The Youngstown State football team opens Missouri Valley Football Conference play with a home contest against Illinois State on Saturday. Kickoff for the game is set for 4 p.m. and the game will be carried live on 570 WKBN, and televised on tape delay by MyYTV. (8 p.m. on Saturday and Noon on Sunday).
Both school's are coming off big home wins as the Penguins set or tied 16 team and individual school records in a 77-13 win over Valparaiso while Illinois State knocked off Morehead State 52-21. This is the conference opener for both schools.
YSU (1-1) scored a school-record 77 points in an impressive display against Valparaiso last Saturday in the home opener. The Penguins jumped out quickly on the Crusaders by scoring 35 first-quarter points. YSU added 28 more in the second quarter to take a 63-6 halftime lead. In the second half, the Penguins scored two touchdowns. The win was the 16th straight time the Guins have won a season opener.
Illinois State (1-1) also picked up its first win of the season in impressive fashion. The Redbirds led Morehead State 45-7 in the fourth quarter and held the Eagles to minus-48 yards rushing thanks to an eight-sack effort on defense.
The series has been a hard-fought, down-to-the-wire one since the first meeting in September 1979. Both teams have won 10 meetings and the Guins have scored just nine more points in the 20 games. This is just the third September dual between in programs in the series' history. Last year's game on Nov. 6 in Normal, Ill., is a great example of how tight the series has been.
The Penguins trailed Illinois State 35-17 late in the third quarter. YSU overcame the 18-point deficit to pull ahead 39-35 with 26.9 seconds left on a seven-yard scoring run by QB Kurt Hess. But the Redbirds went 69 yards in three plays and pulled out a win with 0.7 seconds left when QB Matt Brown connected with Tyrone Walker for the game-winner.
At Stambaugh Stadium, the Penguins lead the series 6-4 and have won three of the last four meetings, including a 30-18 win in 2009.
YSU returns to the road on Sept. 24 and continues Missouri Valley Football Conference play at Indiana State. Kickoff for the contest at Memorial Stadium in Terre Haute, Ind., is set for 2:05 p.m.
Valpo Game Notes
• YSU scored on its first nine possessions and scored touchdowns on 11 of 14 in the game. Two of the possessions were at the end of each half.
• Valpo had seven three-and-outs and punted on its first seven possessions.
• Davion Rogers blocked a punt and Daniel Stewart blocked an extra-point kick against the Crusaders.
• None of the first eight scoring drives was more than seven plays. The two second-half scoring drives were each 14 plays.
• The Penguins did not punt for just the second time in a game in school history. The other contest was in the 1999 playoffs against North Carolina A&T.
• Kurt Hess passed for more than 200 yards for the sixth time in his career and first time this season. He completed 12-of-13 passes in the game, and his lone incompletion was a drop. He completed his final 11 of the game after starting 1-for-2.
• First-time starters were freshman wide receiver Kintrell Disher and fifth-year senior cornerback Josh Lee. Twenty of the players who started the opener at Michigan State started against Valparaiso.
• Adaris Bellamy (180 yards) and Jamaine Cook (126 yards) became the first pair of Penguins to rush for more than 100 yards in a game since 2008 against North Dakota State.
• Tailbacks Torrian Pace and Parnell Taylor each rushed for the first touchdowns of their career in the second half.
• Lee returned a punt 96 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. His return set an MVFC and school mark. The previous school long was a 91-yard return set in 1965 while the previous league best was 95 by Western Kentucky's Joseph Jefferson against Illinois State in 2001 and James Norris of WIU against Eastern Michigan in 2003.
Valpo Recap: YSU 77, VALPO 13
YSU set numerous school records while extending its home-opener win streak to 16 after an impressive 77-13 win over Valparaiso at Stambaugh Stadium.
The Penguins set a school mark for points in a quarter with 35 in the first. YSU added four touchdowns in the second quarter to set a record with 63 points in the first half.
Jamaine Cook, Adaris Bellamy and Jordan Thompson all rushed for two touchdowns in the first half while Torrian Pace and Parnell Taylor added second-half rushing scores.
Quarterback Kurt Hess completed 12-of-13 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns. His one incompletion was a dropped pass.
Punt returner Josh Lee returned a punt 96 yards for a score in the first quarter.
Redbirds Scouting Report
Illinois State picked up its first win of the season beating Morehead State 52-21. The Redbirds are 1-1 on the season after dropping their season opener against Eastern Illinois.
