Sports
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sports editor Matt Sheehan, sports@statenews.com Phone (517) 432-3070 Fax (517) 432-3075
football
Read online | statenews.com
field hockey faces a big next test
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unior back Jenni Smith, who was honored as Co-Defensive Player of the Week Tuesday, was a key member of a stifling field hockey defense last weekend that held Michigan to two points and Ball State to zero. However, her accomplishment might have more to do with last weekend’s offensive performance. Smith scored a team-high two goals in the 3-2 double-overtime win over Michigan last Friday. — Omari Sankofa, The State News
men’s soccer
Quick and easy: MSU bests Oakland, 3-0 From left, senior defender Kevin Cope, junior forward Tim Kreutz, junior forward Adam Montague and junior defender Ryan Keener celebrate after a goal is scored by sophomore midfielder Jay Chapman during the game against Oakland Wednesday at DeMartin Soccer Stadium at Old College Field. MSU won, 3-0. Danyelle Morrow/The State News
statenews.com For a recap of MSU’s victory over Oakland, visit statenews.com.
Dantonio: cook could be a ‘100-yard rusher’ By Dillon Davis
Sophomore quarterback Connor Cook throws the ball during the game against Indiana Saturday. The Spartans defeated the Hoosiers, 42-28.
ddavis@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
The moment he uttered the remark, it would have been easy to see it as a slip of the tongue. And realistically, how else could it be interpreted? Sophomore quarterback Connor Cook, a 100-yard rusher? Since slotting the Hinckley, Ohio, native into the starting quarterback role, head coach Mark Dantonio consistently has praised Cook’s speed and scrambling ability, even taking it a step further this week by saying Cook has the ability to rush for 100 yards in a game after Saturday’s win against Indiana and again Tuesday at his weekly press conference. “Connor can create and become a 100‑yard rusher, much like some other quarterbacks, whether it’s running for 30 or 40 yards or scrambling three times for 20 or something of that nature as it naturally occurs,” Dantonio told reporters Tuesday. “I don’t think we’re going to run him 18 times a game … I do think there is a physicality with him, with his size and his speed, that when he does understand what he’s got, he’ll use it more effectively.” It was an interesting comment coming from Dantonio, who has not had a quarterback rush for 100 yards during his entire tenure at MSU. Drew Stanton was the last Spartan quarterback to top the century mark on the ground — a feat he accomplished three times during his intercollegiate career,
Seconds it took for the men’s soccer team to score the first goal in a 3-0 win over Oakland.
Julia Nagy/The State News
with the last such occurrence coming against Pittsburgh in September 2006. Since Stanton’s departure, most of the starting quarterbacks who have succeeded him — most notably, Brian Hoyer, Kirk Cousins and Andrew Maxwell — have been tabbed as “pocket passers,” known for their ability to create plays in the air while letting running backs get the carries. But after seeing Cook throw for 200 yards in three of the past four games, while completing nearly 58 percent of his passes this season, it appears there’s a facet of Cook’s game that remains unexplored. Known for running the ball as well as passing at Walsh
Jesuit High School, Cook said he understands Dantonio’s comment but is going to take what the defense gives him, only looking to scramble when the time calls for it. “When they call the running plays for me, I’m going to do my best to get as many yards as I can,” Cook said. “Maybe he’s probably thinking I can be a 100-yard rusher when the play breaks down and if I can scramble and keep my eyes downfield and get yards on a passing play.” T he prevalence of dualthreat quarterbacks has been growing in college football with names that have revolutionized the position in the past, such as Nebraska’s Tom-
mie Frazier, Virginia Tech’s Michael Vick, Florida’s Tim Tebow and, more recently, Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel. While it’s unclear if Cook will rank among these other quarterbacks when his career ends, the prospect of having a dual-threat option to lean on is a breath of fresh air for the Spartans. Remembering when Cook first joined the program in 2011, junior running back Jeremy Langford said the team saw potential for success.
More online … To read more about Connor Cook’s ability as a QB, visit statenews.com
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