1. My first thought after Youngstown State's 30-24 loss to Western Illinois on Saturday? The Leathernecks were just better.

Western Illinois had more first downs (23-21), more rushing yards (164-148), more total yards (455-344), more time of possession (33:21) and fewer penalty yards (88-65).

Neither team had a turnover but the Leathernecks pulled off maybe the biggest play of the game early in the third quarter, executing a fake punt to give them a 21-17 lead. They would not trail the rest of the way.

2. This, of course, is troubling.

Western Illinois may end up being a playoff team — not likely, since the Leathernecks already have four losses, but it's still possible — but it's also a team coming off a 4-8 season, a team that hasn't had a winning record since 2010.

WIU also plays in sub-par facilities in The-Middle-Of-Nowhere, Illinois. The Leathernecks were picked to finish ninth in the 10-team MVFC and YSU coach Eric Wolford said earlier this week that they were less talented than last week's opponent, Missouri State.

Bottom line: These are the kinds of teams you need to beat at home, particularly when you're leading at halftime.

3. Before the start of Saturday's postgame press conference, another reporter asked a good question (to me, not to Wolford): Did the Penguins schedule get them ready for this game?

It's a fair question, especially when you look at the Leathernecks' schedule so far.

Western Illinois' four losses were against a pair of Big Ten teams (Northwestern, Wisconsin) and two upper-level Missouri Valley teams (Southern Illinois, North Dakota State).

Last week, WIU led NDSU entering the fourth quarter. On Saturday, the Leathernecks looked like the more physical, more mature team.

Did the schedule have anything to do with that?

Again, it's worth asking.

4. As much as I hate to say this about quarterback Dante Nania — he's about as likable as it gets, media-wise — I think the coaches made the right call by inserting Hunter Wells in the second quarter.

Wolford said the coaches made that decision earlier in the week, with plans to rotate the two quarterbacks throughout the game. But when Wells got hot, leading YSU to touchdowns on his first two possessions, they stuck with him.

Wells didn't do much in the second half, aside from a quick scoring drive midway through the fourth quarter, but based on a small sample size, you can tell he's already a much more polished passer, even as a true freshman. It's obvious he's played a lot of football because he's comfortable moving around the pocket, he sees the field well and he's able to go through multiple progressions.

I think he has a better upside than Nania, whose height (6-foot) makes it hard for him to stand in the pocket and scan the field like the 6-foot-5 Wells.

This is no small thing. I'm a little over 5-foot-10 and as I stood behind a big group of YSU linemen in the airport security line last week, all I could think was, "How can anyone see anything behind these guys?"

5. After Saturday's game, Wolford said he'd like to play both of them this season, believing they both bring different things to the table. This strikes me as a terrible idea, like having a closer-by-committee in baseball.

On paper, it should work. In reality, it doesn't.

I also wonder if it's the type of thing that can divide a team. When I asked WR Jelani Berassa about the quarterback change in the postgame press conference, he quickly said "no comment."

6. Another game, another special teams blunder.

Wolford said the fake punt worked because YSU was hoping to duplicate a 34-yard punt return that Berassa had late in the second quarter. So, YSU rushed the edges, but the interior of the line dropped back to block.

That left a big hole in the middle of the line and another big question for YSU's special teams coaches: Why does this keep happening?

St. Francis also had a successful fake punt and the Penguins had punts blocked by Illinois and Missouri State. The rest of the special teams have been average this season — at best.

Kenny Carter and Michael Zordich share the special teams duties, with Carter in charge of punts and punt returns.

Obviously, players have to execute, so it's not all on the coaches. But some of it is.

When last year's special teams coach, Jamie Bryant, moved to defensive coordinator, many worried that the Penguins would revert back to their earlier struggles under Wolford.

So far, they have.

7. Knute Rockne once said, "One loss is good for the soul, too many losses is not good for the coach."

I know there are some fans ready to fire Wolford after Saturday's loss, but it was just one game. No need to overreact.

That said, Wolford's contract situation clearly looms large over this season. Missing the playoffs is not an option. And with road games at South Dakota State and North Dakota State still on the schedule, the Penguins can't afford another home loss.

If they lose at home on Saturday against Southern Illinois, things could get ugly.

8. In case you're wondering about Kenneth Durden, the transfer cornerback from South Florida, I emailed USF this week to ask why his paperwork hasn't come through. I've gotten no response.

Wolford has repeatedly said YSU has done everything it can on its end. If I find out anything, I'll report it.