Must-win game comes early for Penguins

October 17, 2015 at 12:08a.m.

YSU hosts No. 7 SDSU

today at Stambaugh

By STEVE WILAJ

YOUNGSTOWN

The past two seasons, Youngstown State faced a couple must-win games as it stared down (unofficial) elimination from playoff consideration. Each time, the Penguins lost.

While those contests came in past Novembers, the must-win label is already being pulled out for today’s 4 p.m. showdown with No. 7 South Dakota State at Stambaugh Stadium despite the 2015 campaign less than halfway complete.

“Yeah, I would [call it that],” senior defensive tackle Steve Zaborsky said when asked in Tuesday’s news conference.

“Yes,” senior wideout Andre Stubbs said. “Every game is a must-win from now on to stay on top of our conference and hopefully make it to the playoffs.”

When first-year coach Bo Pelini was asked, he didn’t say, “Yes.” Then again, he didn’t deny it either.

“I don’t know about must-wins and those types of things,” said Pelini, who is entering his 100th game as a head coach. “To me, they’re all must-wins. It doesn’t change our approach one way or the other.”

Either way, there’s no denying it’s a big game for No. 11 YSU (3-2, 1-1 Missouri Valley Football Conference), which is coming off a devastating 31-29 home loss to Illinois State last Saturday.

A second straight MVFC defeat would push YSU to the bottom of the conference standings. And although there are still five more MVFC games remaining after today, three are on the road (including one at No. 21 Indiana State to close the season), while No. 2 North Dakota State visits Youngstown on Nov. 14.

For solely those purposes — not even mentioning how another top-10 home loss may effect the Penguins’ mindset — YSU needs a win against high-powered SDSU (4-1, 1-1).

“They’re always a good football team that comes in here ready to play,” Zaborsky said. “I’ll never forget two years ago when we played them here — that was one of the worst games I’ve ever been a part of. To get that chance back in my last season going out, I definitely want to take it to them.”

The game Zaborsky referenced is one of the must-win games the Penguins faced within the past two years. While YSU entered the Nov. 23, 2013 home contest vs. SDSU at 8-3 with a chance to strengthen its playoff chances, the Jackrabbits steamrolled the Penguins in the season finale, 42-13.

Last season’s must-win game occurred on Nov. 15 when Indiana State came to town and beat YSU in overtime, 27-24, before the Penguins lost to NDSU to finish the season 7-5. So while it may be a bit premature to call today’s game a must-win, a victory — in addition to going down as the quality type — would at least help take some pressure off YSU during the stretch run.

In the meantime, Pelini is playing it cool.

“We’re a work in progress and got to get more consistent in some areas,” he said. “I still think we have the chance to be a good football team if we keep making some progress. It’s kind of just, ‘Stay with the process that we’re on.’ Stay the course and we’ll be fine.”