YSU FOOTBALL W. Ky. disdains forward pass

The Hilltoppers would like to throw more but so far haven't needed to.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Western Kentucky football coach Jack Harbaugh goes into every game thinking the Hilltoppers need to throw the football more. But they never do.
Western Kentucky (5-2, 2-1 Gateway), the 10th-ranked team in I-AA, will invade Stambaugh Stadium on Saturday for another crucial conference match-up at 1 p.m.
The Hilltoppers have attempted just 38 passes this season, but for a good reason. They love to run the football and are very good at it.
Second: Western Kentucky ranks second in the Gateway in rushing, averaging just over 281 yards per game.
Youngstown State leads the conference at 285 yards per game.
"We go into every game saying that we need to throw the football more," said Harbaugh. "But we haven't had to. Can we continue like that, I don't think so."
Western Kentucky and YSU were picked 1-2 in the Gateway pre-season poll. This is the Hilltoppers' first season in the Gateway; they were in the Ohio Valley Conference, which at one time included YSU.
"Our defense is playing very well right now, but these next four games [all Gateway games] are all going to be like playoff games and we can't afford to look past any one of them," said Harbaugh.
Good defense: Defensively, Western Kentucky is allowing just 9.1 points and less than 100 yards rushing per game. The Hilltoppers are allowing only 222 total yards per contest.
WKU's two losses came to Western Illinois (17-13) and Wisconsin (24-6). Victories have come against Kentucky State (48-0), Southwest Missouri State (23-7), Elon (24-7), Indiana State (22-9) and No. 11 McNeese State (21-0).
Harbaugh said that Youngstown State will be the Hilltoppers' best opponent so far.
"It's a great challenge for our program to face the premier I-AA team of the '90s with four national championships," Harbaugh said. "We've studied their program, and it's obvious they have an outstanding coaching staff, an excellent scheme and character youngsters that carry out their play.
"This is a typical YSU team, they tackle well on defense and play hard on every down," he added. Their quarterback [Jeff] Ryan is a leader who runs and passes well and isn't afraid to take a hit. He's an excellent competitor and we have the utmost respect for him."
Veterans: The Hilltoppers have over 20 starters returning from last year's team which posted an 11-2 record and lost in the second round of the I-AA playoffs.
WKU has seven running backs who have rushed for over 100 yards this season, led by senior Keith Brooks, who has 553 yards on 105 carries, and senior DeWayne Gallishaw, who's added 446 yards.
The Hilltoppers will still be without their top quarterback Jason Johnson, who has been injured and hasn't played in the last three games. His replacement, senior Donte Plimpleton, has stepped right in and kept the offense going.
Defense tops: The Hilltoppers' defense leads the conference in rushing, passing and total defense.
Sophomore linebacker Erik Dandy leads with 74 tackles, and senior linebacker Sherrod Coates has 13 tackles for losses and five sacks.
Western Kentucky also leads the Gateway and is second in the nation in kickoff return average, led by senior Mel Mitchell, who is averaging 41.6 yards per return and had a 99-yard return for a touchdown last week against McNeese State.
Placekicker Peter Martinez is 8-of-14 in field goals and 17-of-18 in extra points. His 41 points lead the team.
Western Kentucky has won six of the previous 10 games in the series, although the teams haven't met since 1990, when YSU won 17-14 at Stambaugh Stadium.