Penguin News
The No. 24 Youngstown State football team returns to Illinois for the second straight weekend as the Penguins take on Western Illinois on Saturday in Macomb. Kickoff for the Halloween contest at Hanson Field is set for 2 p.m. Eastern time/1 p.m. Central time. The game is available on WKBN 570 AM, iHeartRadio, WBCB TV, ESPN3 and the Watch ESPN App.
YSU (3-4 overall, 1-3 in the MVFC) is coming off a tough 38-31 overtime loss at Southern Illinois. The Penguins led 31-20 with just over five minutes remaining in the contest but could not hold off the Salukis. SIU tied the game with six seconds remaining in regulation before scoring first in overtime. The Penguins were stopped on fourth down at the SIU 6-yard line on the final play of the game.
YSU QB Hunter Wells threw for a career-high 324 yards in the contest. Wells was 20-of-31 and had three touchdown passes. Senior WR Andrew Williams caught two of the three scoring tosses, including an 85-yard touchdown toss late in the third quarter. The Penguins had a season-high 507 yards of total offense in the game against SIU. The Salukis' Mark Iannotti completed 14-of-27 passes for 275 yards and three scores, including a 24-yard pass to Israel Lamprakes in overtime which provided to be the game winner.
Western Illinois (4-3, 3-1) dropped its first conference game of the season falling 48-28 at Illinois State. In the third quarter, the Leathernecks took a 28-21 lead before the Redbirds closed out the game with 27 unanswered points. WIU took its 28-21 lead with 8:28 left in the third quarter on a 10-yard run by Devon Moore. But two big-play touchdowns - a 65-yard pass and an 83-yard run by Marshaun Coprich helped Illinois State put the game out of reach. WIU wide receiver Lance Lenoir became the school's all-time receptions leader during the game. Lenoir has 161 in his Leathernecks' career after hauling in 11 passes at ISU.
The Penguins have won 18 of the 30 all-time meetings in the series which dates back to 1969. YSU has a good run in the series of late winning nine of the last 11 games, but the Leathernecks defeated the Guins 30-24 last season in Youngstown. At Hanson Field, YSU has won four of the past five meetings, including a 31-7 win in 2012.
Pregame Notes
• YSU has played two overtime games this season. It marks the first time in school history the Guins have played multiple-OT games in the same year.
• The Penguins are playing in Illinois for the second straight week. YSU visits Macomb this Saturday after playing at SIU last week. It's the first time ever YSU has played two straight games in Illinois.
• Against Southern Illinois, sophomore QB Hunter Wells threw for a career-high 324 yards. Wells completed 21-of-30 passes and had three touchdowns in the contest in an impressive bounce-back effort.
• Senior WR Andrew Williams had a season-high 150 receiving yards on a season-best six receptions. It was the second time in his career he had more than 150 yards in a game (158 at Illinois State in 2014).
• Wells connected on an 85-yard touchdown pass to Williams in the third quarter against SIU. The pass play was the second longest in YSU history behind a 90-yard scoring pass from Jeff Ryan to Renauld Ray against New Haven in 1999.
• YSU had a season-best 507 yards of total offense in the game.
• FS Jameel Smith had a career-high 13 tackles in the contest. Also registering career highs in tackles were Emmanuel Kromah (seven), Cody Squiric (four) and Kenny Bishop (three).
Southern Illinois Recap
YSU led 31-20 with five-and-a-half minutes left in the fourth quarter but Southern Illinois rallied to force overtime and ultimately defeat the Penguins 38-31 at Saluki Stadium.
After a scoreless first quarter, YSU took a 7-0 lead on a one-yard pass from Hunter Wells to Andrew Williams, but SIU tied the contest on a 63-yard pass from Mark Iannotti to Billy Reed just 47 seconds later. The Guins regained the lead when Ricky Davis scored on a five-yard run with 4:59 left in the half.
SIU scored the first 13 points of the second half to go in front 20-14, but YSU scored the next 17 points to build its 31-20 advantage.
Wells threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to I'tavious Harvin and followed that with an 85-yard strike down the sidelines to Andrew Williams. With 5:35 left, Zak Kennedy's 23-yard field goal gave the Guins an 11-point lead.
Just 25 seconds later, Iannotti threw a touchdown pass to Daquan Isom, and the two-point conversion made it 31-28. SIU sent the game to overtime on a 19-yard field goal by Austin Johnson with six seconds remaining.
In OT, Iannotti found Israel Lamprakes on a 24-yard score to give the Salukis a 38-31 lead. With YSU facing a fourth-and-two at the SIU 6-yard line, TB Jody Webb's pass in the end zone was incomplete on the final play.
