VERMILLION - Senior quarterback Noah Shepard has been named the Great West Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced Sunday. The weekly honor is the first of Shepard's career.

A native of Thornton, Colo., Shepard led South Dakota to a 52-0 rout of William Penn on Thursday in the Coyotes' season opener. He finished the game 15-of-23 for 249 yards and connected with three USD receivers for four touchdowns. Shepard's 53-yard pass to senior wide receiver Dan Skelly in the third quarter allowed Skelly to tie USD's career touchdown receptions mark. The victory also gave the South Dakota program its 500th all-time win.

The Coyotes continue their season when they play No. 4 Northern Iowa at the UNI Dome on Saturday at 3:05 p.m. MDT.