Penguins Bring Momentum Into Contest Against South Dakota
10/25/2022 1:00:00 PM | Football
The Youngstown State football team closes out October with a home contest against South Dakota on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff at Stambaugh Stadium is set for 2 p.m. The game is available live on ESPN+, WKBN 570 AM and iHeartRadio.
The Penguins (4-3 overall, 2-2 MVFC) picked up one of the most improbable wins in school history scoring 11 points in the final 2:30 to beat Western Illinois 28-27 last Saturday in Macomb, Ill at Hanson Field. YSU trailed 27-17 after the Leathernecks scored with 3:09 left. Just 40 seconds later the Guins scored and turned a botched-PAT attempt into a two-point conversion. After forcing a three-and-out, YSU drove the WIU 25-yard line and Colt McFadden drilled a 42-yard field goal for the victory as time expired.
YSU took a 3-0 lead when McFadden kicked a 25-yard field goal, but Western went ahead 7-3 after Clay Bruno hit Taj Sanders for a six-yard score. Just before halftime, the Guins grabbed a 10-7 lead as Jaleel McLaughlin scored on a 14-yard run.
In the third, WIU added two field goals to lead 13-10 in what turned out a to be a wild fourth quarter as the teams combined for 32 points in the final nine minutes.
YSU opened the scoring with a 14-yard run by Dra Rushton to go back ahead 17-13. Western answered with a pair of Bruno to Naseim Brantley touchdown passes the last of which came with 3:09 left. Taking over at it's own 22, Mitch Davidson found Brandon Alexander for 48 yards and the hit Bryce Oliver on a 40-yard touchdown strike with 2:29 left.
After forcing a quick three-and-out, YSU regained possession at its 17-yard line. The Guins quickly moved 58 yards in five plays to get to the WIU 25. With four seconds left, McFadden came on to make the game-winner.
South Dakota (2-5, 1-3) knocked off Southern Illinois last Saturday by a 27-24 score at the DakotaDome. The Coyotes also overcame an 11-point deficit to pick up a win on a late field goal.
Back up quarterback Aidan Bouman provided a spark as USD rallied from down 21-10 in the second quarter. With the contest tied at 24 late in the game, Eddie Ogamba kicked a 44-yard field goal with 2:44 left which proved to be the game winner.
Last time Out: YSU 28, WIU 27
The Guins earned one of the most improbable wins in school history scoring 11 points in the final 2:30 to beat Western Illinois 28-27 last Saturday at Hanson Field. YSU trailed 27-17 after the Leathernecks scored with 3:09 left.
YSU took a 3-0 lead when McFadden kicked a 25-yard field goal, but Western went ahead 7-3 after Clay Bruno hit Taj Sanders for a six-yard score. Just before halftime, the Guins grabbed a 10-7 lead as Jaleel McLaughlin scored on a 14-yard run.
In the third, WIU added two field goals to lead 13-10 in what turned out a to be a wild fourth quarter as the teams combined for 32 points in the final nine minutes.
YSU opened the scoring with a 14-yard run by Dra Rushton to go back ahead 17-13. Western answered with a pair of Bruno to Naseim Brantley touchdown passes the last of which came with 3:09 left. Taking over at it's own 22, Mitch Davidson found Brandon Alexander for 48 yards and the hit Bryce Oliver on a 40-yard touchdown strike with 2:29 left.
After forcing a quick three-and-out, YSU regained possession at its 17-yard line. The Guins quickly moved 58 yards in five plays to get to the WIU 25. With four seconds left, McFadden came on to make the game-winner.
Moving Up the Charts
TB Jaleel McLaughlin now ranks fourth in NCAA history in career rushing yards with 7,641 yards on 1,160 carries (6.6 per rush) and 73 touchdowns in 52 games. He is the active career NCAA leader in attempts, touchdowns and yards. He is now just 154 yards from moving into third place all-time.