Last Year vs. WIU
YSU led by three points at halftime, but Western Illinois scored 16 straight second-half points to upset the Penguins 30-24 at Stambaugh Stadium last year.
The Guins led 3-0 before two WIU scores put them in a 14-3 hole in the second quarter. But a big fourth-down stop by the defense turned the momentum and YSU responded with two straight scores.
QB Hunter Wells found WR Jelani Berassa for a 15-yard score, and TB Jody Webb scored on a nine-yard run to put the Guins in front 17-14 at the break.
To open the second half, the defense had stopped WIU, but a fake punt changed momentum once again in the Leathernecks' favor. WIU scored touchdowns on a 35-yard pass, a three-yard toss and a 23-yard field goal to make the lead 30-17.
With 6:08 left, Webb sped home from 16 yards to pull the Guins within 30-24. YSU had one last pass to the end zone on the game's final play, but it was knocked down.
Series History
The Penguins own an 18-12 lead in the all-time series against the Leathernecks.
YSU has a good run in the series of late winning nine of the last 11 games, but the Leathernecks defeated the Guins 30-24 last season in Youngstown. At Hanson Field, YSU has won four of the past five meetings, including a 31-7 victory in 2012.
The past two contests were played at Stamaugh in Youngstown. Following Saturday's contest, YSU and WIU will not play in 2016 or 2017 in the regular season, snapping a 19-year run in which the teams have played one another.
Road Points
In three road games, YSU has scored a total of 99 points - 37 points at Pittsburgh, 31 at South Dakota and 31 at Southern Illinois. Quick math has it as an average of 33 points a game.
The Guins are averaging 253.3 yards passing per game in each contest and 405 total offensive yards a game.
Two QB System
Against Southern Illinois, the Penguins used QBs Hunter Wells and Ricky Davis throughout the game. Wells threw all but one of the team's passes in the game while Davis was the only quarterback to be credited with a rushing attempt.
Davis had 27 yards on six attempts and scored on a five-yard touchdown run in the second quarter that gave the Penguins a 14-7 lead.
Wells completed 20-of-31 passes for a career-high 324 yards and a season-best three touchdown passes.
Balanced Offense
Through seven games, the Penguins are averaging 204.1 yards passing per contest and 187.3 yards rushing a game, showing once again they are a balanced offensive unit.
Four times this season YSU has amassed more than 400 yards of total offense so far. The season-best output was last Saturday at Southern Illinois when YSU had 507 yards.
Big Pass Play
QB Hunter Wells connected on an 85-yard touchdown pass to WR Andrew Williams in the third quarter against Southern Illinois.
The pass play was the second longest in YSU history behind a 90-yard scoring pass from Jeff Ryan to Renauld Ray against New Haven in 1999. It was the 14th pass completion of more than 80 yards in YSU history.
Wells's Game Best Since 2009
Sophomore QB Hunter Wells had the most passing yards by a YSU quarterback since Brandon Summers in 2009 last Saturday at Southern Illinois.
Wells threw for a career-best 324 yards and had three scores in a losing effort. It was the most passing yards in a game since Summers passed for 346 against Illinois State in 2009.
Wells completed 21-of-30 passes and had three touchdown tosses in the game.
Williams Has Season-Best Day
Senior WR Andrew Williams caught six passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns at Southern Illinois. Highlighting his performance was an 85-yard TD reception during the third quarter. Williams had a one-yard TD catch in the second quarter.
The 150 yards were the second most in a game behind a 158-yard performance at Illinois State last season.
Williams leads the team with 428 yards receiving and is second with 25 receptions.
OT Games Mow a Norm
YSU has played two overtime games this season and three extra-session games in the past nine dating back to last November.
This year the Guins beat Robert Morris 21-14 and lost last Saturday at Southern Illinois, 38-31. Entering November of last year when YSU went OT with Indiana State, the Penguins had not played an overtime game since September 2004.
All-time in overtime games the Penguins are now 7-5. Against Missouri Valley Football Conference foes, YSU is 2-3 and has played Southern Illinois and Indiana State twice along with Illinois State.
This season is the first time the Guins have played a pair of OT contests in the same year.
YSU on Halloween
The Penguins are 4-4 in Halloween contests in school history. YSU had won three straight Halloween games before losing 17-3 at home to South Dakota State in 2009.
