For three quarters Saturday, it looked like South Dakota was headed for a long afternoon in Brookings.

And, well, it was.

South Dakota State jumped out to a 28-0 lead, controlling the line of scrimmage and making life miserable for the Coyote offense.

But just when it seemed like the game was completely over, USD showed some life.

Three fourth-quarter touchdowns suddenly made it a 28-21 game with just over two minutes remaining.

For a brief moment, the Jackrabbits had a reason to be nervous.

Unfortunately, the comeback ran out of time.

SDSU 31, USD 21.

The 26-year drought in Brookings continues.

And while there were some encouraging signs late, Saturday showed that the Coyotes still have some things to figure out before the postseason.

A Tough Start

South Dakota entered Saturday ranked No. 6 in the country, riding a four-game winning streak and looking to build on last year’s victory over SDSU.

Instead, the Jackrabbits controlled the game from the beginning.

SDSU led 21-0 at halftime, outgaining USD 315-44.

The Coyotes struggled to sustain drives, and the Jackrabbit defensive front made it extremely difficult to establish anything offensively.

SDSU extended the lead to 28-0 in the third quarter.

Credit where it’s due.

The Jackrabbits are a very good football team, and they played like one.

But USD also missed opportunities to keep the game competitive early.

An SDSU fumble on the opening possession gave the Coyotes the ball near midfield, but the offense went three-and-out.

Later, a promising drive ended with a sack that forced a desperation 58-yard field goal attempt.

Against a team like SDSU, those opportunities matter.

The Offensive Line Needs Answers

If there’s one concern that stands above the rest, it’s the offensive line.

South Dakota finished with just 19 net rushing yards on 27 attempts.

Charles Pierre Jr., coming off a 128-yard performance against North Dakota, managed only 13 yards on seven carries.

Austyn Modrzewski was sacked five times, bringing the total to 10 sacks allowed over the last two games.

That’s a troubling trend.

And it’s not all on one position group. Pass protection involves the offensive line, running backs, quarterback decisions and the coaching staff’s ability to adjust.

But whatever the solution is, USD needs to find it.

Modrzewski has shown what he can do when he has time to operate.

Pierre has proven he’s one of the most dangerous backs in the Valley when the running lanes are there.

The talent is there.

The challenge is finding a way to consistently give those playmakers an opportunity.

And to SDSU’s credit, its defensive front was outstanding Saturday.

SDSU Won the Battle Up Front

The Jackrabbits didn’t just make things difficult for USD’s offense.

They also established their own rushing attack.

Josiah Johnson finished with 126 yards, while James Basinger added 84.

Chase Mason threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns, and SDSU totaled 459 yards of offense.

The Coyotes had some good defensive moments, but SDSU was able to stay ahead of the chains and control much of the afternoon.

There were also a few costly mistakes, including a 39-yard punt return that helped set up SDSU’s fourth touchdown.

Those are the kinds of plays that add up against a top-10 opponent.

And Saturday, they added up quickly.

Give the Coyotes Credit for Fighting Back

Here’s the positive.

South Dakota could have packed it in down 28-0.

Instead, the offense finally found a rhythm.

Modrzewski threw fourth-quarter touchdowns to Brayden White, Bryce Cohoon and Chris Herrin.

Cohoon’s 59-yard touchdown was particularly impressive.

Suddenly, a game that looked completely out of reach was back to seven points.

Modrzewski finished with 233 passing yards and three touchdowns, despite spending much of the afternoon under pressure.

That deserves some credit.

The Coyotes kept competing when it would’ve been easy to look ahead to the bye week.

Ultimately, SDSU responded with a crucial third-down conversion and a 43-yard Johnson run that helped set up the game-sealing field goal.

The Jackrabbits earned the win.

But the fourth quarter at least reminded us what this USD offense is capable of when things start clicking.

We just need to see it a little sooner next time.

Where Does USD Go From Here?

South Dakota is now 7-3 overall and 4-2 in the Missouri Valley.

That’s still a good position to be in.

The Coyotes have a quality win over North Dakota, seven victories on the season and two regular-season games remaining.

But the last two weeks have revealed some areas that need attention.

Against UND, USD built a big lead before struggling to move the ball in the second half.

Against SDSU, the offense couldn’t find its footing until the fourth quarter.

The most obvious concern is protecting Modrzewski and getting the running game going.

Fortunately, the upcoming bye week gives the coaching staff an opportunity to evaluate what’s working, make adjustments and get everyone ready for the final stretch.

November 14: Northern Iowa at home.

November 21: Illinois State on the road.

Two important games with plenty of playoff implications.

And hopefully more football beyond that.

The Bottom Line

Losing to SDSU is frustrating.

Losing in Brookings for the eighth consecutive trip is even more frustrating.

And the way Saturday started certainly didn’t make it easier.

But one game doesn’t erase what this team has accomplished.

The Coyotes have shown they can compete with some of the best teams in the FCS. They’ve won close games, battled through injuries and found ways to win when things weren’t going perfectly.

Saturday wasn’t their best performance.

It also wasn’t their last opportunity to make a statement.

The offensive line needs to improve. The offense needs more consistency. And USD needs to avoid the slow stretches that have hurt it the last two weeks.

Those are real concerns.

But they’re also things the coaching staff has two weeks to address.

The Coyotes are 7-3, still have plenty to play for, and the season is far from over.

Now let’s enjoy a Saturday without watching Modrzewski get chased around the backfield.

I think we’ve all earned that.