Oct. 29, 2009
Penguins Prepare for Homecoming Tilt with No. 9 South Dakota State
The Penguins (4-3 and 2-2) look to keep their postseason
hopes alive when they play host to No. 9 South Dakota State...kickoff for the
Halloween contest is set for 4:07 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium...the game is the
Missouri Valley Football Conference’s Television Game of the Week...it is the
first Halloween home game since 1992...all-time, YSU is 4-4 on Oct. 31...the
contest is also the annual Homecoming game...all-time on Homecoming, YSU is
47-19-1, including a 19-8 mark at Stambaugh Stadium...however, the Guins have
lost five of their last six Homecoming tilts...last year, the Guins lost to
fourth-ranked UNI, 21-20...five times the Guins have finished the season with an
8-3 mark, but only two (1987 and 1989) resulted in playoff berths...the Penguins
lost 27-8 at third-ranked Southern Illinois last Saturday...South Dakota State
picked up an impressive 24-14 win over then No. 6 UNI last Saturday...SDSU has
won three straight games...the Jackrabbits’ lone loss was a road defeat at Cal
Poly (21-14)...SDSU has road wins at Missouri State and Illinois State...SDSU
has won 11 of its 13 MVFC contests since joining the league...YSU returns to
action on Nov. 7 at UNI.
THE SERIES VS. SDSU
This is the 11th meeting in a series tied at five wins each. In Youngstown, the
series is tied 3-3. YSU won 23-17 in the last meeting between the schools at
Stambaugh Stadium in September 2007.
YSU has won all five times it has allowed 21-or-fewer points. However, the Guins
have lost three times when scoring at least 20 points.
Last year, South Dakota State beat the Penguins 40-7 in Brookings. Of the 10
all-time meetings, three have been decided by six points or less.
QUICK NOTES FROM SIU
• The Penguins passed for 296 yards while rushing for 50. The last time YSU
passed for 246 more yards than rushed for in a game was on Sept. 23, 1995, at
McNeese State. YSU threw for 281 yards in that game with only 12 rushing yards.
• The 45 passing attempts were the most in a game since Sept. 9, 1995, against
Stephen F. Austin (45 also).• YSU had more total offensive yards (346-315), more
yards passing (296-168), more time of possession (30:03-29:57), fewer punts
(four to five) and fewer penalties and penalty yards than SIU.
• LB Na’eem Outler recorded a career-high nine tackles, six of which were solos.
• WR Aaron Pitts had the best game of his YSU career. Pitts had career highs in
receptions (seven) and yards (102). He also caught his third career touchdown
pass, which was the longest reception of his career (56 yards).
• FB Kyle Banna caught his first pass of the season and second on his career.
• QB Brandon Summers has thrown a touchdown pass in six straight games after
tossing one against the Salukis. It’s the longest streak by a quarterback since
Tom Zetts had a streak of eight (final five games in 2004 and first three games
in 2005).
• WR Donald Jones has 30 receptions in the past three games after hauling in a
school-record tying 11 at SIU. He ranks ninth in the FCS in receptions per game
(7.0).
• WR Dominique Barnes has caught a pass in 19 straight games while Jones has a
reception in 17 consecutive contests.
LAST MEETING: SDSU 40, YSU 7
South Dakota State scored 27 first-half points and the
Penguins never recovered, suffering a 40-7 setback to the Jackrabbits in the
Missouri Valley Football Conference opener for both schools last year in
Brookings.
YSU, which was ranked 14th, scored its first touchdown of the
season in the third quarter on a two-yard run by Jabari Scott. Scott’s score
capped an impressive 14-play, 74-yard drive.
SDSU quarterback Ryan Berry had a solid evening completing
19-of-30 passes for 319 yards and two touchdowns. He also added a rushing score
in the first quarter.
Jackrabbits running back Kyle Minett also had a strong
evening rushing for 123 yards and finishing with 65 yards receiving. He had two
rushing touchdowns in the game.
YSU had 205 yards of total offense while South Dakota State,
which was ranked 21st, finished with 506.
Punter Ben Nowicki had a second straight strong outing averaging 43.8 yards per
kick, including two boots of more than 50 yards.
LAST GAME: SIU 27, YSU 8
Youngstown State hung tough with third-ranked Southern
Illinois, passing for a season-high 296 yards while holding the nation’s leading
rusher to just 67 yards. However, some special teams miscues played a big role
in the Penguins’ 27-8 loss in their final visit to McAndrew Stadium.