Junior quarterback Matt Brown tied a career high with five touchdown passes in the win over the Eagles. ISU opened the game strong taking a 24-0 halftime lead and was in front 45-7 in the third. Eastern Illinois handed the Redbirds a 33-26 defeat in the season opener.
Illinois State was 6-5 overall last season and was one of six teams to finish 4-4. ISU had conference wins over YSU, North Dakota State, South Dakota State and Missouri State.
Series History
The series is tied 10-10 since the first meeting, which was in September 1979. Illinois State tied the series last year with its last-second win over the Penguins. In Youngstown, YSU has won six of the 10 meetings, including three of the last four.
This is just the third all-time meeting between the programs in the month of September.
Most games have been nail-biters with 11 meetings being decided by a touchdown or less.
Last Year's Recap vs. Illinois State
YSU fought back from 18 points down in the third quarter to lead 39-35 with 26.9 seconds remaining. However, Illinois State scored on a 40-yard touchdown pass with 0.7 seconds left to hand the Guins a 41-39 loss.
The Penguins trailed 35-17 in the third quarter before scoring 22 unanswered points. Jamaine Cook scored on a seven-yard pass from Kurt Hess in the third to get YSU within 35-24.
In the fourth quarter, Cook scored on a 16-yard run with 6:33 left, and Hess found paydirt with 26.9 seconds remaining to put the Guins on top 39-35.
Illinois State pulled out the win when Matt Brown connected with Tyrone Walker on a 40-yard touchdown pass with 0.7 seconds remaining. Brown threw five touchdown passes while Walker caught three.
Cook ended the contest rushing for 213 yards on 43 carries, the second most in a game in school history. He also had 311 all-purpose yards.
MVFC Openers
The Guins are 11-3 in Missouri Valley Football Conference openers since joining the league in 1997. This is just the second time the Guins will face the Redbirds in a league opener. The other time was a 20-17 win in 2005.
Of the 14 league openers, the Guins are a perfect 7-0 at home while going 4-3 on the road. In MVFC openers YSU is 4-0 against Missouri State, 3-0 vs. Indiana State, 2-0 against Western Illinois, 1-0 against Southern Illinois, 1-0 against Illinois State, 0-1 vs. South Dakota State and 0-2 vs. Western Kentucky.
All-time in September MVFC games, the Penguins are 10-3, including a win over Southern Illinois last year.
Distributing the Ball
YSU quarterback Kurt Hess has completed passes to 11 different players after two games. Hess connected with TE Will Shaw and WR Andre Barboza for the first time this season against Valpo. Previously, he had nine different targets at Michigan State.
Leading the way so far is freshman WR Christian Bryan, who has 11 catches through two games. Six wide receivers, three running backs and a pair of tight ends have receptions this year.
New Line = No Sacks Again
Through the first two games, the new-look YSU offensive line has not allowed a sack. The same unit has started each game together - LT Andrew Radakovich, LG Lamar Mady, C Mark Pratt, RG Chris Elkins and RT D.J. Main.
At Michigan State, the Penguins did not surrender a sack in 35 passing attempts by QB Kurt Hess. Against Valparaiso, Hess completed 12-of-13 passes in the game.
The starters, along with the reserves, helped pave the way for eight rushing touchdowns by five different tailbacks. YSU rushed for 460 yards, the second-highest total in school history. Elkins was named the MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his efforts.
Out of 148 plays run so far, the Penguins have allowed just nine tackles for losses. Of the 22 yards lost so far this year, 12 have come on kneel downs by the quarterback.
Cook Opening Some Eyes
Junior tailback Jamaine Cook had the seventh 100-yard rushing performance of his career last Saturday against Valparaiso. In just over one quarter of action, Cook ran for 126 yards on 15 carries and scored two touchdowns.
In playing about four full quarters (1-plus vs. Valpo and 3 at Michigan State), he has rushed for 202 yards on 32 carries. At MSU he had 76 yards on 17 carries. His yardage numbers were the most rushing yards in school history against a BCS foe in seven games.
Our Bell Totes, Scores
Sophomore TB Adaris Bellamy rushed for a career-high 180 yards on a career-best 20 carries against Valparaiso. He also scored on runs of 34 and 13 yards in the second quarter against the Crusaders.
Impressively it was the fifth multi-touchdown game of his 13 game YSU career. On four occasions last year he scored at least twice, including a career-best three at Western Illinois.
