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Panthers defense strong challenge for YSU
By Joe Scalzo
Northern Iowa is giving up just 15 points per game, which ranks No. 4 in the nation.
That number drops to a league-best 12.8 in Missouri Valley Conference games.
That number drops to 9.6 in home games.
Youngstown State, meanwhile, is averaging 40 points per game (second-best in the nation), including 37.6 in league contests (best in the MVFC).8
In physics — and pro wrestling — they refer to this as an irresistible force meeting an immovable object.
“You see a football team that’s playing with a lot of confidence, specifically about their defense,” YSU coach Eric Wolford said. “We’re going to have our hands full.”
Although there is talent all over UNI’s defense, two players stick out. Senior tackle Ben Boothby (111/2 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks) and the nation’s second-leading tackler in senior linebacker L.J. Fort (106 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles).
Offensively, everything runs through dynamic senior quarterback Tirrell Rennie, who is questionable for Saturday’s game after injurying his ankle late in last week’s loss to North Dakota State.
UNI coach Mark Farley was tight-lipped about Rennie in Wednesday’s media teleconference, saying “he’s questionable right now”; “he’s questionable at this time”; and “he’s still questionable.”
When asked if he practiced on Tuesday, Farley said, “He’s with us right now.” (Whether that means he practiced is, of course, questionable.)
David Johnson (598 rushing yards) and Rennie (553 yards) leading the ground game and Johnson (24 catches, 353 yards) is also the leading receiver.
UNI’s offensive line is enormous, averaging 308 pounds across the front. All five are at least 6-foot-5, and three are 6-7 or taller.
Heck, even the tight end, Darion Howard, is 6-4.
“They’re definitely the biggest line, next to probably North Dakota State, in the conference,” Wolford said. “It looks like they’re eating protein and lifting weights and doing all the things you normally do in a weight program and doing what need to do in offseason.
“They will be a test for us up front.”
YSU senior DT Aronde Stanton (6-2, 290) said the Panthers’ linemen are good, but he isn’t ready to give them the advantage.
“We played Michigan State,” he said. “They’re the same size. Size isn’t everything. Of course they’re good, they’re scholarship [players] just like me and all the other defensive linemen.
“It’s just going to come down to who’s more physical on the line. Nine times out of 10, that’s who’s going to win the game.”
Add in kicker Tyler Sievertsen, who is 12 of 13 on field goals with a 48-yarder, and it’s easy to see why it’s so hard to find UNI’s weaknesses.
“I know they have one [MVFC] loss but they’re still the champs until deemed otherwise,” Wolford said. “It’s going to be a challenge.”
UNI has won 10 straight against the Penguins, including a come-from-behind 34-30 win last year at Stambaugh Stadium. Wolford and his players have tried to downplay the significance of this week’s contest — they’ve repeated the “We’re just trying to go 1-0 every week” mantra — but even YSU quarterback Kurt “Stay on message” Hess admitted it’s not just another game.
“Part of it comes from the fact that we haven’t beaten them in awhile,” Hess said. “We definitely want it more and we definitely will be more focused and prepare this week but this is definitely one game that’s going to take us to the next step to where we want to go.”