South Dakota is on a tear. USD has been as hot as any FCS team in the country in their last 3 games. First they beat Indiana St. by 28, and then they beat N. Dakota by 7. North Dakota St. beat UND by 6. Finally and most impressively, they went to Cedar Falls and sucker punched N. Iowa 24-0 in the first half and then cruised to a 34-21 victory.
The storyline for this game revolves around the quarterbacks. USD has an emerging star at QB in Carson Camp. Due to the Covid reset, Camp is still a freshman in eligibility, but he has the experience of a veteran as this will be his 12th consecutive start for the Yotes. Camp went to Normal West HS. Meanwhile Redbird QB Bryce Jefferson will be looking to regain his form while also looking for added protection. Surprisingly, Jefferson was in rare form for the first half of the first game of the 2021 spring season. Midway through the 2nd Q of that game Illinois State led USD 17-0. Jefferson had completed a 58-yard pass to Austin Nagel that led to a FG, and a 59-yard TD pass to Taylor Grimes. Sitting on 17-0 lead in the season opener you would not have been able to find a single person on the Redbird sideline that would say that this wasn't a real football game in a real season. As we know, 4 Redbird Int's helped USD and young Mr. Camp claw back for a 27-20 win.
If it were me I would start Waring but it isn't up to me and I admit that I find this storyline intriguing. We talk a lot about our youth, but this tailspin really took root in the 2nd half of that game when a true freshman, Carson Camp, played in his first college FB game and he outplayed our QB. I've had some doubts about Jefferson when it comes to accuracy and decision making, but I've never doubted his toughness or his effort or his willingness to compete. If there is a game that Jefferson would like as a "do over" I have to think this is the one. Well good news, the reset button has been pushed and a 0-0 scoreboard will greet the Redbirds in Vermillion SD. This isn't the same South Dakota defense we saw in Normal. The Yotes have improved on that side of the ball but I think Jefferson is undeterred. He knows he had USD beat in February. I think he wants this one bad. I hope he gets it.
The storyline for this game revolves around the quarterbacks. USD has an emerging star at QB in Carson Camp. Due to the Covid reset, Camp is still a freshman in eligibility, but he has the experience of a veteran as this will be his 12th consecutive start for the Yotes. Camp went to Normal West HS. Meanwhile Redbird QB Bryce Jefferson will be looking to regain his form while also looking for added protection. Surprisingly, Jefferson was in rare form for the first half of the first game of the 2021 spring season. Midway through the 2nd Q of that game Illinois State led USD 17-0. Jefferson had completed a 58-yard pass to Austin Nagel that led to a FG, and a 59-yard TD pass to Taylor Grimes. Sitting on 17-0 lead in the season opener you would not have been able to find a single person on the Redbird sideline that would say that this wasn't a real football game in a real season. As we know, 4 Redbird Int's helped USD and young Mr. Camp claw back for a 27-20 win.
If it were me I would start Waring but it isn't up to me and I admit that I find this storyline intriguing. We talk a lot about our youth, but this tailspin really took root in the 2nd half of that game when a true freshman, Carson Camp, played in his first college FB game and he outplayed our QB. I've had some doubts about Jefferson when it comes to accuracy and decision making, but I've never doubted his toughness or his effort or his willingness to compete. If there is a game that Jefferson would like as a "do over" I have to think this is the one. Well good news, the reset button has been pushed and a 0-0 scoreboard will greet the Redbirds in Vermillion SD. This isn't the same South Dakota defense we saw in Normal. The Yotes have improved on that side of the ball but I think Jefferson is undeterred. He knows he had USD beat in February. I think he wants this one bad. I hope he gets it.