Halloween Results
1941 - beat Tennessee Tech 14-0
1959 - lost to Buffalo 7-16
1964 - lost to Central Michigan 20-25
1970 - lost to SE Louisiana 27-50
1981 - beat MTSU 13-10
1987 - beat MTSU 17-16
1992 - beat Eastern Illinois 28-19
2009 - lost South Dakota State - 17-3
Williams, Ruiz Moving Up
Junior TB Martin Ruiz and senior WR Andrew Williams have continued to make a steady climb up the YSU career rankings in various categories.
Ruiz ranks seventh in school history with 2,906 yards rushing while his 577 career attempts are eighth. Only six players in school history have rushed for more than 3,000 yards in a career.
Williams has caught 132 passes and is now fifth in school history as he moved passed Bob Ferranti's 130. His big game at SIU (150 yards) moved him into third place on the YSU career receiving yardage with 2,223. He moved ahead of Ferranti and Renauld Ray and trails Rich Shepas (2,263) by just 40 for second all-time.
Ruiz now has 3,677 all-purpose yards in his career, which puts him 11th in school history. Senior WR Andre Stubbs is just behind in 12th with 3,660.
Pass Defense Stout
YSU has allowed its opponents to complete just 54 passes in 123 attempts (43.9 percent). The next closest team in the FCS is Alcorn State which has allowed just 62 completions.
The Penguins, who had led the FCS in passing defense all season, dropped to No. 2 this week after allowing 284 yards passing at Southern Illinois.
Alcorn State now leads in fewest passing yards allowed per game at 112.3 while the Guins are second at 118.4.
YSU has allowed more than 146 yards passing in a game just once this year. Last year that total was eclipsed on 10 separate occasions.
The Penguins are averaging 7.7 completions allowed per contest. Only twice have they allowed double figures in completions this season (15 by Southern Illinois and 11 by Pittsburgh).
YSU has allowed six passing TDs this season, and just one has come in the first three quarters. Last season, the Guins allowed 23 passing touchdowns in 12 games.
Rivers Owns YSU Sack Mark
Junior DE Derek Rivers became the school's all-time sack leader with 23 after a two-sack performance against South Dakota State on Oct. 17. Rivers eclipsed the school mark of 22 which had been held by Jermaine Hopkins since 1995. Hopkins played for the Penguins from 1992-95, and his career sack totals include postseason contests.
Impressively, it took Rivers just 28 games to break the 20-year-old record.
Rivers has sacks in four of the six games this season with two against Pittsburgh and South Dakota State.
Last season, Rivers registered 14 sacks while during his first campaign in 2013 he had three.
Kuhn A TD Machine
Sophomore TE Shane Kuhn has scored a team-high six touchdowns this year - four on the ground and two through the air.
Kuhn had scored a touchdown in four consecutive games prior to the contest against South Dakota State.
Against Illinois State, Kuhn scored on short runs of three and one-yard. At South Dakota he caught a 13-yard scoring toss. In the win over Saint Francis (Pa.), he had five carries for 18 yards and two rushing touchdowns. In the overtime triumph vs. Robert Morris he had a one-yard TD catch in the fourth quarter.
He has scored touchdowns in the fourth quarter in three games. Kuhn is tied for the team lead in rushing touchdowns with four.
Zaborsky NFF Semifinalist
Senior DT Steve Zaborsky has been named a semifinalist for the 2015 William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation.
Zaborsky is one of 135 student-athletes that the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame has chosen as semifinalists for this prestigious award. He is also one of only 23 student-athletes representing the FCS.
Zaborsky has started all seven games and been credited with 21 total tackles on the season, including 11 solo stops.
Entering his senior campaign, Zaborsky had a total of 18 total tackles in his YSU career.
Going to the Wells
Sophomore QB Hunter Wells has thrown 10 touchdown passes in 2015. In his 17-game YSU career, Wells has thrown 24 touchdown passes.
Wells has thrown a touchdown pass in 13 of his last 14 games after a three-score effort at Southern Illinois.
At SIU, he threw for a career-high 324 yards and had season bests in completions with 20 and touchdowns with three. In the previous game against South Dakota State he had a career-high 39 attempts.
In six of the seven games this year, Wells has 26-or-more attempts
In his 17 games played, he has a touchdown pass in 14.
Williams A Top Target
Senior WR Andrew Williams has caught a pass in 22 straight games after a season-best six catches against Southern Illinois.
Williams has caught three-or-more passes in six of seven games this year.
Williams has caught a pass in 39 of the last 41 games he has played in dating back to the start of the 2012 season. The only two times he failed to catch a ball was against Pitt in 2012 and at Western Illinois in 2013.
Williams has caught 132 passes and is fifth in school history. His 2,223 receiving yards put him third on the career charts, 40 from second place Rick Shepas.
