Coyotes lose D-Days game 31-3 to Youngstown State

After losing to Youngstown State on Saturday, USD will attempt to right the ship against Western Illinois.

In the tough offensive game, where the Coyotes struggled to get anything going, quarterback Ryan Saeger said sometimes the best thing to do is just forget about it.

“Just put it behind us, stop thinking about it, stop worrying about it, it is what it is. That’s a good team, top 10 team in the nation, and we’ve got to face four or five more teams like them that are nationally ranked,” Saeger said. “We’ve got to change something and I think it starts with our attitude this week and just come out and get ready for Western Illinois.”

One positive USD can look to build on from the loss was good defensive production. The Coyotes were able to come up big on multiple third downs and intercepted two passes to help spark the team.

Defensive end Andrew Van Ginkel was a big part of the Coyote defense. Van Ginkel recorded three tackles for loss and two sacks.

This game added to Van Ginkel’s already impressive season. He leads all USD defensive players in solo tackles, tackles for loss and sacks, as well as a blocked field goal. Van Ginkel’s recent standout play has helped push him each game.

“Building off of the confidence day in and day out, really helps boost me in every way, shape and form to perform my best, knowing that I can do it,” Van Ginkel said.

Unable to find good field position on most drives, the Coyotes know they must work harder to not put the opposing team in a good spot.

“Even when you don’t score on an offensive possession, you can’t go three and out or six and out, you have got to drive the field so you can put them at a long down and distance,” assistant head coach Wesley Beschorner said.

Despite the rough outcome of the homecoming game, USD fought until the very end and that is something the team is valuing immensely in preparation for Western Illinois when they go head-to-head with them in Macomb, Ill., on Saturday at 3 p.m.

“Our guys fought until the very last second which is really promising,” Beschorner said. “If we continue to fight like that we’re going to keep ourselves in games and win games at the end.”

Game recap

A crowd of 10,000-plus witnessed the fall of USD to Bo Pelini’s Youngstown State University team 31-3.

For head coach Joe Glenn, the loss was because his offense couldn’t get going throughout the game.

“We couldn’t run. We couldn’t throw it. I don’t know what to tell you,” he said.

The Coyotes finished the game with 143 rushing yards and 119 passing yards, but they could not get the yards when they needed them. Except for two interceptions in Youngstown territory, USD never started a drive on the other side of their own 41. Faced with a long field every drive, the Coyotes were unable to produce scoring plays.

“We just weren’t helping ourselves out really, a lot of third-and-long situations,” junior quarterback Ryan Saeger said.

The Coyotes’ bright spot was their defense with junior safety Tyson Graham and senior linebacker Ryan Hillier each coming up big interceptions. USD was able to stifle a strong YSU running game and held them to 144 yards.

“Those backs rushed for 315 on us a year ago,” Glenn said. “And I don’t think they had anywhere near that.”

Coming into conference play the Coyotes were expecting a physical game, and they got it. There were multiple penalties and a few unsportsmanlike conduct calls. Coyote receivers had a tough time finding any separation to make plays.

“That’s just Missouri Valley Football, I think. There’s a lot of tugging going on and their corners did a good job of getting up in their face and not letting them get a clean release,” Saeger said.

The rough play was followed by some tough talking and the Coyotes did not take it well.

“It’s kind of vogue in football right now people get up and get in your face, it’s kind of a street ball and we didn’t handle it, we didn’t handle it at all,” Glenn said.

From the Youngstown side, a win is appreciated, but head coach Bo Pelini believes his team is capable of much more.

“We didn’t play well offensively today and that was disappointing. We had no rhythm and we didn’t play well,” he said. “We’re capable of a lot more on that side of the football.”

Pelini’s visit was the talk of the town and fans were out in full force. Many printed signs created by a parody Twitter account based off Pelini known as Faux Pelini. Returning to the Midwest after coaching with Nebraska, Pelini was not fazed or interested in the hecklers.

“I could care less,” he said.

As USD progresses into conference play, they know it’s going to be a tough fight to the end.

“It’s the Missouri Valley and anything is bound to happen,” Graham said.