An FCS quarterback got ejected for targeting (Video)
Have you ever seen a quarterback get ejected from a game for targeting?
Well, thanks to Northern Arizona’s Case Cookus, you have now.
Watch this:
Here is a look at the play that caused NAU QB Case Cookus to be ejected from the game for targeting.
Courtesy @ROOTSPORTS_NW pic.twitter.com/vVmHgn1A3B
— Montana Griz FB (@MontanaGrizFB) November 4, 2017
Trailing 7-3 late in the first quarter, Northern Arizona ran what looked like was supposed to be a reverse pass, but nobody was open. Cookus went out for a pass, but ran back toward the ball to throw a block as No. 23 Wallace Gonzalez ran up the field.
But when Cookus threw the block, he led with his helmet and leveled Montana linebacker James Banks. Even though it was textbook targeting, whoever runs the NAU Twitter account was not too happy about the call.
QB Case Cookus has been ejected from the game due to targeting on a block down field, because football. Stone Smartt is now in at QB.
— NAU Football (@NAU_Football) November 4, 2017
Montana checked in with the NCAA to see if a quarterback had ever been ejected for targeting before, but there was no way to check apparently. From the AP:
It’s not every day that a quarterback is on the wrong end of a targeting penalty. In fact, the NCAA, per Montana sports information, said it had no way to check whether or not it has ever happened.
Cookus completed 4-of-6 passes for 44 yards before his ejection. Stone Smartt came in for the No. 7 Lumberjacks but could not lead the team to a road win. Smartt ran for a touchdown with 50 seconds remaining, but NAU could not convert the two-point conversion to tie the game.
After a failed onside kick, Montana held on for a 17-15 upset win.
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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
