Creative Play-Calling from South Dakota State vs South Dakota
In an intense showdown that stretched into overtime, South Dakota State University (SDSU) edged out the University of South Dakota (USD) with a 20-17 victory. This game wasn’t just a battle of endurance but also showcase of play-calling. In this article, we’ll dive into a few of these inventive plays that highlighted both teams’ creativity.
The Plays
In this opening highlight, South Dakota State comes out in 11 personnel and sends the Z receiver in jet motion to set up a play-action look. The two receivers run double posts—a common concept—but the twist comes as the running back releases on a corner route from the backfield. With South Dakota in 3 Buzz coverage, the defense struggles to adjust to the “four-strong” concept created by the jet motion and the running back who aligned to the strong side. The hook defender gets overwhelmed by the corner route, creating a breakdown that results in a big gain for the Jackrabbits.
Our next highlighted play showcases South Dakota lining up in 22 personnel with a compressed receiver set into the boundary. They run a pin-and-pull variation to that side, with the near back leading up to take on the safety. While the play ultimately results in a tackle for loss, the scheme itself is well-designed. If the compressed receiver lands his crack block, this play has the potential for a big gain.
This next play highlights a creative twist on the “wave” concept. South Dakota State brings #18 in motion, setting him up to run a deep over route beneath double posts from the opposite receivers. #18 shows excellent patience, staying low to slip under the first linebacker before timing his climb over the second, setting himself up for a well-executed completion downfield.
In this play, South Dakota lines up in a 12 personnel YY Wildcat formation, faking Power Bash action before hitting the wing tight end on a pass. The tight end sells the down block beautifully before releasing vertically up the seam. This play reflects a recurring theme for South Dakota throughout the game: strong, creative play designs that didn’t always connect in execution.
In overtime, South Dakota State dials up a clever shovel pass from an 11 personnel set. Motioning #18 to the wing, they set him up to receive the shovel pass into the boundary, pairing it with a quarterback rollout—a look SDSU leaned on heavily throughout the game. The combination of misdirection and rollout action creates a valuable first-down gain in overtime, pushing SDSU closer to the win with the game on the line.
Conclusion
This hard-fought rivalry between South Dakota State and South Dakota showcased innovative play-calling and relentless strategy from both teams. SDSU may have clinched the win in overtime, but each side brought a unique approach that tested defensive schemes and exploited mismatches throughout the game. From creative motions and layered route concepts to deceptive formations and misdirections, these highlights reveal the depth of preparation and tactical ingenuity behind each call. For those interested in diving deeper into this matchup, a full condensed game is linked below.