Early in the second quarter, SIU blocked a Ben Nowicki punt
and took over at the YSU two. Two plays later, John Goode plunged in from a yard
out.
Just over four minutes later, SIU backup quarterback Paul
McIntosh connected on an 86-yard scoring toss to Joe Allaria.
Late in the second, YSU had a chance to get on the board, but
Stephen Blose missed a 25-yard field goal attempt.
In the third SIU added 10 points to its lead on a two-yard
score by Deji Karim and 44-yard field goal by Kyle Dougherty.
YSU got on the scoreboard with 9:55 left when Brandon Summers
connected with Aaron Pitts on a 56-yard score and two-point conversion pass.
After SIU recovered an onside kick, Dougherty made a 45-yard
field goal with 6:17 remaining to make it a three-score game again.
The Salukis intercepted two Summers passes late in the game
to seal the victory.
HOLDING ON TO THE BALL
The Penguins are one of just eight FCS teams who have lost
two fumbles or fewer this season. YSU did not lose a fumble for the first 18
quarters of the year before Kevin Smith lost a fumble at the start of the third
quarter against MSU. Brandon Summers lost a fumble against Western Illinois on
Oct. 10.
Only Cornell has lost just one fumble to lead the FCS ranks. YSU is among a
group of seven teams with just two fumbles lost.
DEFENSE SLOWED SALUKIS
Southern Illinois came into the YSU game averaging 433.6
yards of total offense and 233.8 yards rushing per game. The Penguins held the
Salukis to 315 total offensive yards and 147 on the ground.
SIU tailback Deji Karim entered the game as the FCS’ top
rusher averaging 159.8 yards per contest, but YSU put the clamps on him for just
67 yards on 20 attempts.
YSU and Marshall, which also allowed just 67 yards, are the
only two teams to keep him under 125 yards this season.
MUCH IMPROVED ON RUSH D
So far this year, YSU has held two teams under 70 yards
rushing while only two backs have gone over the century mark (last year nine
did). The last time the Guins held at least two teams under 70 yards rushing in
the same year was 2005 - four times. WIU’s Dre Gibbs had a season-high 155
against YSU on Oct. 10 while Pitt freshman sensation Dion Lewis had 129.
The Penguins have not allowed more than 187 yards rushing so
far this year. Seven times last year the Guins allowed 187-or-more rushing
yards.
PASSING PENGUINS
The Penguins have become more of a passing program than a
rushing one in just over the past two seasons.
This year, YSU has thrown for 1,398 yards while rushing for
973. The Guins have tried to rush the football, having 272 attempts compared to
206 attempted passes, but the yardage is in favor of the passing game.
Last season was the first time since 1995 that the program
passed for more yardage (2,045) than it rushed for (1,988).
In the past 20 games, dating back to the final game of the
2007 season, YSU has passed for 3,757 yards compared to 3,051 on the ground (a
188 to 153 per game average).
The last time YSU had more yards passing than rushing in
consecutive seasons was 1986 and 1987.
MORE ON THE DEFENSE
Through seven games this year, the Penguins defense has
allowed 2,025 yards in total offense. Talk about a turnaround. After seven games
last year, YSU had surrendered 2,683 yards.
In per game averages, opponents averaged 383.3 yards a
contest in the first seven games last year. That is down to 289.3 this season.
Also in seven games this year, the most total offensive yards
the Guins have allowed is 390 to Pitt. Last season, YSU surrendered more than
400 yards on six occasions, including four games up to this point in the season.
RANKED FOES CONTINUE
The Penguins play their second straight ranked team when they
play host ninth-ranked South Dakota State on Saturday.
YSU suffered a 27-8 loss to No. 3 Southern Illinois dropping
its first contest against a ranked team this season. The Penguins play the No. 9
Jackrabbits on Saturday before heading to 14th-ranked UNI on Nov. 7. The Guins
are 9-9 against ranked teams since 2006.
HOMECOMING TURNAROUND NEEDED
The Penguins will be looking to stop a trend of losing on
their Homecoming. YSU has dropped three straight and five of its last six
Homecoming contests. The Guins’ lone Homecoming win since 2003 was a victory
over Missouri State in 2005 (31-7). All-time in Homecoming games, the Penguins
are 47-19-1, including 19-8 at Stambaugh Stadium.
HEACOCK COACHED 100TH
Coach Jon Heacock coached his 100th game as the Penguins’
head coach last Saturday at Southern Illinois. Longevity has long been a strong
suit of the program’s coaches. He is the fourth out of five coaches in YSU
history to coach 100 games with the program. Dike Beede leads the way with 279,
Jim Tressel ranks second with 194 and Bill Narduzzi is third with 120.