Tailback U
Against Valparaiso, YSU's first, second, third, fourth and fifth-string tailbacks all scored touchdowns. Starter Jamaine Cook scored on runs of 31 and one yard, Jordan Thompson had 10 and nine-yard scores, Adaris Bellamy scored on 34- and 13-yard scampers, Torrian Pace had a 13-yard score and Parnell Taylor found the end zone on a two-yard carry. It was the first career touchdowns for Pace, a sophomore, and Taylor, a freshman. YSU ran the ball the final 43 plays of the game.
Our Teams are Special
The Penguins returned a punt for a touchdown, while blocking a punt and an extra-point against Valparaiso. YSU did not punt in a game for just the second time in school history (only other game was Dec. 4, 1999). Junior PK David Brown set a school record with 11 extra-point kicks made in a single game. Josh Lee returned his punt for a touchdown a school-record 96 yards. Andre Stubbs also returned three kickoffs for 118 yards, including a career-long 50 yards.
Lee Sets Return Record
Senior CB Josh Lee set a school and conference record with his 96-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter. It was just the second career punt return for Lee. It was the second straight season that a Penguin returned a punt for a touchdown in the season opener (Dominique Barnes vs. Butler).
Stubbs All-Around Player
Freshman WR/KR Andre Stubbs showed signs of being an impact player again. Stubbs returned three kickoffs against Valparaiso for 118 yards. He had returns of 50, 44 and 24 against the Crusaders. The 118 yards are the fifth most in a game in school history.
Bryan Already Up to 11
Freshman WR Christian Bryan has 11 receptions through the first two games for the Penguins this season. He had one of the best debuts by a freshman in school history. Bryan had six catches for 45 yards at Michigan State. He caught five passes for a career-high 78 yards against Valparaiso.
The last freshman to catch six passes in a game was TB Jake Andreadis, who did it three times during his freshman campaign in 1995.
However, Bryan is the first freshman wide receiver in YSU's FCS era to have six receptions in a contest.
Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood
Redshirt freshman LB Davion Rogers was a nightmare for Valparaiso. Rogers tied for the team lead with seven tackles and blocked the first punt of his YSU career in the second quarter. He was highly decorated for his efforts, receiving team defensive player of the game and co-special teams player of the game accolades. He even got the nod for Hit of the Game.
Defense Spreads Out
A total of 26 different players had at least one tackle against Valparaiso. LB Davion Rogers and LB Teven Williams tied for team honors with seven while FS Sir Aaron Taylor had six - all solos - as did LB John Sasson.
Three of YSU's four defensive linemen were credited with sacks (Obinna Ekweremuba, Andrew Johnson and Aronde Stanton). Although he did not have a sack, DE Daniel Stewart blocked at PAT kick. Stewart did register a sack at Michigan State. LB Dom Rich had the first interception of his career while DT Quentin Jones recovered his first career fumble.
Defense on the Rebound
The Penguins defense held Valpo to 13 points last Saturday. It was the second-fewest allowed in the past two seasons. YSU has given up 41 points through two games season. Last year in the season opener, the Guins surrendered 44.
YSU has been doing a good job of containing big plays. In two games, the Guins have allowed just four plays longer than 20 yards on 123 opponent snaps. Valpo had a 66-yard pass and a 22-yard run while Michigan State had a 55-yard pass and a 23-yard run.
Only one of the six touchdowns allowed so far this season has come via the air. In 2010, YSU allowed 26 passing touchdowns by the opposition.
Possession is the Law
YSU held the ball for an impressive 37:05 against Valparaiso. The first half was fairly even, but in the second stanza, the Penguins maintained possession for 21:44 out of 30 minutes. YSU had two 14-play scoring drives that went for 80 and 86 yards and did not throw a pass.
YSU had a time of possession of 31:09 at Michigan State. The Penguins dominated the first quarter, holding the ball for 11:13 before adding 8:23 to their total in the second.
In 2010, YSU had more time of possession than its opponents on seven occasions. Three times, the Penguins held onto the ball for more than 10 minutes more than their opponents.
Third-Down Conversions
The Penguins have converted 14-of-24 third-down situations so far this year. YSU was 6-of-9 against Valpo and 8-of-15 at Michigan State.
After the first two weeks, the Guins are third in the country in third-down conversion percentage behind Towson and Southeastern Louisiana.
Last year, YSU was fourth in the FCS in third-down conversions at 47.8 percent.
Preaching Red-Zone Success
Coach Eric Wolford continues to stress Red Zone play in his second campaign. In nine trips this year, the Penguins have scored eight touchdowns and missed a field goal.
