Chris Streveler threw four touchdown passes to lead South Dakota to a 38-31 victory over Nicholls State on Saturday afternoon at Guidry Stadium in Thibodaux, La., in an FCS first-round playoff game.
Streveler, the former Gopher, was 25-for-37 for 378 yards. He also rushed 11 times for 34 yards,
Two other Dakota schools had byes in the first round: second-seeded North Dakota State and fifth-seeded South Dakota State.
The Coyotes (8-4, 4-4) took a 14-0 lead and never trailed. Michael Fredrick scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter and Streveler threw a 20-yard scoring pass to Dakari Allen early in the second to complete a 10-play, 80-yard drive.
Ryan Weese kicked a 39-yard field goal for USD on the last play of the first half to make it 17-7.
Nichols State (8-4, 7-2) got within 17-14 and 24-21 in the third quarter, but Streveler answered with a touchdown pass each time He threw a 47-yard scoring pas to Brandt Van Roekel and a 75-yard strike to Trystn Ducker.
The Colonels scored 10 points in a row in the fourth quarter to tie the score at 31-all. Tahj Smith ran for a 1-yard touchdown and Lorran Fonseca kicked a 43-yard field goal.
Streveler broke the tie on a 10-yard TD pass to Van Roekel with 5:57 to play.
