VERMILLION, S.D. (Interstat) — In a hard-fought in-state rivalry game that defied pregame projections, the South Dakota Coyotes leaned on a dominant rushing performance from L.J. Phillips Jr. to secure a 24-17 victory over the South Dakota State Jackrabbits on Saturday at the DakotaDome.

The game, played before a raucous crowd of 15,327, saw the Coyotes improve their season record to 7-4, while the Jackrabbits fell to 7-3. The outcome was a stark contrast to the predictions from Interstat, whose game simulator had projected a 39-31 South Dakota State win and gave the Jackrabbits a 64.3 percent probability of victory.

South Dakota State exploded from the gates, taking the opening kickoff and immediately striking for a breathtaking 75-yard touchdown run by the versatile Jack Smith on the game’s first play from scrimmage. The Jackrabbits extended their lead later in the first quarter with a 40-yard field goal from Eli Stader, capitalizing on a drive that featured a 28-yard completion from quarterback Jack Henry to Smith.

The early 10-point deficit did little to rattle the Coyotes. They responded with a methodical 15-play, 75-yard drive that consumed over six minutes of the first quarter, capped by a 10-yard touchdown run from Phillips to cut the lead to 10-7.

The second quarter evolved into a strategic battle, with the defenses beginning to find their footing. South Dakota managed to tie the game at 10-10 on a 34-yard field goal from Will Leyland midway through the period. The Coyotes’ defense, led by a key interception from DeJuan Lewis, and a strong punting performance from Tyler Ebel, who averaged 48 yards on four kicks, helped keep the high-powered Jackrabbits offense in check.

Just before halftime, South Dakota seized momentum. Quarterback Aidan Bouman, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound junior from Buffalo, Minnesota, engineered a quick-strike drive, connecting with Larenzo Fenner on a 37-yard pass before finding the same receiver for a 19-yard touchdown with just 63 seconds remaining in the half. The score gave the Coyotes their first lead of the game at 17-10.

The Jackrabbits, however, demonstrated their resilience. Henry, a Dell Rapids, South Dakota, native, led a rapid response, moving South Dakota State 70 yards in just 56 seconds. He finished the drive with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Alex Bullock with five seconds left, sending the teams into the locker room tied 17-17 at the break.

The second half belonged to the Coyotes and their workhorse, Phillips. After receiving the opening kickoff of the third quarter, South Dakota marched 75 yards in eight plays, with Phillips breaking free for a 32-yard touchdown run to reclaim a 24-17 lead. From that point forward, the Coyotes’ defense took control.

South Dakota State’s offense, which had been so potent early, was stifled in the second half. The Jackrabbits were forced to punt on their first four possessions of the third and fourth quarters. Their best chance to tie the game came midway through the fourth quarter when they drove to the South Dakota 20-yard line. But on a critical third-down play, Henry’s pass was intercepted in the end zone by Lewis, preserving the Coyotes’ seven-point lead.

With the lead secured, South Dakota turned to Phillips to salt away the clock. The running back carried the ball on 10 of the Coyotes’ final 14 offensive plays, consistently picking up first downs and forcing the Jackrabbits to burn their timeouts. The South Dakota offense held the ball for the final 3 minutes, 19 seconds, with Phillips’ final carry and three kneel-downs by Bouman sealing the victory.

Phillips finished with a staggering 168 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries, serving as the engine of the Coyotes’ offense. Bouman managed the game efficiently, completing 14 of 21 passes for 158 yards and one touchdown. Fenner was his primary target, hauling in four catches for 68 yards and the crucial late first-half score.

For South Dakota State, Henry completed 13 of 24 passes for 139 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while also rushing for 30 yards. Smith was the offensive standout for the Jackrabbits, amassing 203 all-purpose yards, including 82 rushing yards on just three carries and 61 receiving yards on six catches.

The loss snaps a two-game winning streak in the series for South Dakota State. The Coyotes will look to build on this pivotal rivalry win when they travel to face Southern Illinois next Saturday. The Jackrabbits, meanwhile, will aim to rebound at home against Illinois State.