VERMILLION, S.D. – The Drake University football team plays its final non-conference game of the season today when it travels to South Dakota for its first meeting with the Coyotes since 2009.

This will be the 18th all-time meeting between Drake and South Dakota. The Bulldogs hold a 11-6 series lead over the Coyotes and 5-5 in Vermillion. This will be the second meeting between the two programs since 1972.

Drake’s last win over a current member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference came on Aug. 30, 2007, when the Bulldogs defeated Illinois State.

This is the fourth straight season Drake has played a member of the MVFC.

Drake’s offense is led by junior running back Conley Wilkins, who has scored 24 of Drake’s 62 points this season and rushed for 146 yards. Fifth-year senior quarterback Andy Rice is ranked ninth in the country with 46 completions and is 15th in the nation in passing yards with 521.

Defensively, John Hugunin leads the team with 17 tackles (12 solo), two sacks, 3.5 tackles for a loss and four forced fumbles.

The Coyotes feature a run-first offense, rushing 74 times for 304 yards compared to 52 pass attempts for 342 yards. Defensively, USD returns nine of its top 10 tacklers from last season.