Ruiz Model of Consistency
Junior TB Martin Ruiz has rushed for at least 74 yards in a game on 25 occasions in 32 career games played.
Against Saint Francis he had his first 100-yard rushing performance of the season going for 103 yards on 20 carries. He had 94 yards on 24 carries at Southern Illinois.
On 13 occasions he has rushed for more than 100 yards, including a career-high eight times last year. Only six times has he been limited to under 50 yards rushing in a game.
Additionally he has scored a touchdown in 21 games, with eight multi-TD performances.
Alexander The Great
Junior S LeRoy Alexander, who is new to the program in 2015, has made an impact on the YSU defense.
Alexander has been credited with a team-high 47 total tackles. He is second on the squad with 25 solo stops. He has a team-high three interceptions and returned a fumble 50 yards against South Dakota.
Against Illinois State he had a career-high 11 tackles, including seven solo stops. Last time out against SIU he had nine tackles.
In his first YSU game at Pittsburgh, Alexander had a pair of second-quarter interceptions, including returning one 41 yards for a touchdown.
The next week against RMU, Alexander had eight total tackles, a sack and an interception.
He is the first Penguin with interceptions in the first two games of a season since Bruce Hightower in 2001.
Kennedy Keeps Kicking
Freshman PK Zak Kennedy is having an outstanding first year with the program. Kennedy is 12-of-15 on field-goal attempts.
Kennedy's 49-yard field goal against Illinois State was the longest made field goal for the Penguins since Nick Terracina kicked a 56-yarder at Liberty in 2003.
It was the longest made by a YSU kicker at home since Jeff Wilkins kicked a 51-yarder against James Madison on Nov. 9. 1991.
He has made a field goal in six of seven games this season.
Rivers on Watch List
Junior DE Derek Rivers is among a group of FCS standouts who are named to the STATS Defensive Player of the Year Watch List.
This year he has 36 tackles, including an impressive and team-leading 27 solo stops. He has 11.5 TFLs and six sacks on the campaign as well. Last season Rivers was a first-team All-MVFC honoree after being credited with 50 total tackles, including 17 TFLs and 14 sacks.
Stubbs Is A Mainstay
Senior WR Andre Stubbs has amassed an impressive 3,677 all-purpose yards in his career. His total ranks 12th in school history, but among players who were primarily wide receivers he sits behind only Jim Ferranti (4,054).
Stubbs has had more than 100 all-purpose yards in a game on 16 occasions.
At Pittsburgh in the season opener he had a career-best 147 yards receiving on a career-high-tying six receptions. Last year, his best all-purpose performance came against Western Illinois when he had 158 yards.
He has caught a pass in 37 of the 41 games he has played since the start of his sophomore season. Against South Dakota State he had a season-best 51 rushing yards on four carries.
Pelini Takes The Reigns
The Penguins are under the direction of Youngstown native Bo Pelini this season. Pelini spent the past seven years at Nebraska before returning to his hometown last December. He is a graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School and grew up on Youngstown's South Side.
With with the Huskers, Pelini won at least nine games every season, including 10 during three different seasons.
Pelini is also just the sixth coach in FBS history at a Power Five conference (Big Ten, ACC, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC) school to win nine games in each of his first seven campaigns. The others in the group include Tom Osborne (Nebraska), Barry Switzer (Oklahoma), Earle Bruce (Ohio State), Steve Spurrier (Florida) and Mack Brown (Texas).
Veterans on Defense
The Penguins have five players on the defensive side of the ball who have 80-or-more tackles in their careers.
Senior LB Dubem Nwadiogbu leads the way with 151 stops while DE Terrell Williams has 114 and FS Tre' Moore has 108.
Among juniors, LB Jaylin Kelly leads the way with 125 tackles while FS Jameel Smith has 116. Smith had a career-high 13 tackles at Southern Illinois.
Numbers of Note
• Turnover Margin: Since 1996, the Penguins are 121-30 when they win or tie in the turnover margin. When committing more turnovers, YSU is just 20-59.
Since 1990 YSU is:
• 148-19-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 21 points in a game.
• 121-15 when rushing for 200-plus yards.
• 144-25 when scoring 28-or-more points.
• 75-9-1 when holding opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing in a game.
• 174-14 when leading entering the fourth.
• 77-3-2 when holding opponents to 10 points-or-less in a game.
More recently:
• YSU has scored points in 81 straight games.
Up Next: Missouri State
The Penguins return home to open November with a contest against Missouri State. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. on Nov. 7 at Stambaugh Stadium.
