Aug. 28, 2004
South Dakota Runs Away In The Second-Half From The Bulldog Football Team
South Dakota went into the lockerroom on a high note and used that momentum for a big second-half against the Truman football team. The Bulldogs trailed by just a touchdown at the break but in the end, fell by a 49-22 score.
With the score tied, Truman got the ball back with 1:42 left in the first-half. However, it went three-and-out and was forced to punt on what would turn out to be the turning point of the game. The Coyotes' Chris Mikkelsen took the punt at the South Dakota 30 and looked like he was going to break it for a touchdown. Truman's Josh Mayson caught up with him at Truman's two-yard line and forced a fumble. The bounce went South Dakota's way though as Ricardo Sorrell fell on it in the endzone for a touchdown.
The rest of the game was all South Dakota after that as it scored four touchdowns in the final-half to turn the game into rout.
South Dakota took advantage of a banged-up defensive line, rushing for 311 yards in the game. Travis Mlady had most of the yards, collecting 158 on the ground and scoring one touchdown. Tyler Evans and quarterback Wesley Beschorner also scored rushing touchdowns.
The Coyotes were also able to break some big plays through the air. Derek Gearman caught two second-half scores for touchdown receptions of 35 and 88 yards. Beschorner only threw the ball 17 times in the game but completed 11 for 198 yards and three touchdowns. Gearman ended the game with 136 yards receiving and his pair of touchdowns.
Truman gained 345 total yards in the game, with 286 of that coming in the passing game. The team had some bright spots offensively. Transfer Jeff Amundson led the receivers with six catches for 68 yards. Quarterback Jack Czeschin threw for 272 yards and one touchdown, on a two-yard pass to tight end A.J. Weber. The other Bulldog scores came on a one-yard run by running back Jerard Leverson and a two-yard run by backup quarterback Jonathan Duffy.
Defensively, linebacker Ben Wilson was everywhere, collecting ten solo tackles and seven assisted tackles. He had three tackles for losses, including one sack. Marcus Yokeley had the only Bulldog turnover, intercepting a pass in the first quarter.
Truman will look to pick up its first win in its final non-conference game next week. The Bulldogs will travel to Winona State (Minn.) for a 1 p.m. game against the Warriors.
Football Notes: Today's game was similar to the 2000 contests between the two. In that contest, South Dakota led just 17-14 before outscoring the Bulldogs by a 21-0 margin in the final half ... both head coaches in the game were in their first contest at their new schools. Shannon Currier came to Truman after four seasons at Concordia-St. Paul while Ed Meierkort took over the Coyote program after 11 seasons at Wisconsin-Stout.