Youngstown State University
Indiana State
Penguins Open November With Important Contest at Indiana State
10/31/2023 2:00:00 PM | Football
Youngstown State at Indiana State
Nov. 4, 2023 | Memorial Stadium
Terre Haute, Ind. | 1 p.m.
Broadcast Information
TV – ESPN+/MyYTV (Grant Pugh, Jim Leisure, Kelsie Kasper)
Radio Network – 570 AM WKBN (Bob Hannon, Steve Leslie)
Internet Radio – 570wbkn.iheart.com
App Audio - iHeartRadio App
Penguins
Record: 5-3, 3-2 MVFC
Last Game: vs. Missouri State (W, 44-28)
Head Coach: Doug Phillips (Fourth Season)
X (Formerly Twitter): @ysufootball
Sycamores
Record: 0-8, 0-5 MVFC
Last Game: at North Dakota (L, 33-36 OT)
Head Coach: Curt Mallory (Seventh Season)
X (Formerly Twitter): @IndStFB
Series History
All-Time Series: YSU leads 23-8
In Terre Haute: YSU leads 12-4
Win Streak: YSU, 1 game
Last Meeting: YSU 48-42 (2022)
The No. 22 Youngstown State football team opens November with a road contest at Indiana State. Kickoff for the contest at Memorial Stadium is set for 1 p.m. The game is available on MyYTV/ESPN+, WKBN 570 AM and iHeartRadio.
The Penguins (5-3 overall, 3-2 in MVFC) closed out a strong October beating Missouri State 44-28 last Saturday at Stambaugh Stadium. YSU trailed 7-0 before building a 38-14 lead early in the third quarter. Senior QB Mitch Davidson passed for a career-high 390 yards and tied his career best with four touchdowns.
After MSU went in front 7-0, Davidson connected with C.J. Charleston for a 10-yard touchdown and Jake Benio for a two-yard score. The Bears tied the game at 14 then the Guins answered with 24 consecutive points. Davidson found Bryce Oliver on a 51-yard touchdown and a 20-yard score and to end the half Andrew Lastovka made a 27-yard field goal.
To open the third quarter, Dra Rushton added a one-yard score to give the Guins a 38-14 lead. The Bears cut the deficit to within 10 points entering the fourth quarter before Lastovka added a pair of field goals from 29 and 44 yards for the final margin.
YSU has scored 30-or-more points in six straight games which sets a school record. The Penguins have scored at least 40 points in five straight games which ties the program record.
Indiana State (0-8, 0-5) dropped a heartbreaking 36-33 overtime decision at North Dakota last Saturday. The Sycamores trailed 27-16 with just over four minutes left in the contest before taking a 30-27 lead with 47 seconds left. However, UND kicked a game-tying field goal with four seconds left to force overtime.
In overtime, ISU had to settle for a 39-yard field goal by Jake Andjelic on its opening possession. UND won the game when Tommy Schuster connected with Quincy Vaughn from 15 yards out.
The Penguins beat the Sycamores 48-42 in a wild game at Stambaugh Stadium last year to grab a 28-8 all-time lead in the series that dates back to 1988. Indiana State has won the most two recent meetings in Terre Haute (28-17 in 2021 and 24-17 in 2019).
Offense Putting Up the Points
In their seven games against FCS opponents this season the Penguins have scored at least 31 points. In five of those contests, the Guins have registered 40 or more.
YSU has set a school record with six consecutive 30-plus point contests and tied the school mark for 40-point games in a season with five (2016, 2001 and 1978 are the others).
The Penguins opened the season by scoring 52 points against Valparaiso before adding 48 against Robert Morris to conclude the non-league season. In five league games, YSU has scored 44 against Missouri State, 41 vs. UNI and Illinois State and 31 each against Southern Illinois and South Dakota.
In the seven FCS games, YSU is averaging 41.1 points per game. In their five MVFC contests, the Guins are scoring 37.6 points per game.
Passing Numbers Skyrocket
The Penguins have unleashed their aerial attack the past three contests with 58 receptions for 885 yards and 11 scores. Through the first five games of the season, YSU had just four passing touchdowns.
Against Missouri State last Saturday, YSU threw for 415 yards, the third most in a game in school history. Only a 446-yard effort vs. Eastern Kentucky in 1985 and 418 at Western Illinois in 2018 rank higher.
It was third time this year the Guins had thrown for more than 300 yards in a game.
Tough On the Run
The Penguins are one of just 10 FCS teams allowing fewer than 100 yards rushing per game.
Through eight games, YSU is allowing just 98.3 yards per game. Six times this year, the Guins have allowed fewer than 111 yards in a game, highlighted by a season-low six against Southern Illinois.
On 208 carries against, the Guins have surrendered just 783 yards this season. However, 390 of those yards have come on 10 carries. On the other 198 attempts, YSU has allowed 393 yards (1.98 per rush).
Scoring on the Ground
Through the first eight games of the season, YSU has scored 22 rushing touchdowns. Last year in 11 games, the Guins had 20 and that was with first-team All-America running back Jaleel Mclaughlin in the backfield.
First-year TB Tyshon King leads the squad with nine rushing scores. TB Dra Rushton has seven scores while QB Mitch Davidson has added four rushing TDs.
In total, five Guins have scored a rushing touchdown. In 2022, only four Penguins scored on the ground.
King Penguin Impresses
Transfer running back Tyshon King has been a strong addition to the program since coming in from Northern Michigan.
In eight games at YSU, King has rushed for 673 yards on 112 carries and scored a team-high nine touchdowns.
