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Coyotes’ connection pays off
By Brian Dzenis
VERMILLION, S.D.
Some of it is scheme, some of it was improv. Whatever it was, South Dakota’s Chris Streveler and receiver Shamar Jackson, carved up Youngstown State on Saturday during a 31-28 win Saturday.
Jackson accounted for 229 of Streveler’s 360 passing yards. Coyotes coach Bob Nielson said the plan was in place to pick apart YSU.
“With what they do coverage wise, they bracket a lot of receivers and then sometimes you get man-to-man,” Nielson said. “Your inside guys have to be guys that can get open and create space based on their coverage.”
On Jackson’s lone touchdown, a 71-yard reception, that actually didn’t go according to script.
“We caught them in a blitz and [Jackson] was supposed to run a different route and he just sight-adjusted the route,” Nielson said. “The pressure came and Chris made the same read and it turned out into a 71-yard touchdown play.”
TARGETING?
South Dakota defensive end Darin Greenfield and linebacker Alex Coker were both flagged for targeting on Saturday, but both calls were reversed. Greenfield appeared to go for a headshot against YSU quarterback Nathan Mays and as the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s leader in tackles for loss, his ejection could have been a boon for the Penguins. Mays was noncommittal on the calls.
“I’m not going to say one way or another. Personally I felt we were going to get [the Greenfield call],” Mays said. “When I got hit, I felt some contact to my head, but I didn’t watch the replay, so I can’t say it was one way or other.”
NOT GETTING ANY EASIER
Next week, the Penguins have another top-10 challenge in No. 2 North Dakota State coming to visit Stambaugh Stadium. The Bison are 5-0 after pasting Indiana State, 52-0, on Saturday.
“There’s so much more out there for us and everything is still in front of us,” running back Tevin McCaster said. “We’re 1-1 in the conference and we’re blessed to come out here and keep fighting.”