Dec. 2—MACON, Ga. — The University of South Dakota football team is set to take the gridiron in the program's third-straight appearance in the second round of the FCS playoffs, clashing with the No. 6-seeded Mercer Bears on Saturday for the first Coyote contest against a Southern Conference opponent in program history.
How to watch South Dakota at Mercer and what to know about both programs:
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFCS Second Round: No. 11 South Dakota Coyotes (9-4) at No. 6 Mercer Bears (9-2)
When: 11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 6
Where: Five Star Stadium, Macon, Georgia
TV/Streaming: ESPN+ (Kelsie Kasper — PxP, Forrest Conoly — Analyst)
Radio: Coyote Sports Network (John Thayer, Gary Culver, Jerry Palleschi) [KVHT 106.3 FM]
Records last year: USD 11-3, Mercer 11-3
Series: South Dakota and Mercer have never met on the gridiron before with Saturday's contest marking the first-ever matchup.
Rankings: USD is ranked No. 11 in the FCS and Mercer is ranked No. 6
Last week: USD defeated Drake at home 38-17 in the first round of the FCS playoffs, Mercer had a first-round bye.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCoaches: South Dakota — Travis Johansen (first year, 9-4); Mercer — Mike Jacobs (second season, 20-5)
Team stat leaders
Leading passers: USD — Aidan Bouman (186-of-304, 2,404 yards, 22 TDs, 6 INTs); Mercer — Braden Atkinson (250-of-367, 3,448 yards, 34 TDs, 7 INTs)
Leading rushers: USD — L.J. Phillips Jr. (1,688 yards, 264 carries, 16 TDs); Mercer — CJ Miller (852 yards, 151 carries, 14 TDs)
Leading receivers: USD — Larenzo Fenner (883 yards, 39 receptions, 14 TDs); Mercer — Adjatay Dabbs (856 yards, 45 receptions, 8 TDs)
Top defenders: USD — Nate Ewell (88 total tackles, 41 solo, 3 PBUs, 2.5 TFLs, 1 FR, 1 QBH); Mercer — Drew Clare (80 total tackles, 47 solo, 11.5 TFLs, 4 QBHs, 3 PBUs, 2.5 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR)
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementQuick game hits: South Dakota is undefeated in the FCS playoff games when it scores first (3-0), leads at halftime (4-0), forces 3-plus takeaways (3-0), or holds the ball for 30-plus minutes of game action (2-0). ... The Coyotes are 3-2 against top-25 FCS opponents this season with all three wins coming to end the regular season (North Dakota, South Dakota State and Southern Illinois). ... Aidan Bouman holds a 31-13 record as the starting quarterback at South Dakota and has thrown a touchdown pass in 11 of the 13 games this season. ... Bouman now sits second all-time in USD football program history in career passing yards (8,806) and tied for second all-time in career passing touchdowns (64). ... The four passing touchdowns against Drake moved Bouman into a tie with Wesley Beschorner (2002-05) for second-most in South Dakota program history, and has now thrown nine touchdown passes in the last two games. ... Bouman needs just 131 yards on Saturday to break the program's career passing yards record. ... After a no-contest against UC Davis and dropping a home game to Presbyterian in the second week of the season, Mercer rattled off nine-straight wins, including a perfect 8-0 mark in Southern Conference play to win the SoCon title and earn the No. 6 seed in the postseason. ... Mercer posted a 9-2 overall record and a 9-1 record against FCS opponents. ... Mercer relies on the passing game (333.6 yards per game) and the arm of freshman quarterback Braden Atkinson who has thrown for 3,448 yards and 34 passing touchdowns this season in 10 games. ... Mercer's passing attack sits No. 2 in the FCS this season with Atkinson at No. 3 in the nation in total passing yards. ... A win on Saturday for USD would give head coach Travis Johansen the program record for most wins as a first-year head coach (10). ... The winner of USD/Mercer will face the winner of No. 3 Montana/No. 14 South Dakota State in the quarterfinal round next Saturday.
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