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YSU erases bad memories and a seven-game conference losing skid
Youngstown State vs. Illinois State
Gallery
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
Like ghosts in the attic, the doubts became to creep across Stambaugh Stadium late in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game against Illinois State.
You couldn’t see them, but you could feel them.
After a dominating start, Youngstown State’s offense had stumbled over the game’s final quarter, converting one first down in four possessions to let the Redbirds hang around and plant some unpleasant thoughts in the minds of more than 18,500 people in the stands.
And so, with 2:13 left and YSU facing a crucial third down deep in its own territory, Penguins coach Eric Wolford decided it was no time to be timid.
With Illinois State thinking run and Penguin sophomore Jelani Berassa split wide to the right in single coverage, YSU quarterback Kurt Hess lobbed a ball deep down the sideline, hitting Berassa in stride over his shoulder.
Berassa caught it for a 35-yard gain, the crowd erupted and, just like that, a seven-game Missouri Valley Football Conference losing streak was excised.
Or, should we say, exorcised.
“Some may say it was a gutsy call but it was a call I like,” Hess said. “We decided, ‘Hey, let’s take a shot and put the ball out there’ and Jelani made a great catch.
“It was a big-time play to finish the game right there.”
Three running plays put the finishing touches on the 34-27 victory that erased memories of last year’s heartbreaking 41-39 loss. And while the game may have finished on offense, the win was due in large part to YSU’s defense.
No, really.
A year after crumbling in the fourth quarter of nearly every conference game, the Penguin defense shut down the league’s top passing attack, forcing punts on four of the Redbirds’ final five possessions.
“Probably the most encouraging thing for me was the defense was able to step up and basically secure the game for us on multiple occasions,” Wolford said. “That’s a young group of guys that are learning and growing and it’s encouraging for the future.
“We’re never going to do the things we expect to do around here without playing defense.”
Hess had a career day, outdueling the league’s top passer, Matt Brown, by completing 21 of 29 passes for career-highs in yards (293) and touchdowns (four, which tied the school record). He also ran for 1-yard touchdown.
“We talked about it on the sideline and we talked about it before the game that we had a chance to finish,” Hess said. “We came out here today and finished.”
Jamaine Cook added 122 yards on 30 carries against a run defense that had given up just 15 yards — total — through the first two weeks.
More impressive, the Penguin defense held an Illinois State offense that was averaging 394 yards passing to just 155.
“That’s the same group that had 390 yards [actually 396] against us last year,” Wolford said. “They’ve got as good an offense [as any team in the league].”
YSU (2-1, 1-0) didn’t exactly shut the Redbirds (1-2, 0-1) down — Brown did throw for three TDs and RB Ashton Leggett ground out 12 yards with a TD — but with the Penguins scoring on their first five possessions, they merely needed to slow them down.
It took three quarters, but they did.
“We’re just trying to win one game a week,” said senior DE Daniel Stewart. “I felt it was a good win and I felt happy but we haven’t done what we came here to accomplish.”
Injury update: Youngstown State lost freshman WR Andre Stubbs on the opening kickoff with an injury to his AC joint, the joint at the top of the shoulder. “It could be for the year,” YSU coach Eric Wolford said. “Obviously we won’t know until [later].” Also, sophomore CB Donald D’Alesio missed much of the game with a shoulder injury. “He’s had a shoulder issue [for awhile] so he’s always day to day,” Wolford said. True freshman Jimmy May Jr. (Warren Harding) replaced D’Alesio and played well. “He did some decent things for a freshman,” Wolford said. “He’s got a chance to be special. He can run and he needs to continue to get more physical, which he will. Some of that stuff comes with confidence. Sometimes it takes 1,000 reps. Unfortunately we haven’t had the chance to get him 1,000 reps yet but we’re trying.”
Big crowd: YSU had an announced crowd of 18,543 — the biggest crowd since the Penguins drew 18,978 against Liberty in 2008. “We needed a shot in the arm and the community showed up in force,” Wolford said. “It was loud on third down. You could hear them and that’s a difference in the ballgame. The community was behind us and we appreciate them. This win was for them.”
This and that: YSU safety Josh Garner had 11 tackles and Obinna Ekweremuba had 1.5 tackles for loss, both game-highs. ... Penguin QB Kurt Hess was sacked for the first time this season. ... After going more than a game and a half without an attempt, YSU punter Nick Liste (Niles) averaged 40 yards on four second-half kicks, with three inside the 20. “He’s a weapon, no question,” Wolford said of Liste. ... WR Andre Barboza set career highs in catches (three), yards (74) and TDs (two) and Kevin Watts had career-highs in catches (five) and yards (68).