43
Toughest stretch of season awaits YSU
By Joe Scalzo
NORMAL, ILL.
Over the first five weeks, Youngstown State has proved to be one of the Missouri Valley’s better teams.
Starting today, the Penguins will find out if they’re the best.
The 13th-ranked Penguins (7-2, 4-1 MVFC) will try to snap a three-game losing streak at Hancock Stadium when they play at Illinois State (7-1, 4-1). The Redbirds are tied with YSU for second in the conference standings.
“Our confidence is really high right now,” said senior wide receiver Jelani Berassa, whose team has won three straight. “We’ve been executing the past couple games and we’ve been in some tight ballgames. We’ve been able to withstand adversity and come out with victories, so we’re feeling pretty good about ourselves.”
Today’s game is the beginning of a brutal three-game stretch against opponents that are a combined 22-4. The Penguins play their home finale next weekend against 19th-ranked Indiana State (6-3, 3-2) and finish on the road against three-time national champion North Dakota State (9-0, 5-0), which has won an FCS-record 33 straight games.
The Penguins rolled past Illinois State 59-21 in last year’s game at Stambaugh Stadium, but the Redbirds are a different team at home, where they’ve won 10 straight. YSU’s last two road losses against ISU have been particularly painful, blowing a 28-7 halftime lead in 2012 and losing on a last-second 40-yard TD in 2010.
“Yeah, we’ve had bad memories there and it’s something that’s in the past,” said senior safety Donald D’Alesio, who played in both games. “We kind of maybe use that to fuel us a little bit, but we don’t think about the past anymore. It’s a new year.”
Dangerous offense
Led by first-year offensive coordinator Kurt Beathard, who coached YSU’s wide receivers last year, the Redbirds are averaging a league-best 37.8 points per game. They also average 429.8 yards per game, which is third behind YSU (447.3) and North Dakota State (447.0).
Running back Marshaun Coprich has rushed for 1,158 yards and 15 TDs and has surpassed 100 yards for eight straight games.
Quarterback Tre Roberson, an Indiana University transfer, has completed just 53.5 percent of his passes but he’s a dynamic run/pass threat, throwing for 1,475 yards and 15 TDs and running for 430 yards.
YSU coach Eric Wolford said Roberson is similar to Missouri State quarterback Kierra Harris, but he’s faster and “has just a better overall group around him.”
Defensively, the Redbirds are giving up just 16.5 points (second-best in the league to NDSU) and 302.6 yards per game (third-best). Even in last week’s 42-28 loss at UNI, Illinois State’s defense gave up just 235 yards but were victimized by three turnovers (including an interception return for a touchdown), a blocked punt for a touchdown and a 98-yard kickoff return.
The Redbirds have 51 tackles for loss and 26 sacks.
“Their front is really active,” Wolford said. “And they’re really sound in what they do defensively.”
YSU has plenty of talent of its own, including sophomore running back Martin Ruiz (who rushed for a season-best 185 yards in last week’s win over South Dakota and has more than 1,000 yards for the season) and sophomore defensive end Derek Rivers (who tied a school record with four sacks last week and has 12 this season, third-highest in school history).
Looking ahead
Today’s winner will all but clinch a playoff berth — look for the MVFC to get at least four teams in the postseason, double last year’s total — while the loser is still very much in the mix.
Considering YSU’s remaining two games, it’s best not to risk it. Like last year, a three-game losing streak to end the season would be fatal.
“I think last year we might have been looking into the future,” senior tight end Nate Adams said. “I know I say this [every week], but we’ve got to focus on one game at a time and take care of this weekend.”