VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) — Kevin Earl threw an 18-yard fourth quarter touchdown pass to Trevor Bouma, then Miles Bergner kicked a 41-yard field goal with 1:24 remaining as South Dakota rallied to beat Missouri St. 17-14 Saturday.
Kierra Harris threw two interceptions for Missouri State (1-5, 1-1 Missouri Valley), one returned for a 22-yard touchdown by Kyle Guziec to give South Dakota (2-3, 1-1) a 6-0 lead. Harris’s interception by Jarrid Bryant on the Coyote 3-yard line killed another drive.
The Coyotes, whose defense averages 119 yards passing allowed per game, held Harris to 72 yards.
Harris did rush for a 3-yard TD to give the Bears a 7-6 lead. The Bears then stopped USD for back-to-back rushing losses before Vernon Scott blocked a punt and returned it 10 yards for a touchdown, giving the Bears a 14-6 lead.
The Coyotes won their first game as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.
