The Drake University football team plays its final non-conference game of the season on Saturday when it travels to South Dakota for the first meeting with the Coyotes since 2009.

Saturday's contest will be the 18th all-time meeting between Drake and South Dakota. The Bulldogs hold a 11-6 all-time record over the Coyotes and are 5-5 all-time in Vermillion. This will be the second meeting between the two programs since 1972.

Drake's last win over a current member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference came on Aug. 30, 2007 when it defeated Illinois State. That victory was also the team's last win over a ranked opponent. 

This is the fourth-straight season Drake has played a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Last season the Bulldogs lost at Western Illinois and fell to Northern Iowa in 2013 and Indiana State in 2012.

Both squads are 1-1 on the season and both received votes in this week's STATS FCS top-25 poll. The Coyotes earned 16 points, ranking 35th, while the Bulldogs received seven points, ranking 40th.

Drake opened the season with a win over William Jewell, followed by a loss to North Dakota in its last outing. SD fell to Kansas State before beating UC Davis last week.

Drake's offense is led by junior running back Conley Wilkins, who has scored 24 of Drake's 62 points this season and rushed for 146 yards. Fifth-year senior Andy Rice is ranked ninth in the country with 46 completions and is tabbed 15th in the nation in passing yards with 521. Defensively, John Hugunin leads the team with 17 tackles (12 solo), two sacks, 3.5 tackles for a loss and four forced fumbles.

The Coyotes have a run first type of offense as they have rushed 74 times for 304 yards, compared to 52 pass attempts for 342 yards. Defensively, South Dakota is running a new scheme this year, switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3. The Coyotes return nine of its top 10 tacklers from last season.

Fans can watch Saturday's contest online at ESPN3.com or listen on ESPN Radio Des Moines 1350 AM.