YOUNGSTOWN — A week ago, the narrative surrounding the 11th-ranked Youngstown State football team consisted of its inability to run the ball or stop the run in its two losses this season.
The Penguins answered the call on Saturday, setting the tone on the ground early, while rushing for 343 yards in a 47-28 victory over No. 8 South Dakota at Stambaugh Stadium.
“We know we have big, physical offensive linemen, we have running backs and we have Beau [Brungard]. We know what Beau can do,” YSU head coach Doug Phillips said. “To see Jaden [Gilbert] and Antuan [Gardner] hit it, then getting LJ [Lynn Wyche-El] to the perimeter and slicing the defense from the perimeter — getting your outside game, your inside game working — you have to do that, and we gotta continue to emphasize it.
“We gotta continue to get better at running the football. Today was a good indicator. We knew we had to run the football to win a hard-fought Missouri Valley Football Conference game at home. You say must-win, I say you gotta go 1-0 every week. But proud our young men could turn the page and show up and play great Youngstown State football today.”
YSU has won the coin toss in all five of its games this season. The first four times, it elected to defer to the second half and went on defense to begin the game. But each time, the opposing team scored points on its opening drive.
This time, the Penguins wanted the ball, hoping to avoid falling behind early.
On its opening drive, YSU ran seven plays — all runs — marching 75 yards down the field to score on a 10-yard touchdown run by Wyche-El.
“We were in the locker room and Coach Doug told us that we were getting the ball no matter what,” junior YSU linebacker Graydon Rollins said. “Seeing that out of your head coach and your leader really drives you and brings a bunch of energy into the locker room. We know we’re going to go out there and play our best football. Our offense executed beautifully. We scored our touchdown, we got our lead early and we never lost it from there on out.”
From there, the Penguins were seemingly hellbent on imposing the run game against the Coyotes’ defense.
YSU averaged 7.1 yards per carry, as Brungard led the Penguins with 170 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries. Gilbert had 65 yards on 11 carries, while Gardner had 47 yards and Wyche-El finished with 62 yards and two touchdowns.
“That was a big emphasis for us all week,” fifth-year YSU left tackle Desmeal Leigh said. “Really, just being able to establish the run, and when you can establish the run, it really changes the way the defense will play.”
With YSU leading 23-14 at halftime, South Dakota scored on its opening drive of the second half to make it a two-point game.
But then, the Penguins’ defense started to make plays, forcing three turnovers, as YSU scored 24 straight points from there.
With South Dakota averaging 7.75 yards per play — third most in the FCS — redshirt-freshman quarterback Austyn Modrzewski certainly hasn’t looked his age through the Coyotes’ first four games.
But the Penguins flustered him enough into three uncharacteristic mistakes. First, Darvens Tunis intercepted Modrzewski on an overthrown ball. Then, Cam Smith followed that up by jumping a route to pick off Modrzewski again.
The third and final takeaway came on a strip-sack by Jordan Pritchard-Sewell. Those three takeaways resulted in 17 points for YSU, and the Penguins’ offense added a 94-yard touchdown drive into the scoring spree.
“Going into this game, we knew he was a very talented quarterback,” said Rollins, who finished with a career-high 17 tackles in the absence of fellow starting linebacker Carston Marshall. “He has a great arm. He has the ability to run the ball when he needs to. So we just needed to try our best to limit him in every situation that we could.
“But at the same time, we did mention throughout the week that he is a young quarterback, that he’ll make mistakes when pressure is shown in his face, even when not. So when it’s our opportunity, we just have to take advantage.”
The win gives YSU a much-needed top-10 victory for its playoff resume after they missed out on an opportunity at South Dakota State last week. However, the schedule doesn’t let up, as the Penguins will be on the road the next two weeks at No. 24 Southern Illinois and Indiana State.
“We knew we had to get one now. You have to win at home. You gotta win in the Ice Castle against MVFC teams,” Phillips said. “We go on the road now for two weeks, and if you really want to be a good team, you gotta win road games.”
Hence then, the article about ysu runs all over no 8 south dakota in 47 28 victory was published today ( ) and is available on TribToday ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( YSU runs all over No. 8 South Dakota in 47-28 victory )
Also on site :
- An Oncologist Says Eating This 1 Breakfast Food Every Day Is a ‘Powerhouse’ for Cancer Prevention (Hint: It’s Not Eggs)
- Kate Upton’s Husband Justin Verlander Gets Emotional On-Field Surprise From Daughter, 7, at Last Game
- 1986 Outback Comedy ‘Crocodile Dundee,’ Starring a TV Comic Nobody in America Knew, Ended Up With an Oscar Nomination