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Penguins clobbered, will miss playoffs
Another 3-game skid could cost Wolford a 6th season
By Joe Scalzo
FARGO, N.D.
Youngstown State’s football season ended in ugly fashion on Saturday.
The Eric Wolford era might suffer a similar fate.
Three-time defending national champion North Dakota State clobbered the Penguins 38-14 at the Fargodome as YSU finished with a three-game losing streak for the second straight season.
The Penguins (7-5, 4-4 Missouri Valley) will miss the playoffs for the eighth straight year, with the last five coming under Wolford. In each of the last four seasons, YSU has finished one game shy of a postseason berth, prompting talk that the Penguins will look to make a coaching change this offseason.
“I don’t make those decisions,” Wolford said. “That’s the reality of it. All you can do is bust your tail and make sure the kids are disciplined and you’re doing what you need to do to get better and close the gaps on the premiere teams.
“Sometimes that’s easier said that done.”
YSU athletic director Ron Strollo declined to comment on Wolford after the game.
Saturday’s game was never close. Youngstown State wide receiver Jelani Berassa lost a fumble on the game’s third play and the Bison scored four plays later on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Carson Wentz to Zach Vraa.
“You can’t do that against them,” senior WR Christian Bryan said. “We know who we’re playing. They’re the three-time national champions and they’re not going to make mistakes, so you’ve got to play mistake-free football.”
It didn’t happen. Two more Penguins turnovers led to two more first-half touchdowns and YSU went into halftime with a 28-0 deficit while being out-gained 268-37.
Overall, North Dakota State (11-1, 7-1) held a 479-216 advantage in total yards, including a 353-81 edge on the ground. The Bison forced five turnovers.
“All those turnovers early in the game just killed us,” senior safety Donald D’Alesio said. “We couldn’t get off the field, couldn’t find a way.
“I give them credit. They’re the best team we’ve played. I know they’d beat on Illinois any day they played them.”
North Dakota State running back John Crockett rushed 28 times for 168 yards and a touchdown and quarterback Carson Wentz added eight carries for 120 yards and a TD. Wentz also completed 12 of 19 passes for 126 yards and two TDs.
True freshman quarterback Hunter Wells completed 15 of 26 passes for 135 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions for YSU. Junior WR Andrew Williams caught seven passes for 69 yards and a TD and senior TE Nate Adams, who was part of Wolford’s first recruiting class, finished his career with a 1-yard TD reception.
Wolford fell to 18-22 in Missouri Valley games, including a 6-10 record in November. There is one year remaining on his contract, but YSU can buy him out for $150,000, with that amount offset by any salary he makes as a coach elsewhere next season.
Wolford’s predecessor, Jon Heacock, won a share of the conference title in his fifth season, while Jim Tressel went unbeaten in his fifth regular season before falling in the first round of the playoffs.
YSU has made the playoffs just once (2006) since Tressel left for Ohio State after the 2000 season. Tressel is now YSU’s president. He did not make the trip.
“It’s really frustrating when it’s your home and you’re unable to get things done in the manner of what some of your friends and close supporters want it done,” said Wolford, a Brookfield native and Ursuline High graduate. “That’s part of this business. We’re all measured on wins and losses.”