Last year, YSU was 41-of-45 in the red zone for a conversion percentage of 91.1 percent. That ranked third in the country behind Furman and Indiana State.
Hess Starts Career Strong
Sophomore QB Kurt Hess had the sixth 200-yard passing game of his career and the first of the season with a 204-yard performance against Valpo. Hess was 12-of-13 for the game, completing his final 11 passes. His lone incompletion was dropped.
He had a strong first season in 2010, throwing for 2,117 yards and 12 touchdowns on the way to being named the MVFC Freshman of the Year.
In his career, he has completed 208-of-352 passes (59.1 percent) for 2,447 yards and 15 touchdowns. His 2,447 yards rank 15th in school history just 11 behind Bob Courtney and 98 behind Nick Cochran.
Only two quarterbacks have thrown for more than 2,000 yards in consecutive seasons in school history. Mark Brungard in 1994 and 1995 and Trenton Lykes in 1986 and 1987 accomplished the feat in consecutive seasons.
I Wanna Be Rich
Sophomore LB Dom Rich intercepted the first pass of his career late in the second quarter versus Valparaiso. Rich finished the game with three total tackles, including two solo stops. Rich joins LB Deonta Tate, FS Scott Sentner and TE Will Shaw as Penguins with interceptions.
D-Line Each With a Sack
After two games, each member of the starting defensive line -- Daniel Stewart, Andrew Johnson, Aronde Stanton and Obinna Ekweremuba - have each recorded a sack. YSU's four-sack total is already one-third of the way toward last year's 12. The Penguins also have 10 tackles for losses, averaging five per game. In 2010, the Guins averaged 3.4 per contest.
Stewart is the active team leader in career sacks with three ahead of Obinna Ekweremuba (2.0), Andrew Johnson (2.0), Deonta Tate (1.5), Aronde Stanton (1.0) and John Sasson (0.5).
Now We're Cooking
Junior TB Jamaine Cook, who is on the preseason Watch List for the Walter Payton Award, is off to a solid start to the 2011 campaign averaging 101 yards per contest on just 32 carries. He is averaging 6.3 yards per rush.
For his career, Cook has rushed for 1,589 yards on 294 carries and scored 13 touchdowns while averaging 5.4 per carry. He also has 28 receptions for 243 yards.
Cook, a second-team All-MVFC selection in 2010, is 178 yards shy of cracking the top 20 for career rushing yardage.
He had the seventh 100-yard plus rushing game of his career when he finished with 126 against Valpo.
Last season against Illinois State, Cook posted a career-best 213 yards on 43 carries while scoring three touchdowns.
Top of the Liste
Sophomore punter Nick Liste did not attempt a punt in the win over Valparaiso. It was just the second time in school history YSU went puntless during a game. The other was in the 1999 playoffs in a 41-3 win over North Carolina A&T.
In the opener at Michigan State, he placed two of his five punts inside the 10-yard line - at the 10 and five-yard lines - in the second half.
Of his 41 kicks last season, 25 went at least 40 yards while 15 placed the opposition inside its own 20-yard line. He also had six 50-yard plus boots in 2010, including a career-long 69-yarder at Missouri State. He averaged 41.4 yards per kick in 2010.
Against the Redbirds
YSU players have had some standout plays and performances against Illinois State. Last year, Jamaine Cook rushed for 213 yards on 43 carries and caught five passes for 48 yards; Kurt Hess completed 19-of-38 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns to go along with a rushing score and David Rogers had a touchdown catch. Defensively, John Sasson had eight tackles last year while Donald D'Alesio and Dom Rich have five each.
In 2008, Josh Lee had a 71-yard run in Normal. Sasson has 10 total tackles against the Redbirds during his career, but he did not play in the 2009 meeting in Youngstown.
Wolford in Second Year
Head Coach Eric Wolford is in his second season looking to build on last year's three-win campaign.
Historically, the second years of head coaches have gone either way.
Here is a look at the previous five coaches and how they fared their first two years: Coach Dwight Beede won four games in each of his first two seasons; Rey Dempsey improved from four to eight; Bill Narduzzi went from five to four, Jim Tressel went from two to eight and Jon Heacock went from eight to seven.
New Faces in all Places
The Penguins have 48 players on the full roster who were not with the program last year.
That does not include a group of eight individuals who redshirted and three others who were part of the team but did not letter - including one who did not see action at all.