In 23 games at YSU, he has rushed for 2,893 yards (120.5 yards per game average) and scored 25 TDs. He has rushed for more than 100 yards in 17 of his last 22 contests at YSU, including six of seven this season. In 28 games at Notre Dame, he had 24 100-yard outings. In 52 games, he has eclipsed the 100-yard mark on 41 occasions.
NCAA Career Rushing Yards Leaders
1. Nate Kmic (Mount Union | 2005-08) 8,074
2. Danny Woodhead (Chadron State | 2004-07) 7,962
3. Levell Coppage (Wis.-Whitewater | 2008-11) 7,795
4. Jaleel McLaughlin (YSU/ND Ohio | 2018-22) 7,641
Davidson Dazzles In Starts
Junior QB Mitch Davidson has started the past three games for the Penguins and has provided a lift leading the offense to 11 touchdowns and seven field goals in those contests.
In the past three games, he is 41-of-86 for 724 yards and four touchdowns. Against Western Illinois he had 221 yards, of note he completed his final four passes for 113 yards once the Penguins fell behind 27-17 in the contest.
In his first career start vs. North Dakota on Oct. 9, he completed 21-of-32 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns. The 280 yards passing were the most in a game by YSU QB since Montgomery VanGorder threw for a school-record 418 yards at Western Illinois on Sept. 29, 2018.
McFadden Earns MVFC Honor
PK Colt McFadden has been dialed in on field goals since the start of Missouri Valley Football Conference play.
McFadden is 9-of-10 in four league games after making a pair of kicks on a windy day last Saturday at Western Illinois.
After making a 42-yard field goal at the buzzer to help the Penguins to a 28-27 win, McFadden was named the MVFC's Special Teams Player of the Week.
Rushton Adding 1-2 Punch
While Jaleel McLaughlin has been racking up video-game numbers, Dra Rushton has emerged to give the Guins an outstanding 1-2 punch at running back.
In the last two games, Rushton has carried the ball 25 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns. At Western Illinois, he had a career-high 14 carries and 78 yards.
Entering the contest against Indiana State on Oct. 15, he had yet to score a rushing touchdown in his lengthy YSU career. He has a rushing touchdown in each of the past two games.
This year he has 305 yards on 61 carries. Entering this season he had 18 attempts for 63 yards.
One-Point Victory
The Guins picked up their first one-point win since winning by the same 28-27 score at Southern Illinois on Sept. 28, 2013.
It was just the third Penguins win by just a single point since the 1997 National Championship Game - a 10-9 victory over McNeese State.
In a 36-game series, only one previous YSU-WIU game had been decided by a point - a 20-19 Leathernecks win in 1975.
Trowers, Lenton Step Up
The top two tacklers for the Penguins are DBs Jordan Trowers and Quincy Lenton.
Trowers, a first-year starter, leads the team with 42 tackles, including 30 solo stops. Entering the 2022 campaign, Trowers had played in two career games and did not register a tackle.
Lenton is second on the squad with 34 stops, including 23 solos. Last season he had 15 tackles in the final four games of the campaign. He has started 15 games combined in his YSU career - the spring and fall of 2021 and this year.
D'Marco Augustin is third on the squad in total tackles with 29 stops.
McLaughlin FCS Rushing Leader
TB Jaleel McLaughlin now ranks first in the FCS in rushing yards per game averaging 151.9 a contest. He moved ahead of Monmouth's Jaden Shirden who is now at 144.2 per contest. In eight games, Shirden has 1,154 yards while McLaughlin is at 1,063 through seven.
In four MVFC contests, McLaughlin has rushed for 695 yards (an eye-popping 173.8 per game). He has had a personal-YSU-best 32 carries in each of the past two contests.
McLaughlin's Top YSU Games
242 - UIW (2021)
207 - Western Illinois (2022)
203 - Duquesne (2022)
200 - Indiana State (2022)
185 - Southern Illinois (2021)
Oliver A Top Target
WR Bryce Oliver has been a big touchdown producer for the Guins during his Youngstown State career.
