1. Youngstown State freshman quarterback Hunter Wells deservedly earned Missouri Valley newcomer of the week after completing 21 of 28 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's win over Southern Illinois.

It was Wells' first league start and although the coaches planned to play both Wells and Nania, Wells eliminated that option by leading YSU to 17 points in its first three possessions. (And it should have been 21, but Andre Stubbs dropped a touchdown in the end zone.)

Nania did get in for two plays — a quarterback run for 0 yards and a failed two-point conversion attempt — but it's pretty obvious that Wells will be the guy from now on.

Here's how they compare statistically:

Wells: 53 of 77 (68.8 percent), 795 yards, six TDs, one interception.

Nania: 50 of 87 (57.5 percent), 784 yards, six TDs, one interception.

Nania is a better runner (he's carried 25 times for 68 yards, while Wells has seven attempts for minus-26 yards) but he's not good enough to overcome Wells' passing advantage.

2. Wells' development is important because this is the best collection of skill position players in Wolford's five years. All the Penguins needed was someone who could consistently get them the ball.

With Jelani Berassa (27 catches, 475 yards, five TDs) and Andrew Williams (22 catches, 402 yards, three TDs), the Penguins have a pair of 6-foot-4 wideouts capable of stretching defense, while also creating mismatches undernath. And if defenses double those guys, you still have TE Nate Adams (who should get the ball more) and WR Andre Stubbs.

Running back Martin Ruiz (154 carries, 722 yards, six TDs) can get the tough yards (and more), while Jody Webb (59 carries, 431 yards, six TDs/18 receptions, 241 yards) is the most explosive player on the roster — and one of the scariest in the league.

The offensive line isn't quite as good as, say, the 2012 offensive line, but it's good enough, as it showed on Saturday's final drive when YSU ran 13 straight times to drain the final seven minutes off the clock.

If Wells keeps developing, this offense could be really good.

3. For the second time in three weeks, YSU's defense played like a playoff-level unit.

The Salukis entered the game averaging 33 points (second-best in the MVFC) and 416 yards, but finished with 224 total yards and were intercepted by safety Tre-Moore (who had two in the 14-7 win over Missouri State) and Donald D'Alesio (who had his first of the season after dropping a few earlier).

"I finally held onto it," he said afterward, laughing.

What impressed me was no Penguin had more than six tackles against SIU, which shows that everyone was making plays. (Although the unit's two best players, Derek Rivers and Dubem Nwadiogbu, did both have six.)

4. All I'll say about Saturday's blocked punt is this: You could see it coming from 20 miles away.

5. I know a lot of fans felt last week's loss to Western Illinois was the start of another YSU collapse, but I learned my lesson three years ago when it comes to early-season losses.

In 2011, I wrote off the Penguins' playoff chances after they lost to South Dakota State to drop to 1-2 in the Missouri Valley. Then they won their next three, nearly beat UNI on the road and upset the eventual national champions in Fargo.

Long story short: I was wrong.

(Yes, I know YSU choked away a 17-point lead in the finale that year, but that doesn't change the fact that I jumped the gun on the South Dakota State loss.)

6. In January of 1996, I punched a hole in the wall of our family room after watching the Colts lose to the Steelers in the AFC championship game. (I still can't believe that Colts receiver Aaron Bailey dropped Harbaugh's Hail Mary.) (Side note: I really, really hate the Steelers.)

Anyway, I was 16 at the time and probably weighed about 145 pounds, but I managed to hit the drywall perfectly between the two studs. Fortunately, my parents were on vacation somewhere and my brother-in-law was able to fix it, but I thought about that last week when http://www.vindy.com/news/2014/oct/15/ysu-football-player-faces-felony-charge-/" target="_blank">Michael Wheary got kicked off the team for punching a hole in his apartment wall and doing $90,000 in damage.

I'm not arguing Wheary should still be on the team — it happened at 3:20 a.m. after an argument with his girlfriend and he left before the cops could show up — but I do wonder if he would still be a Penguin if he hadn't been unlucky enough to hit the water main.

Sometimes, you just punch the wrong part of the wall.

7. Seriously, http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap2000000130524/Films-Encore-Jim-Harbaugh-s-Hail-Mary" target="_blank">the ball hit Bailey's stomach.

8. Not to beat a dead horse, but there was a story on FBSschedules.com this week about http://www.fbschedules.com/2014/10/kent-state-alabama-fcs-schools-future-schedules/" target="_blank">Kent State paying $300,000 to its FCS opponents over the next few years.

I know athletic director Ron Strollo only wants to play home-and-home series with the Mid-American Conference schools, but YSU-Kent State would be a lot more fun than YSU-Butler, or Kent State-Kennesaw State.

On the other hand, I get to go to both Dakotas this year, so why am I complaining? I just need to make sure I pack my suntan lotion.