| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDAK | 7 | 3 | 21 | 0 | 31 |
| SIU | 14 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
Simmons' 3TDs send South Dakota past S. Illinois 31-24
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Austin Simmons threw for 333 yards and three touchdowns to lead South Dakota to a 31-24 win over Southern Illinois in a Missouri Valley Conference opener on Saturday.
The win marked coach Bob Nielson's 200th career victory.
After Kai Henry's 1-yard touchdown run put South Dakota (2-2, 1-0) out front 7-0, Sam Straub completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Nigel Kilby, and later, a 20-yard score to Kilby for a 14-7 lead for the Salukis (1-3, 0-1).
Trailing 17-10 at the break, Simmons got hot and threw touchdowns of 9 and 45 yards to Randy Baker and unloaded an 89-yard TD strike to Dakarai Allen to put the Coyotes up 31-17 in the third. Javon Williams scored on 1-yard run with a minute left to play to reduce the deficit, but South Dakota recovered the on-side kick and ran out the clock.
Straub was 32-for-59 passing with 320 yards but was intercepted twice.
Game Information
2024 Missouri Valley Football Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota State | 7-0 | 10-1 |
| South Dakota State | 6-1 | 9-2 |
| South Dakota | 6-1 | 8-2 |
| Missouri State | 6-1 | 8-3 |
| Illinois State | 5-2 | 8-3 |
| Indiana State | 3-4 | 4-7 |
| Youngstown State | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| North Dakota | 2-5 | 5-6 |
| Southern Illinois | 1-6 | 3-8 |
| Northern Iowa | 0-7 | 2-9 |
| Murray State | 0-7 | 1-10 |
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