Penguins Set to Entertain Salukis on Senior Day
11/15/2022 2:23:00 PM | Football
The Youngstown State football team closes out the 2022 regular-season campaign against Southern Illinois this Saturday at Stambaugh Stadium. Kickoff is set for Noon. The game is available live on ESPN3, WKBN 570 AM and iHeartRadio.
The Penguins (6-4 overall, 4-3 MVFC) had a four-game winning streak come to end following a tough 25-22 loss at Missouri State last Saturday. In the contest, YSU's Jaleel McLaughlin became the NCAA's all-time rushing leader behind a 227-yard effort. McLaughlin has 8,082 yards rushing between his YSU and Notre Dame (Ohio) careers eclipsing the mark of 8,074 that was held by Mount Union's Nate Emic.
YSU took a 6-0 lead in the contest as Colt McFadden connected on field goals from 34 and 42 yards. Missouri State eventually grabbed a 7-6 halftime advantage when QB Jason Shelley scored on a five-yard run with just over eight minutes left in the second quarter.
The Penguins regained the lead on their first possession of the second half when Mitch Davidson scored on a two-yard keeper at 13-7. MSU quickly answered as Kevon Latulas scored on a 35-yard run just 17 seconds later.
In the third quarter, McFadden's 28-yard field goal put the Guins back in front 16-14. MSU's Jose Pizano converted a 47-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter as the Bears went back in front 17-16. McLaughlin ripped off a 65-yard scoring run with 12:53 left giving YSU its fourth lead of the contest at 22-17.
However, Missouri State put together a 92-yard, 13-play drive that Shelley capped with a nine-yard scoring toss to Ty Scott with 8:23 that proved to be the game-winner.
Southern Illinois (5-5 and 3-4) dropped a tough 21-18 decision to North Dakota State at Saluki Stadium last Saturday. The Salukis have dropped their last three contests by a total of seven points.
Against the Bison, Southern took a slim 10-7 lead into the fourth quarter before NDSU scored on a pair of touchdown runs. SIU's Nic Baker connected with D'Ante Cox for a six-yard scoring toss with 39 seconds left for the final margin. Baker was 14-of-23 for 174 yards in the defeat.
YSU beat SIU 35-18 to close out the 2021 season last November. The Guins' last win at home in the series was 17-14 in 2018.
Last Time Out: MSU 25, YSU 22
The Penguins had a four-game winning streak come to end following a tough 25-22 loss at Missouri State. In the contest, YSU's Jaleel McLaughlin became the NCAA's all-time rushing leader behind a 227-yard effort.
YSU took a 6-0 lead in the contest as Colt McFadden connected on field goals from 34 and 42 yards. Missouri State eventually grabbed a 7-6 halftime advantage when QB Jason Shelley scored on a five-yard run with just over eight minutes left in the second quarter.
The Penguins regained the lead at 13-7 on their first possession of the second half when Mitch Davidson scored on a two-yard keeper. MSU quickly answered as Kevon Latulas scored on a 35-yard run just 17 seconds later.
In the third quarter, McFadden's 28-yard field goal put the Guins back in front 16-14. MSU's Jose Pizano converted a 47-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter as the Bears went on top 17-16. McLaughlin ripped off a 65-yard scoring run with 12:53 left giving YSU its fourth lead of the contest at 22-17.
However, Missouri State put together a 92-yard, 13-play drive that Shelley capped with a nine-yard scoring toss to Ty Scott with 8:23 the proved to be the game-winner.
Top Of The Mountain
TB Jaleel McLaughlin took over the top spot on the NCAA career rushing chart following his 227-yard performance at Missouri State last Saturday.
McLaughlin tied the record on a 65-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter before breaking it on a three-yard carry with 8:17 left in the game.
He now has 8,082 yards on 1,229 carries (6.6 per rush) and 77 touchdowns in 55 games. He is the active career NCAA leader in attempts, touchdowns and yards.
In 27 games at YSU, he has rushed for 3,334 yards (133.4 yards per game average) and scored 28 TDs. He has rushed for more than 100 yards in 19 of his last 25 contests at YSU, including eight times this season. In 28 games at Notre Dame (Ohio), he had 24 100-yard outings. In 55 games, he has eclipsed the 100-yard mark on 43 occasions.
NCAA Career Rushing Yards Leaders
1. Jaleel McLaughlin (YSU/ND Ohio | 2018-22) - 8,082
2. Nate Kmic (Mount Union | 2005-08) - 8,074
Davidson Impresses In Starts
Junior QB Mitch Davidson has led the Penguins to four wins in six starts since making his debut on Oct. 8 against North Dakota.
In the past six games as a starter, he is 76-of-149 for 1,226 yards and eight touchdowns. He also has rushing scores in each of the past three games.
At Illinois State, he engineered a second game-winning drive in a three-week span throwing a last-second touchdown to Bryce Oliver. Davidson rushed for a career-best 55 yards on 13 attempts vs. the Redbirds.
Against South Dakota he threw a career-high three touchdowns passes while against UND he passed for a career-best 280 yards.
McFadden Booming Kicks
PK Colt McFadden has been dialed in on field goals since the start of Missouri Valley Football Conference play.
McFadden is 15-of-17 in seven league games this year. Against South Dakota on Oct. 22, he made a career-long 52-yard field goal. It was the first field goal of more than 50 yards by the Penguins since September 2003.
