SIOUX FALLS – Despite the first quarter injury to All-American running back Gabe Watson, the University of Sioux Falls bounced back from a season-opening loss in a big way with a 34-12 win over Winona State in a key NSIC South Division contest on Military Appreciation Day at Bob Young Field before 1,577 in attendance.
Watson, who sat out the Cougars’ 41-17 loss at Concordia-St. Paul last week, left Saturday’s game early with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. The nation’s Div. II individual rushing champion last season winced in pain as he hobbled off the field and was quickly tended to by trainers. He spent the rest of the game with a wrap around his left hamstring.
It is unclear how much longer USF will be without Watson, but the Coo were just fine without him against a team that was also picked to finish among the top four in the 16-team Northern Sun Conference in the preseason coaches poll (USF 3rd, WSU 4th).
Junior defensive end Joey Wehrkamp led a dominating defensive effort in which the Cougars held the highly productive Warriors to just 228 yards on 57 plays and allowed just 49 yards rushing on 20 carries. It was the least number of rushing yards USF has allowed since a 39-21 win over SMSU in 2018 when the Mustangs gained just 38 yards on 25 carries.
Wehrkamp said the key for USF, which is now 19-1 in home season openers since 2000, was staying focused and everyone doing their jobs.
“I think we showed our potential as a defense. Everybody did their jobs to the best of their abilities,” said Wehrkamp, a junior from Sioux Falls who had a sack and tackle for loss against the Warriors. “We flew around and got our hats on them on nearly every play. I think it was just about making plays at all levels.”
The defense, directed by coordinator Nick Benedetto, showed up big against WSU, which had accumulated 546 yards against Wayne State (37-20 win) in the opener. On this day, USF came up big with two sacks and three interceptions which included picks from seniors Ryan Nieman, Tucker Stout and junior Nate Durfee. Senior linebacker Brody Grantham led USF with 7.5 tackles while registering one of five tackles for loss while Stout added five tackles to his interception and a tackle for loss.
In snapping a two-game losing streak to the Warriors, the Cougars received contributions from across the board, as noted by USF Head Coach Jon Anderson.
“I was incredibly proud of our team. For the guys to put together a solid effort on offense, defense and special teams was particularly pleasing for the coaching staff,” said Anderson, who is now 17-8 at USF with a 17-7 league mark and his first win against WSU. “It was a big effort and from a team that showed a lot of heart, plus physicality and toughness,” he said.
Led by senior quarterback Caden Walters and redshirt freshman Thuro Reisdorfer, USF’s offense, directed by coordinator Jim Chapin, generated 435 yards on 82 plays or 5.3 yards per play. Walters completed 17-of-26 passes for 215 yards with a TD and added nine carries for a career-high 70 yards rushing. Walters has thrown for 200 yards in back-to-back games and has just one interception with two passing TDs.
Reisfordofer, who stepped in for Watson in the first half, accumulated 82 yards on 20 carries with his first two career rushing TDs. He now has 33 totes for 174 yards and two TDs this season.
Also on offense, USF had a career-best effort from junior wideout Karnell Collier, who hauled in seven receptions for 108 yards as he had his first career 100-yard receiving game. Senior Nate Johnson had four catches for 52 yards plus 56 yards on punt returns with a career-best 46-yard return.
Special teams, directed by coordinator Joe Ford, had a big day for USF. Junior placekicker Daniel Esparza connected on all four of his extra points along with field goals of 17 and a career-best 50 yards. Punter Thomas Chapin averaged 40.7 yards per kick with a long of 53 yards. Plus, USF continually came up huge on returns. Aside from Johnson’s 46-yard return on a punt, Reisdorfer had a 41-yard kickoff return he nearly broke for bigger yards.
For a thorough game breakdown, stats, and more from USF on this game, click here.
Coo coach Jon Anderson joins KWSN’s Sports Talk with Craig & John every Thursday at 3:20 p.m., an interview that will be available at kwsn.com/podcasts.
