VERMILLION, S.D. — Aidan Bouman showcased an impressive performance by throwing two touchdown passes while Charles Pierre Jr. contributed with two rushing touchdowns, leading South Dakota to a convincing 42-17 victory against Northern Iowa on Saturday.

Bouman completed 17 out of 20 passes, amassing a total of 284 yards. Meanwhile, Pierre had a standout game with 21 carries for 105 yards, as the Coyotes (5-1, 3-0 Missouri Valley Football Conference) scored on their first six possessions, aside from a singular kneel-down play to end the first half.

Northern Iowa (2-4, 0-2) initially made a strong impression by driving 75 yards on their opening possession, culminating in Tye Edwards’ 1-yard touchdown run. They followed it up with another solid drive covering 70 yards, which resulted in a 10-7 lead after Caden Palmer’s field goal at the start of the second quarter.

The Coyotes quickly responded, with Bouman connecting with JJ Galbreath for a 27-yard gain and a 49-yard reception with Travis Theis, both plays assisting in regaining momentum. Theis punched in a touchdown with a 3-yard run, and later, backup quarterback Nevan Cremascoli found A.J. Coons for a 37-yard touchdown pass, enabling a 28-10 lead by halftime.

In the third quarter, Pierre added to the score with touchdown runs of 1 yard and 20 yards, solidifying South Dakota’s dominant performance. The Coyotes, ranked fourth in the FCS coaches’ poll, totaled 513 yards of offense while controlling possession for over 35 minutes.

Northern Iowa’s Matthew Scheckiman connected with Jaiden Ellis-Lahey for a 50-yard touchdown in the third quarter, showcasing a glimpse of the Panthers’ potential. Scheckiman finished the day 18 of 26 passing for 250 yards, albeit with one interception in the game.