Modzewski, Pierre, Bryant have big days, South Dakota races past Eastern Washington 41-23

Austyn Modrzewski threw three touchdown passes, Charles Pierre Jr. ran for two and Tennel Bryant had two scoring receptions as South Dakota rolled past Eastern Washington 41-23

VERMILLION, S.D. -- Austyn Modrzewski threw three touchdown passes, Charles Pierre Jr. ran for two and Tennel Bryant had two scoring receptions as South Dakota rolled past Eastern Washington 41-23 on Saturday.

South Dakota led 17-3 at halftime with a 287-113 difference in total yards. Most importantly, after the Eagles cut it to 10-3 with 51 seconds left in the second quarter, Modrzewski hit Tennel Bryant deep over the middle on a third-and-10 for a 66-yard score with 26 seconds remaining in the half.

Pierre, who surpassed 2,000 career yards rushing, then broke loose for a 72-yard score to open the second half. After a quick three-and-out, Modrzewski found Bryant over the middle for a 48-yard score and a 31-3 lead.

Modrzewski was 16 of 24 for 245 yards and an interception, Pierre carried 15 times for 138 yards and Bryant had 120 yards on three receptions. The Coyotes, ranked No. 11 in the Stats Perform FCS Top25, had seven plays of 20-plus yards, giving them 23 for the season, adding three touchdowns for a total of 11 on explosive plays.

Nate Bell threw for 217 yards and two touchdowns for Eastern Washington (1-2).

Both teams wore helmets featuring indigenous languages. Eastern Washington's decal said “uł pql̓qeyn” that translates “to group of eagles” in the language of the Kalispel Tribe. South Dakota had “Sungmanitu, which is Lakota for ”coyote". It is the first time both teams in a Division I game honored natives.

Their only other matchup was in 2011 when the Coyotes, in their fourth season at the FCS level, defeated the defending national champion and top-ranked Eagles 30-17.

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