From today’s Tribune/Vindy:
Penguins hold team scrimmage
QB competition is still ongoing
LOCAL SPORTS
AUG 15, 2021
JOEL WHETZEL
Staff writer
jwhetzel@tribtoday.com
Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Youngstown State quarterback Demeatric Crenshaw (10) avoids a defender during the Penguins’ team scrimmage Saturday morning at Stambaugh Stadium. Crenshaw threw for 72 yards and a touchdown.
YOUNGSTOWN — With just 19 days until it takes the field against Incarnate Word, the Youngstown State football team held an intrasquad scrimmage on a sunny Saturday morning at Stambaugh Stadium.
The scrimmage, held between the offense and defense, was evenly contested throughout, with both sides of the ball shining at different moments.
Head coach Doug Phillips said overall he was pleased with the effort and with how things shook out.
“We had a goal to come out here and run 100-plus plays, and we accomplished that. I thought we got a lot better,” he said. “We always talk about getting 1 percent better, and I thought we made huge strides today coming and playing a live scrimmage. And I’m talking live for 115 plays. I thought our kids needed that; that’s the only way.
“We believe in developing football players, and when you can give 110 players (reps) — even our (third-stringers) got over 30 plays today. I thought the kids came with great effort and attitude.”
Offensively, the Penguins cycled through four quarterbacks for most of the day — Joe Craycraft, Demeatric Crenshaw, Mark Waid and Mitch Davidson.
Crenshaw showcased his dual-threat abilities, going 9-for-15 for 72 yards and a touchdown in the air, while adding a team-high 51 yards on the ground on seven carries. Often, he was able to extend plays and drives using his feet to escape the pocket as it collapsed or to pick up chunks on designed runs.
His most impressive drive was his third and last — a 13-play, 99-yard march that culminated in a 19-yard Dra Rushton touchdown run. On that drive, Crenshaw nearly connected on a 55-yard bomb out of his own end zone that would’ve put the Penguins across midfield, but his receiver dropped the contested pass.
Meanwhile, Mark Waid, who started most of the spring season, completed 7 of 13 passes for 95 yards and scored on a pair of rushing touchdowns at the goal line. He played in four series.
Joe Craycraft played in five series, connecting on 5 of 15 passes for 64 yards. He was intercepted on one of the drives.
Finally, Mitch Davidson went 11-for-15 for 115 yards in three series, and connected with Chase Glover-Rodgers on a goal-line fade for a touchdown. He also ran four times for 23 yards.
Phillips remains noncommittal on who will be starting when the Penguins take on UIW.
“We have another week and a half of camp. I’ll allow those kids to keep competing,” he said. “We want to put them in situations evenly and see who takes it. When we talk with the team, it’s if you want something, you have to go take it. Hopefully in the next eight days someone takes it.”
Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Troy Rothenbuhler says the team is seeking someone who will make the right decisions and keep the offense on the right track.
“We have to have great decisions. We saw them compete today, which was good. Everybody came out and was ready to play,” he said. “We have to make sure (the quarterbacks) are communicating, getting everything into the huddle the right way and getting everything operating on the same path. And then they have to keep completing passes.”
Elsewhere on offense, Jorge Portorreal, a transfer from Lehigh, hauled in four receptions for 53 yards, while Bryce Oliver had three catches for 51 yards. Glover-Rodgers had five catches for 50 yards and the goal-line score.
YSU’s passing game went 32-for-73 for 346 yards, two touchdowns and one pick.
In the rushing attack, Ursuline grad Dante Walker had four carries for 49 yards, while Rushton ran four times for 41 yards and a score.
“It was a solid day in both the run and the pass,” Rothenbuhler said. “There was nothing too big. We took a couple shots, and some things broke down whether it was a route, read or protection. It all fits together.”
Of his offense, Phillips commented, “We’re going to continue (to develop), and we have to get the ball downfield. I do believe we have playmakers that showed in spurts of getting the ball downfield to the receivers and tight ends.”
He added, “It was a little mixture of pass and run. I do believe we can run the football. We wanted to come out here and work a little bit on our passing game, which I think we did and made strides there. We’ll continue to do that.”
On defense, Jordan Trowers and Jordan White each had an interception, and Patrick Minenok recorded a sack. White and D’Shaun Tanner led the defense with six tackles apiece, while Logan Pasco had five, including a tackle for loss.
“We have to continue defensively just being able to stop the run,” Phillips noted. YSU’s offense picked up 226 yards on the ground.
Phillips also mentioned he was pleased to see a low amount of penalties, particular before plays began.
“One thing I didn’t see was a lot of pre-snap penalties. We just had one with the (third-strings). We had a timed clock going and seven officials, so to not see a lot of penalties makes me happy that our kids are playing disciplined football.”
The Penguins are off from practice today. Phillips said the team graded its film after the scrimmage.
“We have one more big scrimmage (Saturday). Now it’s getting in there, grading the film, bringing our players back and watching that film and correcting our mistakes,” he said. “Then come Monday, we have to be ready to get back to work.”
