15-yard touchdown followed by another 31-yard touchdown taking a 35-14 lead while Sioux Falls was unable to score.
USF opened the fourth quarter with a 4-yard touchdown by Dylan Rudningen before getting the ball back off a fumbled kick return. Brendan Holt recovered the ball for the Coo to rush 8-yards while setting Sioux Falls up on the Duluth 12-yard line.
Once again, Rudningen found the end zone on a 2-yard run but the Cougars were unsuccessful in their 2-point conversion and trailed 35-17 with 13:30 remaining in the game.
Duluth's Walljasper broke away for his fourth touchdown of the game to put the Bulldogs up 42-27.
Sioux Falls was able to respond with a 15-yard touchdown by Dean to pull within eight, but ran out of time to finish the comeback. USF outscored UMD 14-7 in the second and 20-7 in the fourth quarter, but gave up 14 unanswered points in both the first and third quarters.
Dean paved the way for the Coo on offense with two rushing touchdowns while combining for 268 yards of total offense. He completed 23 passes on 30 attempts for 190-yards while rushing for 78-yards on 13 carries.
Rudningen and Grzybowski claimed the other three touchdowns for USF while Rudningen rushed for 37-yards and two touchdowns on 11 carriers and Grsybowski with one touchdown and 20 yards on eight carriers.
Junior punter Seamus Hall got off six punts for 287 yards today with a long of 70-yards. Junior kicker Nick Hernandez tallied six kickoffs for 337 yards and three touchbacks while going 4-for-4 in point after attempts.
Freshman wide receiver and kick returner Adonis Hutchinson returned six kickoffs for the Coo for a total of 121-yards.
UP NEXT
Sioux Falls returns home to host Minot State for their annual Military Appreciation game this Saturday, September 23 at Bob Young Field with kickoff slated for 1pm. Gates will open at 12pm and fans are encouraged to purchase tickets online as well as download the app for access to game programs, rosters and more!
For all things USF Football, be sure to download the USF Cougars app as well as follow along on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter/X.
