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YSU players, coaches wary of SDSU
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
On paper, South Dakota State is tied for the worst overall record in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and ranks last in scoring offense, total offense, rushing offense, rushing defense, pass efficiency and several other categories.
On film, it’s a different story.
“I’ll tell you this — I think they’re the best team in the league we have played,” said YSU coach Eric Wolford, who has already played Southern Illinois, Missouri State, North Dakota State and Western Illinois. “I think it’s very clear on film.
“I don’t care what their record is. I go by what I see on film.”
The Jackrabbits (2-4, 2-2) have won two straight, beating Western Illinois and Southern Illinois. Three of their four losses were to nationally ranked teams, including BCS power Nebraska, which won by a 17-3 margin.
“I think they’re best-coached team we’ve played, I think they have the best players, I think they’re the most physical, strongest and potentially fastest,” said Wolford. “They’ll be a good matchup.”
In some ways, SDSU is the opposite of YSU.
The Jackrabbits start slow — they have yet to score in the first quarter and have been outscored 68-21 in the first half — but they finish fast, outscoring teams 50-35 in the fourth quarter. YSU, meanwhile, is outscoring opponents 141-93 in the first half while being outscored 119-90 in the second half.
In conference games, South Dakota State ranks first in scoring defense (21.8) and is coming off a win over Southern Illinois in which it held the Salukis to just 10 points.
“They’re a tough team,” said YSU senior defensive tackle Torrance Nicholson. “They’re physical and they play hard four quarters.”
Nicholson would know. He broke his foot two years ago in Brookings and missed six games. Defensive end Luke Matelan was lost for the year with a knee injury in that same game.
“They run the ball, they’re big on the O-line and they line up and tell you what they’re gonna do and do it,” Nicholson said. “It’s up to us to be fundamentally sound and be tough, tougher than them.”
Offensively, the Jackrabbits rely on their ground game, particularly senior running back Kyle Minett. The Walter Payton Award nominee went over 100 yards for the fifth consecutive game last Saturday and is second on the school’s career rushing list with 3,757 yards.
He leads the league with 115 yards per game — he averages 136 in conference games — and has scored five TDs.
“Their running back’s on fire right now,” said Wolford. “He breaks tackles and a he’s a good fit for what they’re asking him to do.”
Sophomore quarterback Thomas O’Brien has completed 110 of 199 passes for 1,098 yards, five TDs and nine interceptions. His main target is sophomore Tyrel Cool, who has 35 catches for 410 yards and a TD.
Defensively, the Jackrabbits try to be physical up front and limit big plays. Senior linebacker Derek Domino is averaging 11 tackles per game, while senior DB Cole Brodie has three interceptions, returning one for a TD.
“They’re physical, they play hard, they play in their gaps, they’re disciplined, they tackle, they wrap up and if you don’t tackle and put pads on them, they’re going to break your tackles and run through you,” said Wolford. “We’re gonna have our hands full.”