SUMMERS' IMPRESSIVE STARTS
Senior quarterback Brandon Summers has been extremely sharp
in the first halves of the last three games. Summers has completed 34-of-41
passes (82.9 percent) for 332 yards and three touchdowns.
In the second half of those three games he is 31-of-61 for 349 yards with five
interceptions and one touchdown.
He attempted only five passes against WIU, but the Guins had
a double-digit lead for the entire half. Against Missouri State, he attempted 27
passes as the Guins tried to overcome a 10-point deficit. At SIU he was 17-of-29
for 192 yards, two INTs and touchdown as the Penguins trailed by double figures
throughout.
Summers had a career-high 45 pass attempts at SIU. For the
second time in his career he had 30 completions in a game. He is the first
quarterback in school history to have 30-plus completions in two contests.
PITTS PICKS IT UP
Senior wide receiver Aaron Pitts had the best game of his
career with seven receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown against Southern
Illinois. Pitts has caught 20 passes this season for 234 yards and two
touchdowns. Entering his senior campaign, he had 12 receptions for 137 yards and
one score, which came in 2007.
OUTLER PLAYING OUTSTANDING
Junior linebacker Na’eem Outler set a career best with nine
tackles at Southern Illinois. Outler also had a career-high six solo stops
against the Salukis. For the season he ranks third on the team with 33 tackles.
He is second with six tackles for losses and sacks.
DEPENDABLE DUO AT WIDEOUT
Wide receivers Donald Jones and Dominique Barnes have
combined for 87 receptions, 938 yards and eight touchdowns in seven contests.
Last year in a 12-game regular season, the two combined for 69 catches, 878
yards and 10 scores.
In their two years together (19 games), they have 156
receptions for 1,816 yards and scored 18 times. Jones had 31 catches last year
and already has 49 grabs in 2009. Barnes had 38 catches a year ago and has 38
this year.
MR. JONES AND ME
Senior wide receiver Donald Jones has twice tied the school
record for receptions in a game this season. Jones had 11 for the second time
last Saturday at Southern Illinois. He also had 11 on Oct. 3 against Missouri
State.
He has now caught a pass in 17 consecutive games and has had
multiple receptions in the past 15.
The last player to catch 50 passes in a season was T.J. Peterson, who had 53 in
14 games in 2006. Jones has 49 with four games remaining. The school record for
receptions in a season is 75 by Jim Ferranti in 1979. The last player with
60-plus was Elliott Giles (62) in 1999.
THE O-LINE SHUFFLE
In seven games, the offensive line has shown its depth as
o-line coach Chris Bache has started seven different units. Only one player has
started every game, right guard Brian Mellott, the lone senior of the group.
Against Southern Illinois, Eric Rodemoyer started at left
tackle for the first time in his career. Rodemoyer had started the last five
games at left guard before moving over to tackle. Justin Rechichar, who started
at center against WIU, started in his spot at left guard.
Rodemoyer has started the past six games after missing the
opener at Pittsburgh. Andrew Radakovich had started the previous five games
before not being in the lineup at SIU.
Center Tyler Figueroa started the first five games of the
year before sitting out the WIU contest, but returned at Southern Illinois.
Other players to start this year are Andy Kowicki (Pitt),
Bill Dugan (Pitt and Austin Peay), Bobby Coates (Western Illinois and Southern
Illinois), Chris Gammon (Pitt and Missouri State) and Greg Sazdanoff (Indiana
State). Dugan, Figueroa, Kowicki and Radakovich have all started for the first
time in their careers.
JONES HOLDS SCHOOL MARK (TWICE)
Senior WR Donald Jones is the only player in school history
to catch 11 passes in two different games. He is also the only player to have
two double-figure reception games.
Jones holds the school record with T.J. Peterson, who had 11
against James Madison in 2006, and Dave DelSignore, who had 11 against Southern
Illinois in 1968.
Amazingly, the Guins had one player record 11 catches in a
game once in the first 680 games in school history. Recently, it has occurred
three times in the past 33 contests.
TWO RUSHERS AT 1,000
Senior TBs Kevin Smith and Jabari Scott have each rushed for
more than 1,000 yards in their YSU careers. Smith is the active team leader with
1,165 yards on 251 carries. Scott has rushed for 1,116 yards on 202 attempts in
his career.
WR Donald Jones is now over 1,000 yards receiving for his
career. Jones has 1,020 yards on 80 receptions.
