VERMILLION, S.D. – South Dakota scored 35 unanswered points, including 28 in the second half, to defeat Lamar, 35-6, Saturday afternoon at the DakotaDome. The Cardinals led for the first 27:46 before USD managed to rally.
 
The Cardinals finished the day 249 yards of total offense, while USD recorded 402 – 272 of those came in the second half. South Dakota carried the ball 39 times for 305 yards and four scores.
 
Robert Coleman completed 14-of-24 (.583) passes for 144 yards. Coleman connected with four different receivers, led by four catches for 37 yards by sophomore Kyndon Fuselier.
 
Big Red's ground attack was led by 15 carries for 61 yards from Khalan Griffin.
 
LU's defense was led by seven tackles from Joshua Ofili, while Kevin Anderson and Robert Bonar each had six.
 
Similar to the start at UL Monroe, the Cardinals took the opening drive right down the field – a drive that appeared to come to an abrupt end with a South Dakota interception but that possession was taken away when Beaumont's Andre Dennis made a play on the safety and forced the ball loose which Lamar recovered. The Cardinals took advantage as Chris Esqueda would eventually be called on to convert a 26-yard field goal. The drive kept South Dakota's defense on the field as it was basically a 19-play, 63-yard drive that took more than 10 minutes off the clock.
 
The Cardinals closed the first quarter with a nine-minute advantage in terms of time of possession.
 
South Dakota appeared to be responding to Lamar's opening with one of its own. The Coyotes moved the ball into Cardinal territory before Aidan Bouman attempted a pass deep down the field only to have it picked off by Kristian Pugh at the LU 16. That turnover led to another Esqueda 26-yard field goal.
 
The Coyotes answered near the end of the first half with their first sustained drive of the game. Bouman led the Coyotes on a 13-play, 75-yard drive that took 7:52 off the clock and ended with a Travis Theis two-yard run for the touchdown to give USD its first lead of the game. USD would carry that lead into the locker room.
 
It was an unfortunate turn of events for the Red and White as USD took the lead into the locker room and they would receive the ball to start the second half. South Dakota made it a 14-6 lead with their opening drive of the second half.
 
In the second half, South Dakota turned to its run game to try and take control. USD managed to push its lead to 28-6 with a score early in the fourth quarter. Lamar appeared to answer with a touchdown late in the contest but after a review the play was wiped off the board.
 
The Cardinals return to action Saturday when they return home to host Lincoln (Calif.) University. The game will kick off at 6 p.m. from Provost Umphrey Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.