In Mays, YSU coaches trust

October 2, 2017 at 12:05a.m.

Backup QB did well Saturday

YOUNGSTOWN

Nathan Mays is firmly entrenched in the Youngstown State football team’s circle of trust.

In four games, the sophomore quarterback has one start and two relief appearances under his belt. On Saturday in a 19-7 win over South Dakota State, he came in for the injured Hunter Wells and rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown while also throwing for 113 yards with one interception.

“It’s a different team, but it’s the same storyline. I come in early in the game and it’s a little early,” Mays said. “It was kind of similar to [Week 2 against Robert Morris] only this time, I didn’t need to acclimate to the game.

“I went out there and let [the game] take hold of itself,” Mays said. “Things went well and I wasn’t stressed and there weren’t any butterflies.”

The feeling is mutual among his teammates on the offense.

“Nate Mays has been phenomenal the last two weeks — you all have seen it — he’s been taking care of business,” center Vitas Hrynkiewicz said. “We have the utmost trust in Nate. He’s in our gameplan every week no matter what.”

His only stumbles were letting the clock expire at the end of the first half and his second-half interception.

Mays maintains his power running style with his aversion to sliding. He did so once in the contest.

“The coaches want me to do it. I took a shot on the stupid pick that I threw,” Mays said. “I don’t where rib pads so I probably need to slide. I was never taught to. I went to a school that kind of frowned upon it and they wanted to get extra yards.”

Head coach Bo Pelini gave Mays his props.

“I bet he’s going to be sore. He played hard and he took some hits. I give him a lot of credit. He’s a heck of a football player and a tremendous competitor,” Pelini said. “That was an unfortunate series at the end of the first half.

“A lot of guys would have tanked there. It didn’t phase him one bit and there was no one more upset than me, but heck I made mistakes too, we all did. We did enough to win the game.”

HUNTER DINGED AGAIN

Wells’ return from his shoulder injury was short-lived. The senior signal-caller separated his shoulder in Week 2 against Robert Morris and in his first game back, he falls directly on his injured right shoulder in his team’s first drive. He spent the rest of the game in a sling, but Pelini’s prognosis is optimistic.

“It’s unfortunate, but I don’t think it’s long term,” Pelini said. “We’ll see if it’s next week or the week after.

“He went right on that shoulder, what are the chances? But that’s the way it happened.”