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Win over SIU saves season, lifts confidence
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
YSU senior cornerback Josh Lee called Saturday’s win over Southern Illinois a “real good statement.” He said it was a “major turning point.” Said it gave the team a “sigh of relief” and “boosted everyone’s confidence.”
And that was all in a three-minute interview.
Two days after the biggest win of the season (so far), no one was ready to stop talking about it.
“It was a good win, something we needed,” said junior guard Lamar Mady, the team’s offensive lineman of the week. “The pressure was on us and we had our back against the wall.
“I think this is going to help us get some more wins along the way.”
Trailing 17-7 at halftime, YSU got its first road win — and its first October win — under Eric Wolford by outscoring the Salukis 28-6 in the second half.
“When you look at the scoreboard [at halftime], you say you’re getting beat. But we really didn’t feel like we were getting beat,” Wolford said. “We felt like we had left two touchdowns on the board there [by] turning the ball over.”
The Penguins have played better in the second half this season, particularly defensively. Of the 163 points they’ve surrendered this season, just 58 (36 percent) have come after halftime.
“When you look at how we’re matching up physically at the line of scrimmage compared to a year ago, I think we’ve closed the gap,” Wolford said. “I think that’s showing up in the second half.”
Youngstown State wasn’t exactly dominant defensively against Southern Illinois, but it did show growth. The Penguins held the Salukis to 248 yards — the lowest total in a Missouri Valley game since a win over Indiana State Sept. 26, 2009 — and shut them out in the fourth quarter.
In eight second-half possessions, the Salukis had just 106 yards. They also finished with 64 rushing yards for the game, the lowest total against a YSU defense since Lock Haven had 50 in 2007.
In 12 league games under Wolford, YSU has only held three opponents under 30 points: Southern Illinois twice and Illinois State. The Penguins won all three.
That’s a far cry from some of the championship defenses of the 1990s — or even the 2009 team, which held nine of its 11 opponents under 30 points — but with YSU’s offense averaging 35.8 points per game, the Penguin defense doesn’t have to be dominant, just better.
On Saturday, it was.
“Last week was obviously a good win for us and the program,” said Wolford. “Hopefully this is a step forward in the right direction as far as where we want to go for the future of our program.
“But like always, we have a 24-hour rule and then we move on.”
Notebook
Senior TE David Rogers will likely miss Saturday’s game with a sprained left foot. “He probably could play,” Wolford said. “It’s nothing significant. Nothing broke.” Sophomore Carson Sharbaugh will start in Rogers’ place. ... Sophomore RB Jordan Thompson (shoulder) will also likely sit out but should return against Western Illinois on Oct. 29. Sophomore Adaris Bellamy is No. 2 on the depth chart.