On Oct. 15, his 42-yard field goal at the buzzer helped the Penguins to a 28-27 win at Western Illinois. McFadden was named the MVFC's Special Teams Player of the Week following the game.
On two occasions he has made three field goals in a game (North Dakota and Missouri State).
Lenton Leads the Way
Defensive back Quincy Lenton had one his best YSU performances at Missouri State last Saturday.
Lenton tied a career-high with eight tackles and had a personal-best seven solo stops against the Bears. It was a sweet personal performance for Lenton who tore his Achilles tendon at MSU in April 2021.
This year Lenton is second on the team with 49 total tackles, including 34 solo stops. He is tied for the team lead with two interceptions.
Oliver A Top Target
WR Bryce Oliver has been a big touchdown producer for the Guins during his Youngstown State career. He has a touchdown catch in fix of the past six games this season and his 16 are just two shy of tying the most touchdown catches by in a Penguin during the FCS era.
In 19 games played at YSU, Oliver has 71 receptions for 942 yards and 16 touchdowns. He is one of just six players in school history with 16 touchdown receptions in a career.
This season he has 47 catches for 676 yards and eight touchdowns. In the last five contests he has 491 yards on 32 grabs and six scores.
Career Touchdown Receptions
1. Jim Ferranti (1976-79) 25
2. Dave DelSignore (1966-69) 21
3. Renauld Ray (1996-99) 18
4. Bryce Oliver (2021-22) 16
4. Andrew Williams (2011-15) 16
4. John Goode (1981-84) 16
Howard, Wudke Earn Honors
LB Alex Howard and DE Dylan Wudke have each earned MVFC Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors recently.
Howard was named the MVFC's top player following an 11-tackle performance in the win at Illinois State. In the win over South Dakota, Wudke had five solo stops and two sacks in the victory as the defensive unit limited the Coyotes to just 56 yards rushing on 30 carries.
Late in the second quarter, Wudke's sack, fumble and fumble recovery at the USD 44-yard line with 2:49 left help set up the knockout blow in the contest as the Guins scored with just 19 seconds left in the half and take a 38-10 lead.
McLaughlin Second in the FCS
TB Jaleel McLaughlin ranks second in the FCS in rushing yards per game averaging 150.4 a contest. He has been locked in a battle with Monmouth's Jaden Shirden (156.7 per contest)for the national lead all season. In 10 games, Shirden has 1,567 yards while McLaughlin is at 1,504. Monmouth closes out its season against Stony Brook this Saturday.
In seven MVFC contests, McLaughlin has rushed for 1,136 yards (an eye-popping 162.3 yards per game). He had a personal-YSU-best 32 carries in wins over Indiana State and Western Illinois.
McLaughlin's Top YSU Games
242 - UIW (2021)
227 - Missouri State (2022)
207 - Western Illinois (2022)
203 - Duquesne (2022)
200 - Indiana State (2022)
200-200-100 A Rarity
YSU had a 200-yard rusher, a 200-yard pass and a 100-yard receiver in the win over Indiana State. It was just the second such occurrence in school history.
Mitch Davidson had 223 yards passing, Jaleel McLaughlin had 200 yards rushing and Bryce Oliver had 143 yards receiving vs. ISU.
The only other time 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. In nine games, YSU has allowed just seven touchdowns so far.
The Guins have outscored their opponents by a 75-61 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-14 in fourth quarter point differential. That's a 44-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 (27 starts), Jaison Williams (27), Aidan Parker (26), David Metzler (17) and Ryan Johnson (14). 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 (28 starts), Dylan Wudke (23) and Chris Fitzgerald (20). This year Wudke leads the line with 39 tackles while Fitzgerald has 35. The trio has combined for 11 sacks as well.
200-Yard Game Mark Record
TB Jaleel McLaughlin set the school record for career 200-yard rushing games following a 227-effort at Missouri State. PJ Mays (2000-02) had held the school mark with four for nearly 20 years. His 19 100-yard games are third all-time behind Tamron Smith (22) and Jamaine Cook (20).
McLaughlin is one of just five players to rush for more than 1,500 yards in a campaign. In 10 games this season he has 1,504 yards.
Touchdowns By Current Guins
The Penguins have 10 players on their roster who have scored touchdowns while at YSU. TB Jaleel McLaughlin leads the team with 29 total touchdowns while Bryce Oliver is the leader in receiving TDs with 16.
TD Scorers
McLaughlin - 28 rush / 2 pass
Oliver - 16 pass
Crenshaw - 8 rush
Rushton - 1 pass / 2 rush
Davidson - 4 rush
Tomczak - 2 pass
Fordham - 1 pass / 1 KO
Payne – 1 pass
Hensley - 1 pass
Serrano - 1 pass
Numbers of Note
• Turnover Margin: Since 1996, YSU is 151-47 when they win or tie the turnover margin. When committing more turnovers, YSU is just 28-85.
Since 1990 YSU is:
• 174-22-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 21 points in a game.
• 153-23 when rushing for 200-plus yards.
• 175-30 when scoring 28-or-more points.
• 92-14-1 when holding opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing in a game.
• 204-22 when leading entering the fourth.
• 92-3-2 holding opponents to 10 points-or-less.
• YSU is 21-6 when a back rushes for more than 200 yards in a game.
