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Penguins must shift gears to tackle shifty St. Francis back
Dickson led FCS in rushing in 2014; Red Flash have 3 locals including Abeid
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
Big running backs have been a big problem for the Youngstown State football team this season.
On Saturday, the Penguins will try to stop a smaller one.
Saint Francis senior Khairi Dickson, who led the FCS in rushing in 2014 with 1,708 yards in 11 games, will look to test a YSU defense that has given up 477 yards rushing through two games.
Most of those yards came against big-bodied backs like Pitt’s James Conner (6-foot-2, 240 pounds) and Qadree Ollison (6-2, 230) and Robert Morris’ Ramses Owens (6-2, 230).
Dickson (6-0, 182) poses a different problem.
“Really good running back,” YSU coach Bo Pelini said. “He’s a little bit more of a scatback. Really quick. Has great vision. There are times you’d watch on film and you’d stop the film because you think it’s going to be a two- or three-yard gain or no-gain play.
“He can make guys miss in a small area. For us, that’s been an issue. We need to tackle better and take the technique we teach to the field.”
After rushing for 129 yards in an opening win over Georgetown, Dickson struggled in last week’s loss against Towson, carrying 15 times for 36 yards. Dickson rushed for 151 yards in last year’s 52-23 loss to the Penguins.
“I respect him,” YSU defensive tackle Steve Zaborsky said of Dickson. “I remember last year. He played well. Our defense was really keying on him. His numbers speak for themselves.”
How do they stop him?
“We’ve got to take the right angles, something we didn’t do quite as well last week,” Zaborsky said. “If you don’t take him serious, he’s gonna run all over you.”
The Red Flash have three players with Mahoning Valley ties. Senior receiver Anthony Abeid, who earned second team All-America honors in the preseason from USA College Football, graduated from Youngstown Christian. Also, sophomore kicker Eric Bofenkamp graduated from Warren JFK and freshman wide receiver Tate Duarte is a Poland High graduate.
Saint Francis is 0-6 against YSU, although the first four meetings took place before the Eisenhower administration. Like last week’s opponent, the Red Flash compete in the FCS’ Northeast Conference, which has a 40-scholarship limit. (YSU has 63.)
On paper, the game is a mismatch. But, then, last week’s game was, too.
“As far as the defensive side, we’re taking this team like no other,” Zaborsky said. “Like last week, we’re trying to handle our business.”
Added junior running back Jody Webb, “We can’t overlook any opponent. We know that they’re going to give us their best shot. We just got to come out and approach as if it were any other team that we’re playing. They have great athletes. They have talent. They’re gonna be focused. They’re gonna come out and play hard, so that’s what we have to do.”
The Penguins are off next week, then begin Missouri Valley play at South Dakota on Oct. 3. While the Red Flash have some scary position players, they don’t start a single senior on the offensive or defensive lines.
If YSU plays like it did against Pitt, Saturday’s game will be a tune-up.
If not, it will be another unexpected test.
“We need to play well,” Pelini said. “I’m not worried about what Saint Francis does. I’m worried about us taking care of us first.”