YOUNGSTOWN - During Youngstown State's losing streak - also known as the month of October - many critics felt that Youngstown State running back Jamaine Cook wasn't getting the ball enough.
Saturday's performance should put that talk to rest.
The senior running back carried the ball for a season-high 42 times and 203 yards in YSU's 13-10 victory over South Dakota. The 42 carries is the fourth most a running back has ever carried in YSU history.
"I don't even feel like I carried the ball 42 times," Cook said. "I'll take my hat off to (strength and conditioning) coach (Mike) Cochran for getting me into shape to be able to have this type of day."
Cook's career high in terms of carries and yards came in 2010 against Illinois State. In that game, Cook had 43 carries for 213 yards.
While the rushing yards or carries wasn't a career high for Cook on Saturday, the 203 yards he amassed did move him up in the Youngstown State record books.
In the fourth quarter, Cook surpassed the 1,000-yard mark on the season for the third straight year. Also, he climbed to third all-time in career rushing yards. Cook left Stambaugh Stadium on Saturday with 3,815 career yards - surpassing Robby Robson's number of 3,639.
Cook could become second on the list by the time the season ends. He's just 163 yards behind Adrian Brown. YSU's all-time leading rusher is Tamron Smith with 4,866 yards.
ANOTHER RECORD: With his 3-yard pass to Nate Adams in the first quarter, YSU quarterback Kurt Hess tied Tom Zetts' record for the top spot for career touchdown passes. Both Hess and Zetts have 51 career touchdowns.
Hess could break the record as he has two games left in the season.
On another column of the record books, Hess now sits third in career passing yards. With his 133 yards on Saturday, Hess now has 6,302 yards in his career, which passed Jeff Ryan's mark of 6,226.
Also, Hess made his 500th completion on Saturday.
SPECIAL TEAM STRUGGLES: For another week, the YSU special teams had a less than stellar day. This week's blunders resulted in seven points for South Dakota.
In the third quarter, YSU went for the 45-yard field goal, only to have it blocked by South Dakota. Three plays later, the Coyotes had their only touchdown of the day.
Also, Christian Bryan fumbled, but recovered a punt. Bryan was returning punts on Saturday as Andre Stubbs was out with a shoulder injury.
QUICK HITS: Christian Bryan's impressive catch streak continues. The sophomore has had a catch in 20 straight games. ... With Saturday's win, it is the first time the Penguins have won back-to-back Homecoming games since 2001-02. ... With the missed PAT in the first quarter, it snapped David Browns' streak of 34 straight PATs made.
UP NEXT: The Penguins travel to Western Illinois on Saturday for a 2 p.m. game. Western Illinois lost on Saturday to UNI, 40-0.
