SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls snapped a 14-14 score with a pair of fourth quarter touchdown to pull away and earn a 28-14 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football on Saturday afternoon at Bob Young Field.
For the third straight game under interim head coach,
Levi Bullerman, the Mustangs battled a top conference foe but could not snap its losing streak in dropping to 1-6 overall, 0-6 NSIC. USF improves to 4-3 overall, 4-2 NSIC, breaking a two-game losing streak.
SMSU quarterback
Tommy Hoffman, making his first career start, completed 17 of 36 pass attempts for 233 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for 36 yards and one touchdown.
Zoan Robinson led the SMSU receiving corps with six receptions for 90 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown. Sam Campbell Jr. collected three catches for 51 yards with a long reception of 46 yards.
USF finished the game with 462 yards offense which included 21 first downs, while SMSU closed with 280 yards and 16 first downs. The Cougars were big on third-down, converting 9 of 17 third-down conversions and were 2 for 2 on fourth-down. SMSU was 3 of 14 on third-down, while converting 2 of 4 on fourth-down.
Tate Schafer paced the Cougars with 355 yards passing and three touchdowns, while completing 26 of 43 pass attempts. Adonis Hutchinson was Schafer's top target with nine receptions for 149 yards. The USF rushing offense was led by Bubba Tann III, who rushed for 94 yards on 13 carries, including a game-clinching 63-yard touchdown run with just under five minutes left in the game.
Hunter Hanegraaf racked up a team-high 11 tackles with
Aiden Planer adding eight tackles. The SMSU defense forced a pair of turnovers including
Connor Shelton recording his second interception of the season.
The game was played with a strong southern wind which effected both teams. SMSU opened the game's scoring with the wind in the opening quarter with Hoffman tossing a 37-yard touchdown pass to Robinson with 3:10 on the clock.
USF answered with Schafer connecting on a 5-yard touchdown pass to Hank Brown early in the second quarter.
SMSU had a great chance to regain the lead going into the wind moving the ball to the USF 11-yard and facing first-and-10. However, the USF defense held strong and forced SMSU to turn the ball over on downs. The drive was highlighted with Hoffman connecting on the long pass to Campbell.
With the game tied at 7-7 into halftime, USF would take its first lead of the game early in the third quarter on its opening drive with Schafer tossing a 10-yard touchdown pass with 9:21 remaining.
SMSU had a big answer on its second drive of the half with Hoffman capping an 8-play, 72-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with 5:28 left in the third.
The teams would exchange punts as the game headed to the fourth quarter tied at 14. USF finally broke free to go out in front with Brown catching a 9-yard touchdown pass from Schafer with 11:10 left in the game.
USF would seal the victory with Tann breaking free on the long touchdown run with just under five minutes remaining.
SMSU will have a bye week next Saturday before returning to action at Augustana University on Saturday, Oct. 24, with kickoff set for 1 p.m.
