Per the Vindy
YOUNGSTOWN — Even as Youngstown State readies for a winless Western Illinois team that’s been outscored by an average of 39.5-13.17, there’s no shortage of motivation.
But given the recent series history with the Leathernecks, that should come as no surprise.
In Doug Phillips’ debut season as YSU head coach, the Penguins led WIU 24-13 in the third quarter before falling 27-24 in Macomb.
Last year, the Penguins topped that by building a 35-7 lead on the Leathernecks before falling 38-35 at home.
“Trust me, it doesn’t sit well,” Phillips said. “Those are games I can never give back to Youngstown State and the history of Youngstown State. So do I dwell on it? No, but trust me, there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of those times where we were winning a football game and didn’t finish.”
Then, too, Youngstown State (3-3, 1-2 Missouri Valley) still hasn’t turned in a complete performance itself, leaving the Penguins with plenty of things to focus on as they seek consecutive MVFC victories for the first time since Phillips took over.
“They’re trying to figure things out, and we are (too),” Phillips said. “We have enough ourselves to figure out. We’re going to get ready for the schemes that we’re going to see defensively and offensively, but there’s certain things we have to make sure we make another jump this week in ourselves and make sure we’re ready to execute come Saturday.”
That begins on the defensive side of the ball, where YSU struggled last week against Indiana State, which hung a season-high 42 points on the Penguins.
Phillips says YSU gave up too many explosive plays and struggled to stop the Sycamores’ run game, which are priorities this week.
“Was it fundamentals? Was it lack of focus? Those are the things we went out in (Tuesday’s) practice … and that was the focus. That’s always going to be the focus: stop the run, limit the explosives,” Phillips said.
And, as he pointed out, Western does feature some talent, particularly at receiver. Graduate transfer Naseim Brantley has a league-high 29 receptions for 566 yards and six touchdowns so far.
That’s been the highlight of a Leatherneck offense that hasn’t generated any run game and is still trying to situate itself at quarterback.
Through last weekend, WIU’s 68.2 yards per game rank it fourth-to-last in the FCS in terms of rushing offense. That should play well to YSU’s strength, last week notwithstanding, as the Penguins have defended the run mostly well this year.
Meanwhile, under center, Western has trotted out three quarterbacks at various points this season, though last week only Clay Bruno and Henry Ogala took snaps.
Bruno is more of a dual-threat style, while Phillips noted Ogala has great throwing power.
“I saw a ball in the air for 65 yards (from Ogala),” he said. “And (Bruno) is probably a little more agile, kind of like North Dakota (quarterback Quincy Vaughn) and can make you miss and throw the ball well.”
Bruno went 6-of-16 for 81 yards last week against Southern Illinois, while Ogala was 7-of-19 for 63 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Nick Davenport also has gotten playing time here and there, though hasn’t seen the field since Week 3 against Southern Utah.
“Regardless of who they’re playing at quarterback, we have to make sure that we’re able to line up, play fast, play fundamentally sound and play the Youngstown type of football we’re starting to grow accustomed to,” Phillips added.
On the other side, Phillips likely wouldn’t mind getting accustomed to the way the YSU offense is performing.
Since Mitch Davidson assumed full-time quarterbacking duties, the Penguins have scored at least 30 points in each of their games. That’s come in large part because of the offense’s ability to spread the ball to various playmakers.
Davidson has thrown for at least 220 yards in both starts, and has completed passes to at least five different players in each.
Tailback Dra Rushton says Davidson is growing more comfortable with each snap.
“It just comes with more experience, more playing time and getting to know the guys more,” Rushton said. “Everyone’s doing their job. We just try to do everything for each other, make everyone comfortable, make everyone feel like they have their place and they can do what they’re going at doing.”
That’s allowed the Penguins to become much more balanced offensively, rather than relying on tailback Jaleel McLaughlin to generate the lion’s share of yardage and scoring. To his credit, McLaughlin is second in the FCS in rushing yardage with 856 yards, and has seven touchdowns.
“I hope that makes it a little more difficult to just zero in on us,” Phillips said of the balance. “Last year, teams could just go zero on us and blitz to stop (McLaughlin). Right now there’s players on that field that I don’t think you could just focus on stopping (McLaughlin). They still have to stop (him), but we have the ability to at least get the ball out to other players.”
The Penguin offense should be licking its chops, as Western enters at 109th in the FCS in rush defense (215.7 yards per game) and 103rd in pass defense (273.8 yards per game).
Defensive back JJ Ross does have two interceptions for WIU, though the Leathernecks have struggled to generate turnovers as a whole.
PREDICTION
The Penguins will turn in a complete performance.
Youngstown State wins, 42-10.