So of the 94 players on the roster, 57 did not see the field for the Penguins last year.
YSU returns 37 letterwinners (17 on offense, 18 on defense and two on special teams) from the 2010 team, but three have already been designated to redshirt this year because of injuries. The Guins lost 30 letterwinners from the 2010 team.
No Seniors on the Line
The Penguins have no seniors on the offensive line this year. The last time no seniors started on the line was in 1998.
Since at least 1978, this is the first time no seniors at all were part of the offensive line.
Eight is Enough
The last three times the Penguins dropped eight games in one campaign, they rebounded strong the next year.
YSU is 1-1 in 2011 following a hard-luck 3-8 season last year. Most recently, the Guins lost eight times in 1995 and rebounded to win eight in 1996.
In 1986 (Coach Jim Tressel's first season), YSU suffered nine defeats but regrouped to win eight games and reach the postseason in 1987. In 1980, YSU was 2-8-1 and rebounded with a 7-4 mark the following year.
The only time YSU did not win at least seven games in the immediate year following an eight or nine-loss season was following the lone winless campaign in school history (0-9 in 1970). The Guins won twice in 1971.
WATTS New at YSU
Visitors to Youngstown for this fall will see plenty of changes.
Most visually will be the WATTS, the Watson and Tressel Training Site, an indoor practice facility east of the Stadium. The project was ongoing during last year's football campaign and should be totally completed in the near future. The building is open for football and sports team practices.
YSU also had a new turf surface installed over the summer. The Sports Construction Group of Brecksville, Ohio, installed Shaw Sportexe's PowerBlade HP+ in Stambaugh Stadium for use by the football and soccer programs.
And the uniforms have undergone a minor tweak. The Penguins will wear black pants at home once again. YSU wore white pants both home and away in 2010 in its first year with Under Armour. Now, the traditional black pants make a return with the red uniform tops.
Single Digits in Fumbles
The Guins have not lost a fumble after two games this season.
Last year, YSU lost just nine fumbles marking the seventh straight season they have lost single digits in fumbles.
In 2009, YSU lost just three fumbles. In 2008, YSU lost nine in 12 games. YSU had nine fumbles lost in 2007, five in 2006, eight in 2005 and eight in 2004. Prior to the current seven-year streak, the Guins had committed single digits in fumbles lost in consecutive years just twice in school history (1986-87 and 1958-59).
And Your Captains Are:
The Penguins announced their 2011 captains on Saturday, Aug. 27. Those selected were sophomore quarterback Kurt Hess, junior tailback Jamaine Cook, senior linebacker John Sasson and senior defensive tackle Andrew Johnson. Hess, who started every game at quarterback last year, is believed to be the first sophomore to be named a team captain in school history.
Building a Turnaround
Coach Eric Wolford is working to turn the Penguins' fortunes around quickly.
YSU has 15 junior-college transfers, eight Division I transfers and three lower-division transfers on the current roster.
The FBS transfers are QB Adam Charles (Akron), CB Devonta' Davis (Miami, Fla.), WR Juilian Harrell (Miami, Ohio), DT Andrew Johnson (Bowling Green), OT Andrew Radakovich (Penn State), Anthony Stryffeler (Ball State) and LB Travis Williams (Miami, Fla.).
Davis, Johnson, Williams and Radakovich started against Michigan State.
Fresh Faces Past Two Years
This season the Penguins have played nine true freshmen - three have started - through the first two games. A total of 18 other players have made their YSU debuts this year as well.
Last year, a total of 13 freshmen saw the field. Of those, five made an appearance in the starting lineup.
Of the nine that are true sophomores in 2011, five are on offense and four are on defense. This year, Jamarious Boatwright and Zach Larson will redshirt because of injuries while two are no longer with the program.
Numbers of Note
• Turnover Margin: Since 1996, the Penguins are 97-22 when they win or tie in the turnover margin. When committing more turnovers, YSU is just 13-46.
Since 1990 YSU is:
• 130-18-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 21 points in a game.
• 102-10 when rushing for 200-plus yards.
• 122-17 when scoring 28-or-more points.
• 65-6-1 when holding opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing in a game.
• 149-8 when leading entering the fourth.
• 68-3-2 when holding opponents to 10 points-or-less in a game.
Up Next: At Indiana State
YSU plays its first Missouri Valley Football Conference road game at Indiana State on Sept. 24 in Terre Haute, The Penguins have never lost in 10 previous trips to ISU.
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