Article

THE BREAKDOWN

By Dan Myers
October 06, 2005

SATURDAY, 2 P.M.
DAKOTA DOME • VERMILLION, S.D.
MINNESOTA STATE 1-5 (0-2) vs. SOUTH DAKOTA 6-0 (2-0)

The Last Time They Met: Oct. 9, 2004. South Dakota came into the game ranked No. 22 in the nation and looked to spoil MSU's Homecoming last season. After the Mavericks built a 23-7 lead midway through the third quarter, the Coyotes responded with 23 unanswered points to earn a 30-23 victory at Blakeslee Stadium.

Key Stats: USD is looking to start 7-0 for just the second time in school history and the first since 1902 ... The Coyotes have scored at least 56 points in four of their games in 2005. In the other two, they have scored 44 and 48 points, respectively ... USD receiver Derek Gearman is averaging a staggering 32.4 yards per reception and has scored seven touchdowns this season.

When MSU has the ball: The one consistent force this season for the Mavericks has been wide receiver Tyrell Smith. Last Saturday against Minnesota-Duluth, the junior transfer nabbed eight passes for 150 yards and a touchdown. So far in 2005, Smith has 35 catches, 505 yards and four touchdowns. Senior I-Back Sean Treasure leads MSU in rushing yards (323) as well as total touchdowns (8). Senior quarterback Jamie VanDenElzen has been efficient, yet unspectacular. Though he only averages 123 yards per game, he has thrown for six touchdowns versus three interceptions — a rating of 118.8.

When USD has the ball: It's safe to say the Coyotes do not have a weakness offensively. Their leading rusher, Stefan Logan, has 895 yards and seven touchdowns — and that's just on the ground. Through the air, Logan has caught 13 passes for 348 yards and two more scores. Wes Beschorner has been perhaps the best quarterback in the nation. His 1,828 yards and 23 touchdowns with only two interceptions translates to an efficiency rating of 267.9 — almost unheard of at any level. Beschorner has a number of viable targets to throw to as well. Brooks Little leads the team in catches with 34 and is second in yards with 559. The aforementioned Gearman is second in receptions with 21, but leads in yards with 681. Both can find the end zone, as evidenced by their combined 13 touchdowns.