Four times he has rushed for more than 111 yards, all of which have come at Stambaugh Stadium, including a career-high 148 yards vs. Illinois State.
On three occasions he has been named the MVFC Newcomer of the Week for his efforts.
Rushton With Career Year
TB Dra Rushton has had the best stretch of his YSU career last month.
In the four contests he had 67 carries for 333 yards and four touchdowns. He also had an important receiving touchdown in the win over Illinois State.
At South Dakota, Rushton rushed for a career-high 116 yards on 16 carries. He ripped off a career-long rush of 33 yards vs. the Coyotes.
Against Illinois State he had 109 yards on 19 carries. He had a key touchdown reception in the fourth quarter vs. the Redbirds.
This year he has rushed for 444 yards on 100 carries. Entering this season he had 387 yards on 87 rushing attempts.
Lastovka Making Kicks
First-year PK Andrew Lastovka has been a major contributor after taking over for three-year starter Colt McFadden this season.
Lastovka is a perfect 9-of-9 on field-goal attempts this season after making a career-high three FGs vs. Missouri State. He is 34-of-35 on PAT kicks this season.
That came one game after he came on to kick a 37-yard field goal as time expired in YSU's 41-38 win over Illinois State.
The walk-off winner vs. Illinois State was almost exactly one year since Colt McFadden made a 42-yard field goal as time expired to beat Western Illinois.
Strong on Special Teams
The Penguins special teams have performed well through the first seven contests.
YSU ranks eighth in the nation in net punting at 41.4 yards and is tied for third in the nation with four blocked punts.
In the opener, Michael Voitus blocked a Valparaiso punt and Jaylen Castleberry returned it for a touchdown. Against RMU, Daryan Bowling was able to get his hands on a punt as well.
At UNI, Bryce Oliver blocked a punt that was recovered by Deamontae Diggs and set the Guins up at the UNI nine-yard line. Last Saturday, it was Diggs with a block that set up a field goal just before halftime.
Oliver Closing in on Flea
WR Bryce Oliver has been a big producer for the Guins since his arrival and he could soon be the program's leader in career touchdown receptions.
Oliver has 23 touchdown catches and trails only Jim "Flea" Ferranti by just two with three regular-season games to play.
Oliver has played in 28 games and has a touchdown reception in 16 contests (four in 2023, seven in 2022 and five in 2021).
In the last 12 games he has played against MVFC foes dating back to October 2022, he has caught touchdown passes in 10 contests.
In his YSU career, Oliver has 122 receptions for 1,684 yards and 23 touchdowns. He had a career-high 169 yards last Saturday against Missouri State.
This season he has 39 catches for 597 yards and five scores.
Charleston Back on Field
One of the great stories this season has been the return to the lineup of CJ Charleston.
Charleston missed last year after suffering an Achilles tendon injury in fall camp.
He has 405 yards on 26 receptions and three touchdowns this year. Entering the season he had 27 catches for 361 yards in his career.
He had a career-high six catches for 119 yards against RMU in September. He has touchdown receptions against Valparaiso, Illinois State and Missouri State. His 72-yard touchdown reception vs. ISU was a career best.
The season-opener against Valpo marked his first game since Nov. 20, 2021, which was at Southern Illinois. Since his debut in 2019, has caught 53 passes for 802 yards in 25 games played.
Howard Having Big Year
LB Alex Howard leads the Penguins with 55 total tackles (31-24) on the year. That total crushes his 2022 season total of 34.
He's had at least five tackles in every game with a high of nine against Valparaiso and Illinois State.
He has been credited with sacks against Valparaiso, Ohio State and Southern Illinois. Last time out he had six tackles at South Dakota.
Last year, Howard had 34 total tackles and just 3.5 TFLs playing in 10 games while making three starts.
Davidson Finding a Rhythm
QB Mitch Davidson has completed 145-of-204 passes for 1,915 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also has four rushing scores this year.
He's tied the school record with three 300-yard passing games in one season joining Denny Klembara on the short list.
Davidson threw for 390 yards vs. Missouri State, 332 at UNI and had 303 against Robert Morris. He has four touchdown passes in each of the last two games. In 10 of his 15 career starts, he's thrown for more than 200 yards.
Davidson started the final seven games of last season, all of which came vs. MVFC foes, and the first eight this season.
Davidson had an impressive performance during the 2022 campaign completing 119-of-201 passes for 12 touchdowns and just one interception.
He has thrown just three interceptions in his last 310 attempts.
O-Line Features Strength
YSU's offensive line features four of five starters from a season ago. That group has a large amount of starting experience with Jaison Williams (35 starts), Aidan Parker (34 starts), David Metzler (26 starts) and Ryan Johnson (23 starts) leading the way. Redshirt freshman Desmeal Leigh has started the eight games at left tackle.
Preseason MVFC Accolades
WR Bryce Oliver, OL Jaison Williams and DE Dylan Wudke were all named preseason first-team All-MVFC selections. DT Chris Fitzgerald and LS Sam Merryman were named to the preseason second team while TB/TE Jake Benio, LB Greg Benton and DB Quincy Lenton were tabbed preseason honorable-mention.
Experience On the D-Line
The Guins have a wealth of experience on the defensive line as well.
The defensive line features veterans Dylan Wudke (32 starts), Chris Fitzgerald (29), Anthony Johnson (14), Andres Lehrmann (eight) and Devin Lee (five). Fitzgerald has started 29 straight games while Wudke has started 27.
