VERMILLION, S.D. (KELO) — Despite posting 10 wins, USD’s offense struggled to find consistency last season and was held below 20 points in six of their 13 games. Now as the new season is just over two weeks away, the Coyotes are looking for more productivity.
2024 marks the second year of Aidan Bouman starting at quarterback. He threw for 15 touchdowns and nearly 200 yards a game last year. But this season, the Buffalo, Minn., native will have an expanded playbook in hopes of more explosive plays.
“We’re going to put a little bit more on his plate in terms of being able to make decisions at the line of scrimmage and and in so doing, hopefully make us even more efficient offensive football team than we were a year ago,” USD head coach Bob Nielson said.
“It’s decision making, making sure that I’m getting the ball to the guys that can make the plays out there,” Bouman said. “Ultimately that’s my position and that’s all I have to do.
“He was handcuffed in a lot of situations last year without the freedom to get us out of a bad play call, because those do happen on occasion,” USD offensive coordinator Josh Davis said. “It cost us in the long run, just in terms of being a championship level offense.”
Up front, the Yotes return five starters on the offensive line. The physicality and continuity they possess will serve as keys to the offense’s success, particularly with South Dakota’s run-dominant attack with Travis Theis and Charles Pierre Jr.
“You want them to be a year better, and they will be a year better, a year more physical, which in this league is really important,” Nielson said. “If you’re going to run the football, you’ve got to be physical up front. That group has made some progress for sure. I’m excited how much better our running game can be as a result of that group.”
“You don’t win Division I football games without elite offensive line play,” Davis said. “They know that they make us go. It starts with Joey Lombard, our center team captain, tremendous football player, high IQ player, and physically a really gifted player as well.”
USD averaged 24 points per game last season. The Coyotes open the 2024 campaign at home against Northern State on Aug. 29.
