The 1977 South Dakota Coyotes football team represented the University of South Dakota in the 1977 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the North Central Conference (NCC). Led by third-year coach Beanie Cooper, the Coyotes compiled an overall record of 4–7 and a mark of 2–4–1 in conference play, placing seventh in the NCC. The team played two games against [[{{{school}}}|Nebraska–Omaha]] in order to save money on travel; each game counted as a half-game in the conference standings.[1]
Running back Mike Maguire rushed for 271 yards in the Coyotes' November 12 game against Nebraska–Omaha, breaking both the school's single-game rushing record of 220 yards and the NCC record of 257 yards.[2] The Associated Press named Maguire one of their two NCC players of the week for his performance.[3] Maguire and defensive player Matt Kiger were selected as the team's captains prior to the season.[4]
Five South Dakota players were selected as first-team players on the 1977 All-North Central Conference football team: Maguire at running back; Mike Lee at offensive guard; Matt Kiger at linebacker; Clyde McCormick at cornerback; and Dave Schwab as a defensive lineman.[5]
On September 3, South Dakota opened its season with a 17–16 loss to [[{{{school}}}|Nebraska–Omaha]]. The game drew a record crowd of 10,000 to Al F. Caniglia Field in Omaha, Nebraska. Nebraska-Omaha took a 9–0 lead at halftime on a touchdown run by Bobby Bass and a safety. South Dakota came back with 16 unanswered points in the third and fourth quarters to take a 16–9 lead. South Dakota running back Mike Maguire, who totaled 155 rushing yards in the game, scored two touchdowns in the final five minutes of the game. His second touchdown came on an 82-yard run with 2:49 remaining. Nebraska then drove down the field for a touchdown and successfully converted a two-point conversion with 1:31 remaining.[6]
Brian Barns 2-yard run (Russ Dokken pass from Steve Winkel
SD 17-10
4
SD
Winkel 46-yard run (Nielsen kick))
SD 24-10
On September 10, South Dakota won its home opener, defeating [[{{{school}}}|Morningside]] by a 24–10 score before a crowd of more than 7,000 at Inman Field in Vermillion, South Dakota. Morningside led, 7–3, at halftime, but the Coyotes outscored Morningside, 21–3, in the second half. Quarterback Steve Winkel led the comeback with key passes, and running back Mike Maguire ran for a total of 146 yards on 16 carries, including a school-record 89-yard touchdown in the third quarter. The victory was the 100th of Beanie Cooper's head coaching career. Linebacker Dave Combs recorded 17 tackles for the Coyotes.[7]
Jerry Biezuns 13-yard pass from Steve Winkel (Nielsen kick)
SD 10-0
2
NCCOL
Dale Stone 23-yard field goal
SD 10-3
4
NCOL
Jim Goodenberger 2-yard run (Stone kick)
TIE 10-10
4
0:06
NCOL
Stone 27-yard field goal
NCOL 13-10
On September 17, South Dakota played a road game against [[{{{school}}}|Northern Colorado]], losing by a 13–10 score at Greeley, Colorado. The Coyotes led, 10-3, at halftime following a 48-yard field goal from Knud Nielsen and a 13-yard touchdown pass from Steve Winkel to Jerry Biezuns. The Coyotes were unable to score in the second half while Northern Colorado scored 10 points in the fourth quarter. Late in the third quarter, Mike Maguire fumbled a punt, giving Northern Colorado possession at the Coyotes' 28-yard line. A personal foul penalty advanced the ball to the 14, and Jim Goodenberger ran for the tying touchdown. Late in the game, Northern Colorado converted a fourth-and-six play to advance the ball to the Coyotes' 27-yard line. With six seconds remaining in the game, Dale Stone kicked the game-winning field goal. South Dakota out-gained Northern Colorado by 257 yards to 178, but the Coyotes turned the ball over six times.[18]
Steve Rampy 26-yard pass to Lloyd Henry (Kent Fenson kick)
NEMO 7-0
1
NEMO
Steve Powell 4-yard run (pass failed)
NEMO 13-0
2
NEMO
Rampy 1-yard run (kick failed)
NEMO 19-0
4
SD
Kevin Boehmer 10-yard run (Knud Nielsen kick)
NEMO 19-7
On September 24, South Dakota lost a road game against Northeast Missouri, falling by a 19–7 score in Kirksville, Missouri. Due to injuries, the Coyotes played the game without the team's star running back Mike Maguire (twisted knee) and without starting quarterback Steve Winkel (broken hand). Coach Cooper's son, Tim Cooper, took over at quarterback and fumbled in the first quarter, leading to Northeast Missouri's first touchdown. Northeast Missouri running back rushed for 184 yards on 25 carries. Northeast Missouri out-gained the Coyotes by 367 yards to 202.[9]