In 16 games played at YSU, Oliver has 58 receptions for 758 yards and 13 touchdowns.
This season he has 34 catches for 495 yards and five touchdowns. In the last three contests he has 307 yards on 19 grabs and three scores.
In 2021, he finished the year with eight receiving touchdowns, the most by a Guin since 2011. Playing nine games last season, Oliver had 24 catches for 266 yards and eight touchdowns.
200-200-100 A Rarity
For just the second time in school history, YSU had a player rush for more than 200 yards, a quarterback throw for more than 200 yards and a receiver amass more than 100 yards receiving in contest.
Against Indiana State, Mitch Davidson had 223 yards passing, Jaleel McLaughlin had 200 yards rushing and Bryce Oliver had 143 yards receiving.
The only other time that occurred was on Nov. 6, 2012, at Illinois State. Kurt Hess had 250 yards passing, Jamaine Cook had 213 yards rushing and Dominique Barnes had 113 yards receiving.
Impressive Fourths for YSU
The Penguins made finishing games a key during the offseason. YSU was able to outscore WIU 18-14 in a wild fourth quarter last Saturday. In seven games, YSU has allowed just five touchdowns so far.
The Guins have outscored their opponents by a 63-43 margin in the fourth this year.
In the fall of 2021, YSU was outscored by 30 points and in the spring of 2021, the Guins were outscored by 20 points.
So far, the Penguins are a plus-20 in fourth quarter point differential. That's a 50-point difference since 2021.
Experience On the Lines
The Guins have a wealth of contributors and experience on both the offensive and defensive lines.
The offensive line features Mike McAllister (24 starts), Jaison Williams (24), Aidan Parker (23), David Metzler (14) and Ryan Johnson (11). McAllister, Williams and Parker all started for the first time in the spring of 2021. Metzler made his first-ever start at left tackle at Michigan State in 2021 as a redshirt freshman.
The defensive line features veterans James Jackson (25 starts), Dylan Wudke (20) and Chris Fitzgerald (17). This year Wudke leads the line with 26 tackles while Fitzgerald has 25. The trio has combined for eight sacks as well.
Tied For 200-Yard Game Mark
TB Jaleel McLaughlin has tied the school record for 200-yard rushing games with four thanks to three efforts this season. His four are now tied with PJ Mays. McLaughlin is one of just four players in school history to rush for at least 200 yards in a game on three occasions.
200-Yard Rushing Games
1. P.J. Mays (2000-02) - 4
1. Jaleel McLaughlin (2021-22) - 4
3. Marcus Mason (2005-06) - 3
3. Paris Wicks (1979-82) - 3
Touchdowns By Current Guins
The Penguins have nine players on their roster who have scored touchdowns while at YSU. TB Jaleel McLaughlin leads the team with 26 total touchdowns while Bryce Oliver is the leader in receiving TDs with 12.
TD Scorers
McLaughlin - 25 rush / 2 pass
Oliver - 13 pass
Crenshaw - 8 rush
Rushton - 1 pass / 2 rush
Tomczak - 2 pass
Fordham - 1 pass / 1 KO
Payne – 1 pass
Hensley - 1 pass
Davidson - 1 rush
Numbers of Note
• Turnover Margin: Since 1996, YSU is 149-46 when they win or tie the turnover margin. When committing more turnovers, YSU is just 28-85.
Since 1990 YSU is:
• 173-22-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 21 points in a game.
• 152-22 when rushing for 200-plus yards.
• 174-30 when scoring 28-or-more points.
• 91-14-1 when holding opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing in a game.
• 203-21 when leading entering the fourth.
• 92-3-2 holding opponents to 10 points-or-less.
• YSU is 21-5 when a back rushes for more than 200 yards in a game.
