VERMILLION, S.D. – The Drake football team looked to replicate their underdog magic from two weeks prior and orchestrate another upset on the road. The Bulldogs showed signs throughout Saturday's tilt at No. 6 South Dakota but could not keep pace with the Coyotes as USD went on to win, 42-3.
 
The Coyotes started Saturday's contest with as big of a bang possible as Keyondray Jones-Logan housed the opening kickoff with a 99-yard return. The long touchdown bolt put the Bulldogs down 7-0 just 13 seconds into the game.
 
Drake did their best to maneuver down the field on their first possession as Luke Bailey and the Bulldog offense converted a few first downs and advanced into South Dakota territory. The drive stalled, however, as Shane Dunning trotted on the field to punt.
 
The two teams traded another pair of punts before South Dakota's offense put together another scoring drive. Halfback Travis Theis took a handoff from signal caller Aidan Bouman and carved his way through the Drake defense for a 25-yard touchdown run. The score gave the Yotes a 14-0 lead with just under four minutes to play in the first quarter. Their two-score advantage held through the end of the first period.
 
The Coyotes started the second quarter with the ball but backed up against their own endzone after three consecutive penalties. The Bulldogs took advantage of those USD miscues and nearly flipped all the momentum as Finn Claypool was a half-step away from a strip sack that would have set the Dogs up inside South Dakota's 15-yard line. The play was reviewed and ruled an incomplete pass, but still forced punter Tyler Ebel back onto the field.
 
Drake started their next drive with a quick pitch-and-catch from Bailey to Trey Radocha followed by a 30-yard rush by Dorian Boyland. South Dakota committed late hits on both of those long-gainers, advancing the Bulldogs even further into Coyote territory. The USD defense held firm as Drake failed to cross the goal line from inside the 10-yard marker. Shane Dunning came on and buried a 23-yard field goal for the Dogs' first points of the afternoon.
 
The Yotes quickly put together two more touchdown drives with little resistance from the Bulldogs. Drake regained possession down 28-3 with roughly two minutes left on the first half clock. Their up-tempo offense stalled and gave the ball back to USD, who crossed midfield but were backed up out of field goal range after their ninth infraction of the half. The Coyotes took their 28-3 advantage into the break.
 
The third quarter saw similar action as South Dakota procured another scoring charge that resulted in a Theis rushing touchdown, his second of the game, after Luke Bailey's lone giveaway. Drake's offense was again able to work its way into USD's half of the field behind a couple clutch third-down conversions, but they could not come up with points. The ball belonged to South Dakota as the third quarter concluded, with the hosts leading 35-3.
 
The Coyotes cashed in again to start the fourth period, this time via the pass from Bouman to reserve back Charles Pierre, Jr. from 20 yards out.
 
The Bulldogs refused to roll over as the fourth quarter progressed, eventually forcing the Coyotes to cough it up. Sebastian Adamski was, to no one's surprise, around the ball on defense and knocked the rock free of L.J. Phillips, Jr.'s grasp. Gene Blalock jumped on it to flip possession back to the Bulldogs. It marked the seventh straight game in which the Bulldogs have forced at least one fumble. The Drake offense could not muster a drive despite the shortened field as USD turned the blue and white over on downs.
 
Drake promptly got the ball back again by forcing another South Dakota turnover as back-up quarterback Nevan Cremascoli lofted a pass down the right sideline where it was intercepted by Caleb Bowling. He paired that pick, which was the first of his career, with four total tackles including Drake only stop for a loss.
 
The Bulldog offense was again halted on fourth down by a staunch Coyote defense, with both units featuring mostly reserve players. The Yotes took over and knelt the clock out to secure the 42-3 result.
 
Drake quarterback Luke Bailey finished the day with 107 yards on 16-of-29 throwing. It marked the fifth straight game with triple digit passing yardage for the Bulldogs' signal caller. Elsewhere on offense, Boyland led the Bulldog backs with 51 yards on eight carries while Trey Radocha tallied 56 receiving yards on seven catches.
 
Defensively, Tyler Radocha led the way with 11 total tackles while J.R. Flood had seven and linebackers Sean Allison and Sebastian Adamski logged six apiece. Christian Aguilar notched a forced fumble and a tackle to keep extend Drake's streak of forcing at least one fumble to seven games.
 
The Bulldogs will be back in action next weekend as they return to Des Moines for the start of Pioneer Football League play. Drake will host rival San Diego for Homecoming and Family Weekend at Drake Stadium on Saturday, Sep. 21 with kickoff slated for 12 p.m.
 
 
NOTES

• USD outgained Drake 411-211 despite running one fewer play.
• Drake forced a fumble for the seventh straight game dating back to last season.
• There were penalties aplenty in the DakotaDome as both teams combined for 23 infractions, 14 of which were attributed to USD.
• Luke Bailey threw for 100+ yards for the fifth consecutive game dating back to last season.
• Caleb Bowling's interception in the fourth quarter was the first of his career.
• Drake is now 11-9 vs. South Dakota all-time.
• The loss marks the 17th straight vs. teams from the Missouri Valley Football Conference and 15th straight vs. teams from North or South Dakota.