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11/18/2006: "Rough Riders pull out OT win in front of NFL coach"
Rough Riders pull out OT win in front of NFL coach
By Rick Solem | Winona Daily News
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Even NFL coaches are taking in Winona/La Crosse Rough Riders football games these days.
NFL training camp starts this Friday, and football will consume the next seven months of his life.
Regardless, Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski was on hand Saturday at Maxwell Field to see the Rough Riders battle the Minnesota Maulers to a 27-21 overtime win — the first win over the Maulers for the Rough Riders in four tries.
Jeff Jagodzinski’s brother Gary, 41, was refereeing the game. The La Crosse native has been doing so for eight years.
“He said to come down and take in a football game,” Jeff Jagodzinski, 42, said. “We just enjoy being around the ball. Our dad (was a referee) for 30 years.”
Jeff Jagodzinski, a Milwaukee native, played football for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater from 1981-85.
“I played fullback,” Jeff Jagodzinski said. “But I was more of a guard with a running back’s number.”
This season will be Jeff Jagodzinski’s sixth with the Packers, but first since the 2003-04 season.
He was with the Atlanta Falcons the past two seasons.
In the game, Rough Riders’ running back Keantay Jackson scored the winning touchdown from five yards out in overtime.
He also scored the game-tying touchdown with 3:37 left from three yards out — his first carry after sitting for a quarter with a cramp.
Big plays gave the Rough Riders an early 14-0 lead.
David Dechant hit Donte Pettis for a 38-yard score. Pettis can thank Deejay Spencer for the opening with a great block.
Aaron Woelfel caught the next score from Dechant on a 14-yard fade to the corner. The play was set up by a Dechant-Woelfel 50-yard tight end screen.
The game-tying score from Jackson was set up by a 37-yard reverse pass from Jed Neal to Woelfel.
Neal was almost tackled trying to throw in the backfield, pulled the ball back in and then fired a laser to Woelfel to the 3-yard line.