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No overlooking MSU
Photo
Youngstown State QB Kurt Hess (12) hands the ball to Jamaine Cook (35) during last Saturday’s win 27-24 win over North Dakota State University at the Fargodome in Fargo, N.D. On Saturday, the Penguins face Missouri State, which is 1-9 and a team that YSU will not be taking lightly says Hess.
The Youngstown State Penguins expect a strong challenge despite the Bears’ 1-9 record
By Joe Scalzo
The Missouri State football team boasts the second-winningest coach in Missouri Valley Football Conference history in Terry Allen, who has won three straight games against Youngstown State — all by double digits.
The Bears are one of just two MVFC teams to beat the Penguins by more than a touchdown in Eric Wolford’s two-year tenure, winning 35-25 last season.
They’ve played the league’s toughest schedule and, after a slow start they’ve ... HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? ARE YOU MOVING ON TO A DIFFERENT STORY? HEY, COME BACK!
OK, so the first two paragraphs read a little like a profile about Herman Cain that focuses solely on his pizza-making skills.
But as Penguins fans spend this week focusing on playoff scenarios — specifically, Illinois State’s chances of upsetting Northern Iowa, thus dealing a harsh blow to YSU’s postseason odds — it’s easy to overlook a 1-9 Missouri State team.
Don’t, says Penguins QB Kurt Hess.
“They’re no easy team to beat,” said Hess, who had one of the worst games of his career last season in Springfield. “They’re actually very similar to what we were last year, coming out in every game and battling and just coming up short.
“Just because they’ve only won one game doesn’t mean they’re awful.”
Missouri State started the season with four road games, including two to BCS teams: Arkansas and Oregon.
The Bears won their first game three weeks ago, knocking off Western Illinois, and have been competitive the past two weeks in losses to South Dakota State (43-36, 2OT) and Indiana State (28-20) — two teams that also beat YSU.
Like the Penguins, MSU runs a spread offense. Unlike the Penguins, the Bears have struggled to score points, averaging just 18.4 points per game (second-worst in the league) while giving up a league-worst 37.4 points per game.
Running back Chris Douglas, who ran for 1,051 yards and 11 TDs last season, has just 480 yards and two touchdowns this year as the offense has lost some of its potency after the graduation of quarterback Cody Kirby.
Sophomore Trevor Wooden has been solid under center, though, while wide receiver Jermaine Saffold is among the league leaders with 39 catches for 844 yards and eight touchdowns.
Defensively, the Bears run a 3-4 and often move a safety into the box to stop the run. Still, MSU is giving up 212 yards on the ground per game — second-worst in the league — owing to the fact that opposing teams are often leading in the second half.
Allen, who has 55 career MVFC wins in 13 seasons at Northern Iowa and Missouri State, is 4-3 against the Penguins, splitting two games when was at UNI from 1989-96 and winning three out of five at MSU.
Still, YSU leads the all-time series against the Bears 11-4 and should make it 12 against on Saturday, provided the Penguins don’t overlook them.
Won’t happen, said YSU coach Eric Wolford.
“Missouri State has had our number here recently, so they’ll come in here confident,” said Wolford. “One thing you know with Coach Allen’s football teams is they’ll come ready to play.”
FEESER
YSU picked up its sixth verbal commitment of the season — and third since Saturday’s win over North Dakota State — when Piqua tight end Jordan Feeser committed on Wednesday.
Feeser (6-5, 239) joins Walsh Jesuit QB Nick Wargo, Hickory OL/DL Matt Bell, Lexington S Tyler Jackman, Avon Lake OG Mac Wightman and Hudson OT Quaison Osborne (6-4, 308).