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NDSU’s trench warfare awaits Pelini’s Penguins
MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
By steve wilaj
youngstown
There’s no debate.
After watching film on No. 2 North Dakota State for a couple days, Youngstown State right guard Matt Bell came to this conclusion.
“[NDSU’s] defense is one of the best in the nation,” he said at Tuesday’s news conference. “Hands down.”
The numbers certainly back that claim, as the Bison rank second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in total defense. Then, the junior got a little more specific.
“They have two very veteran defensive tackles that I can’t wait to play against — they’re very good,” Bell said. “It’ll be a good matchup to have.”
Actually, how YSU’s offensive and defensive linemen fare in Saturday’s crucial showdown with four-time defending FCS champion NDSU (7-2, 5-1) may be the game’s deciding factor.
Strong in the trenches, the Bison rank first in the MVFC in both rush defense and rush offense. In turn, Penguins coach Bo Pelini knows that if his linemen can’t hold their ground, YSU (5-4, 3-3) will be in trouble.
“They’re gonna be a physical football team,” Pelini said. “They’re gonna run their offense a certain way and [defensively] we’re gonna have to be in the right spots and play disciplined. Then on offense, we need to play more physical than we have.”
That message goes to YSU’s most recent offensive line group — tackles Dylan Colucci and Justin Spencer, guards Gavin Wiggins and Bell and center Charles Zaborsky — which has only played together for the past two weeks.
They’ll face a Bison defensive line that has remained consistent all season, is led by senior tackle Brian Schaetz and surrenders a conference-low 100.2 rushing yards per game.
“We’re gonna have to run the football to manage the clock and be efficient offensively,” said Pelini, whose running game — paced by juniors Martin Ruiz and Jody Webb — averages 200.1. “That’s gonna be a big part. We have to better and more consistent in that area.”
Same goes for YSU’s rush defense, which ranks fifth in the MVFC by allowing 161.7 YPG.
It’ll have its hands full trying to slow down a top-ranked Bison rush-offense that has gained 300-plus yards the past three weeks and averages 232 YPG. NDSU attacks with dual-threat QB Easton Stick and running back King Frazier, while it runs behind a massive offensive line that ranges from 300-326 pounds.
“They’ve been able to manhandle a couple other teams we watched on film,” Penguins defensive tackle Steve Zaborsky said. “So especially playing D-tackle on the inside, my main objective is to not get moved off the rock and just do what we’ve been doing — let the linebackers run free and hold them up front.”
Progressing in the past couple weeks, YSU allowed just 43 rushing yards to Missouri State and 106 yards to Western Illinois. Considering the Penguins’ stout pass-defense (which ranks no. 1 in the entire FCS), those types of performances against the run make the Penguins defense dangerous.
But no doubt, NDSU is going to try to control the trenches like it normally does. The question is, are the YSU linemen up for the challenge?
“It’s probably gonna be the best test, to date, this season,” Zaborsky said.