Penguins’ goal is stuffing Wofford’s run

By Charles Grove | December 10, 2016 at 12:09a.m.

No matter the outcome, this game should be done before dinner time.

Youngstown State and Wofford are likely to try to pound each other into submission via their ground games. Both have been successful running the ball most of the year.

“I could be home by three o’clock,” YSU head coach Bo Pelini joked during his Tuesday press conference.

The Penguins (10-3) are averaging 258 yards per game on the ground. Despite offensive struggles at times this year in terms of finding the end zone, they’ve amassed 30 rushing touchdowns.

Those numbers aren’t far off from a Wofford team that runs so often they’re averaging only nine passing attempts per contest. The Terriers (10-3) are averaging 278 yards per game and have scored 33 touchdowns on the ground.

So while many would be quick to assume the triple-option-oriented Terriers have a significant ground advantage, those assumptions would be wrong.

Wofford’s triple option suggests the Terriers get into many third-down-and-short situations benefitting from a three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust offense much like Woody Hayes at Ohio State. But if the Terriers are getting into those situations, they’re not converting many.

Wofford is only converting 41 percent of their third-down attempts. YSU, on the other hand, is converting 47 percent of their chances.

But when the Terriers get stuffed on third down, they’re often successful on fourth down. Wofford has been successful on 20 of their 32 fourth-down attempts for a whopping 62 percent conversion rate.

YSU hasn’t faced many teams who typically hold the ball for more than 30 minutes this year. The Penguins are averaging 33:50 in time of possession this year but will meet their equal today. The Terriers hold the ball for 33:18 each game.

In a game where offenses are going to be attempting to pound the opposing defense into submission, whoever wins time of possession is likely to advance to the FCS semifinals.

An important variable in this game will likely be YSU’s passing attack which has found its stride recently.

Quarterback Hunter Wells is leading an offense averaging 210 yards per game through the air. If YSU is able to get their rushing average and then add on passing statistics like that, you begin to wonder where Wofford’s offensive answers are going to come from.

Enter in a high temperature that isn’t even supposed to reach above freezing, and that should only add another variable of questions Wofford is going to have to answer this afternoon.

high school reunion

YSU quarterback Ricky Davis and Wofford linebacker Billy Hinton could find themselves on the field together at the same time.

Both started on Bishop Fenwick’s 2012 football team that finished 8-3 and split a Greater Catholic League North championship with Archbishop Alter.

Davis passed for 1,213 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 412 yards and five rushing touchdowns his senior year before being named first-team all conference alongside Notre Dame quarterback Malik Zaire.

Hinton finished with 21 tackles and 1.5 sacks during his sophomore year.

“I talked to him early in the year,” Davis said. “It’s exciting to play against an old teammate.”