SMITH MAKING SOLID RETURN
Senior TB Kevin Smith has rushed for a team-high 555 yards
this season, including 508 on 111 carries the past six games.
Smith had at least 16 carries in the first six games before
toting the ball a season-low nine times at Southern Illinois. He had a
season-high 38 carries against Western Illinois. His season-best rushing total
is a 116-yard performance versus Austin Peay. Smith sat out the entire 2008
campaign with an injury and has started the first seven games this year.
BROWN OUT
Senior TB/FB Dana Brown has become a strong addition to the
offensive arsenal. In the past three games he has 30 carries for 135 yards and a
touchdown. Against Missouri State on Oct. 3, he rushed for a career-high 72
yards on a career-best 15 carries. Against Western Illinois he picked up his
second career touchdown.
This season, Brown has rushed for 263 yards on 57 attempts in just six games
played. Last year, he had 259 yards on 73 rushes.
INTERCEPTION NUMBERS ARE UP
Youngstown State has nine interceptions through
seven games.
Only three times since 2001 has YSU finished the year with
more interceptions than games played. The Guins had 18 in 2005 (11 games), 13 in
2003 (12) and 14 in 2001 (11).
This year, YSU has returned two of those interceptions for
touchdowns. Andre Elliott returned a pick 30 yards at Northeastern and Na’eem
Outler went 37 yards at Indiana State.
It is the first time since 2006 that the Penguins returned two interceptions for
scores. The school record for interceptions returned for touchdowns in a year is
three, set in 1991. The program has had two INT returns for scores in 2006,
1997, 1994 and 1977.
NOWICKI OVER SIXTY
Senior punter Ben Nowicki has had punts of more than 60 yards
twice this season. Nowicki had a 62-yard boot against Missouri State, one week
after connecting on a career-long 67-yarder at Indiana State.
His 67-yard punt against the Sycamores was the longest by a
YSU punter since Joe Bishop’s 67-yarder at Pitt in 2005.
Nowicki ranks third in school history, averaging 39.5 yards
per kick.
BARNES BECOMES PLAYMAKER
Junior WR Dominique Barnes has caught a touchdown pass in
four of the last five games.
Against Western Illinois he caught a seven-yard strike from
Brandon Summers. At Indiana State he hauled in a 36-yard toss, at Northeastern
he had a 32-yard scoring reception, and, against Austin Peay, he had 16-yarder.
Barnes has caught a pass in 19 straight games and has 18
career multi-catch games, including his last 16 contests.
CONNECTION IS MADE
Both Brandon Summers and Dominique Barnes played quarterback
at Southfield High School before moving on to the college ranks. Summers was the
Bluejays’ QB from 2003-04 while Barnes followed from 2005-06.
So far this season, the two have hooked up on four touchdown
passes - seven yards vs. Western Illinois, 36 at Indiana State, 32 at
Northeastern and 16 against Austin Peay. Last year, they connected on touchdown
passes three times.
WINS VS. LOSSES
The difference between winning and losing can pretty much be
dictated by turnovers and red-zone performance so far this year for the Guins,
and the stats back that up.
In the four victories, YSU has caused 14 turnovers while
giving the ball up just five times. In the red zone of those victories, YSU is
14-of-18 (78 percent) while its opponents are 5-for-9 (56 percent). In the three
defeats, YSU has committed eight turnovers while causing just two. In the red
zone, the Guins are 0-of-5 while opponents are a prefect 11-of-11, including
eight touchdowns.
Also, in the wins, YSU has scored 18 touchdowns compared to
just two in its losses.
O-LINE JUNIOR DOMINATED
The 2009 squad has just one senior (Brian Mellott) to go
along with six juniors. The line also has four redshirt freshmen, one sophomore
and one true freshman. So far this season, 10 different players have started at
least one game across the offensive line. Bobby Coates (right tackle) and Justin
Rechichar (center) started against Western Illinois.
Here is a list of career starts for the current members of
the unit: Brian Mellott (18), Eric Rodemoyer (16), Bobby Coates (15), Tyler
Figueroa (6), Chris Gammon (5), Andrew Radakovich (5), Justin Rechichar (5),
Greg Sazdanoff (2), Bill Dugan (1) and Andy Kowicki (1).
UP NEXT: AT UNI
The Penguins are back on the road when they visit UNI on Nov.
7. The Panthers are off this Saturday and are coming off losses to Southern
Illinois and South Dakota State. At 5-3, UNI, which was ranked as high as second
this year, needs to win out to keep its chances of making the playoffs alive.
YSU last won at the UNI Dome in 1999 and has lost eight straight in the series.