ST. LOUIS — Former Sheldon Orab linebacker, now USD defensive end Darin Greenfield was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference defensive player of the week on Sunday. Coyote kicker Ryan Weese was named Special Teams Player of the Week by the Conference office Sunday as well.
Greenfield’s defensive efforts helped the Coyotes earn a 31-28 Dakota Days victory over No. 3 Youngstown State on Saturday inside the DakotaDome. It was South Dakota’s third-straight win against a top-20 team, moving the Coyotes to 5-0 for the first time since 2005.
Greenfield, a sophomore from Sheldon had seven tackles including six solo tackles, two sacks and another tackle-for-loss in leading the Coyote defense over the Penguins. Both sacks led to Youngstown State punts. Greenfield and the Coyotes held YSU to 188 yards rushing, 100 beneath its season average, and 3.8 yards per carry. Greenfield leads the FCS with 11.5 tackles-for-loss and ranks seventh nationally with 5.0 sacks.
Weese a senior hailing from Olathe, Kansas, drilled a 29-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining to give the Coyotes a 31-28 edge over Youngstown State. It was the first game-winning kick of his collegiate career. Weese also made good on four extra points.
The undefeated Coyotes host Indiana State at 2 p.m. Saturday inside the DakotaDome in Vermillion.