Brookings Showdown: USD Run Defense Faces FCS Pace Setters
The Coyotes aim to extend their defensive surge by limiting South Dakota State’s second-best rushing attack in the FCS.
By Harper Collins ·
South Dakota State runs the second-best rushing offense in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Jackrabbits average 263.4 yards per game on the ground, a mark that leads the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Their attack has produced 25 rushing touchdowns, a total tied for the most in the FCS. South Dakota State head coach Matt Vitzthum of the opposing team noted that the Jackrabbit offensive line has played exceptionally well all year. He stated that the unit stays true to its schematic identity while mixing in different plays to create challenges for defenses.
The engine of this ground game consists of two running backs and a mobile quarterback. Josiah Johnson leads the conference with 826 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. He averages 6.1 yards per carry. James Basinger provides explosive play, averaging 11.6 yards per carry with 558 yards and eight touchdowns. Quarterback Chase Mason adds a dual-threat dimension to the group. Despite some inconsistency in the passing game, South Dakota State averages 37.1 points per game, the third-best total in the conference. The rushing volume allows the offense to control the clock and limit passing requirements.
South Dakota State travels to Brookings on Saturday to face the University of South Dakota Coyotes. The Jackrabbits have not won in the FCS era at that location. The game carries weight for Missouri Valley Conference title implications and FCS playoff seeding. It is the top-6 rivalry in the region. For USD, the path to victory is clear: win first and second down, tackle consistently, and force Mason into passing situations. If the Coyotes allow three to five yards per carry, the afternoon could become long.
USD head coach Matt Vitzthum emphasized that past successes do not guarantee future results. He said the team must turn the page and build confidence from recent scenarios. Vitzthum noted that the Jackrabbits will be highly motivated to run the football. He observed that no team in the league has yet collected a big win on the road. Therefore, stopping the run will be the primary test for the Coyotes.
The Coyotes have shown defensive progress over the last four weeks. They previously surrendered 343 rushing yards in a conference road loss to Youngstown State. Since then, their defense has tightened. USD allowed 113 rushing yards against Indiana State, 98 against Southern Illinois, and 145 against Murray State. Much of the Murray State total came late in the game. Last week’s overtime victory over the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks provided clear evidence of improvement. The Fighting Hawks entered that game averaging 207 rushing yards per game, second in the conference behind South Dakota State. They managed only 111 yards against USD.
Interior defensive linemen Chris Dixon and John Starman have strengthened the front. Nathan Laperi, Isaiah Wray, and Sam Same have contributed on the edges. Jeff Bowie and Asher Tomaszewski provide depth. At linebacker, Gabe Hardman and Wade Abrams have been key contributors. Both have forced three fumbles, tied for the lead in the FCS. Abrams leads the conference with 75 total tackles. Harrison Brun and redshirt freshman Cain Wallner have also added to the linebacker group’s output.
The secondary must also support the front seven. Cornerback R.J. Stewart is unlikely to play for the second consecutive game. Josh Grant will be important again after playing well against the run and in coverage last week. Cornerback Jaylen Boehm-Peterson and safeties Kael Kolarik and Tim White must help finish tackles in space. The Coyotes have already limited a top-10 opponent’s ground game at home. Now they face one of the nation’s most productive rushing offenses in a hostile environment.
Vitzthum described the atmosphere in Brookings as awesome and the crowd as really hostile. He said the team must go up there and be the best version of themselves. He added that the trip is about figuring out what the team is made of. The game is scheduled for Saturday in Brookings.
