South Dakota’s Joe Glenn on Missouri State Win, Indiana State Game

This was certainly not the first win in Joe Glenn's long, and very successful, coaching career.

It wasn't even his first win since taking over at South Dakota last season.

But the combination of the USD's first Missouri Valley Conference victory, in front of a big homecoming crowd, in come-from-behind fashion, all added up for something special  when the Coyotes beat Missouri State Saturday, 17-14:

The one constant for the Coyotes this season has been defense, as it was on display Saturday, limiting the Bears to a season-low 177 yard of total offense, while forcing three turnovers, including a Kyle Guziec interception return for a touchdown in the first half:

Saturday was the best of times for senior Tyler Starr.  The all-conference linebacker had eight tackles and a pair of sacks, but his second half hit on Missouri State quarterback Kierra Harris was ruled helmet-to-helmet, earning Starr an ejection, and barring an appeal, a spot on the bench for the first half of this week's game with Indiana State:

Offensively, Kevin Earl took over for Josh VanderMaten to make his first start at quarterback and he finished 22-of-35 with one touchdown and one interception.  He completed six-of-nine on the final three drives of the game, which resulted in 10 points:

Earl also made a key throw on a two-point conversion attempt, hitting Riley Donovan to pull USD even in the fourth quarter:

One of the other key performers on offense was running back Trevor Bouma, who lead South Dakota in rushing and receiving with 59 yards on the ground, and 56 yards through the air.  44 yards of that total offense coming on USD's lone touchdown drive:

USD struggled again with penalties Saturday, 10 for 94 yards, and were burned on the kicking game a couple of times, with a Miles Bergner missed field goal from 31 yards, and a botched snap on a punt that led to a blocked kick and a touchdown for Missouri State:

But the special teams redeemed itself in a big way, when Bergner drilled the game winner from 41 yards with 1:24 left, thanks to the quick reflexes of holder Ryan Saeger, who grabbed a high snap and got the ball down in time for Bergner's boot:

For that game winning kick, Bergner earned himself Missouri Valley Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

Next up, Indiana State at the DakotaDome Saturday.

The Sycamores thumped USD 45-14 last season, behind 150 yards from all-conference running back Shakir Bell.  But Bell is hurting this season, and so is ISU, now just 1-4 after losing to Youngstown State last Saturday.  This is the same team that won five of its first six in conference play last year:

Kickoff is 1:00pm Saturday afternoon in Vermillion.