Yotes Fall Short on the Road

by Nick Lenz, Sports Anchor/Reporter
November 03, 2012 6:52 PM


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio. -- Youngstown State’s defense held off a late South Dakota charge to preserve a 13-10 win Saturday at Stambaugh Stadium. The Penguins (5-4, 2-4 MVFC) won for the first time in five tries while the Coyotes (1-8, 0-6) lost their seventh in a row.

The Penguins scored touchdowns on the first possession of both halves. Nate Adams caught a 3-yard touchdown from Kurt Hess for the game’s first points (the extra point was missed). Jamaine Cook capped a 9-play, 75-yard drive with a 1-yard plunge early in the third quarter that made it 13-0.

Cook carried a career-high 42 times for 203 yards. His best carry was a 28-yard break to the outside just prior to his 1-yard score. Cook’s success controlling the clock left the Coyotes with three offensive possessions in the second half.

South Dakota cashed its first possession of the second half with a 34-yard field goal by Kevin Robb that made it 13-3. Coyote safety Aaron Swift blocked David Brown’s 45-yard field goal attempt on the ensuing possession. Josh Vander Maten’s 10-yard run, a 15-yard Youngstown personal foul and a career-best, 22-yard touchdown scamper by Jasper Sanders cut the lead to 13-10 with 10:13 remaining.

The Coyotes’ forced a Penguin punt and South Dakota’s final possession began from its own 20 with 6:09 left. South Dakota converted two first downs to reach its 45, but was sacked on 4th-and-11 with 1:16 remaining that effectively ended the game.

Youngstown State had allowed averages of 40 points and 374 yards in conference play before holding South Dakota to 10 points and 206 yards. The Coyotes had no points and 88 yards of total offense on six first-half possessions.

Sanders finished with 47 yards rushing on eight carries. Vander Maten led South Dakota with 68 yards rushing, but was 9-of-17 for 85 yards passing against the Missouri Valley’s worst pass defense.

South Dakota linebacker Tyler Starr was credited with a career-high 18 tackles, equaling the tally of former Coyote Adam Broders a season ago against Cal Poly. Swift added nine tackles.