Flagstaff sports: NAU loses following Cookus ejection

[Proud Griz Man]

http://azdailysun.com/sports/local/nau-s-big-sky-title-hopes-take-hit-following-cookus/article_30f27803-23c1-53f2-91e5-3e00fb5e5071.html

Entering Missoula, Montana, as the favorite and in pursuit of a Big Sky Conference title, the No. 18 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks discovered a wild way to severely handicap their chances. With All-American quarterback Case Cookus peeling back on a reverse to block Montana’s James Banks, officials flagged him for a targeting penalty resulting in his ejection. Tasked with leading the offense, true freshman Stone Smartt fell victim to seven sacks as the Grizzlies (6-3, 4-2 Big Sky) held on for a 17-15 victory.

"I've never had that happen before, so I have no experience in dealing with that kind of a scenario," said Lumberjacks head coach Jerome Souers, who hadn't seen a replay of the hit when asked postgame.

Struggling to string together drives, with just two surpassing 50 yards in Cookus’ absence, the Lumberjacks (6-3, 5-1) still found themselves with a chance to tie the game on their final drive. Starting at their own 45-yard line, their second-best field position of the game, the Lumberjacks went 55 yards in 11 plays, culminating in a 2-yard touchdown run by Smartt.

. . . "Our special teams play was not up to standard of what we expect," Souers said. "I thought that gave us a real disadvantage in field position. The punt return they had, a missed field goal, a missed PAT, were all things that can add up in a close ball game."

However, no mistake loomed larger than Cookus’ decision to pull back on a broken trick play. Tossing the ball to the left to Young, Cookus rolled right as Gonzalez received the reverse pitch. Designed for a throw downfield by Gonzalez, the tight end pulled the ball down and ran for a 2-yard gain before being forced out of bounds. The block in question from Cookus came roughly seven yards from the sideline, as Gonzalez pulled up on the play alongside it, with replays appearing to show the quarterback's head or shoulder making contact with the defenders head.

 

[Paytonlives]

I wonder how phenomenal phen would have handled his postgame.

 

[grizpsych]

Head or Shoulder. Nice!

 

[zengriz]

...textbook description of targeting...
...its nice that big sky officials...
...get it right once in a while...

... ...

 

[rocklobster]

...textbook description of targeting...
...its nice that big sky officials...
...get it right once in a while...

... ...

After last week, I’m surprised the brilliant BSC officials didn’t call the targeting on Banks!

 

[daGrizJ]

It was blatant and obvious targeting. And, hoowee, Cookus had a temper tantrum didn't he?

 

[grizatwork]

It was blatant and obvious targeting. And, hoowee, Cookus had a temper tantrum didn't he?

As my mom used to say, "he had a fit and fell in it"

 

[BelierPeaux]

Is there a video of this play anywhere for those of us who haven't seen it?

 

[HookedonGriz]

Is there a video of this play anywhere for those of us who haven't seen it?

Yes there's a thread started with videos

 

[bgbigdog]

I wonder how phenomenal phen would have handled his postgame.

:lol:

 

[fanofzoo]

Is there a video of this play anywhere for those of us who haven't seen it?

Watching the play no big deal, however his whinny boy attitude going off the field was priceless and would love to see that again.