Author Topic: North Dakota game  (Read 5709 times)

Offline Wick250

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North Dakota game
« on: March 25, 2021, 01:56:35 PM »
The silence about football during this bizarre season is deafening. I could understand that if the team remained as inept as the first two weeks.  But there has been substantial progress over the last three games. 

North Dakota is dangerous because they are accomplished on the ground (206yds.) and in the air (207yds.)  On paper we do not match up at all on offense, but on defense we have the statistical advantage (310 to 374.) They are particularly vulnerable through the air, last in the conference in pass defense (too bad that does not matter for us.)

There are two things that could work in our favor.  North Dakota began with three consecutive home games. This will be their third consecutive road game, and that is tough on anybody.  More importantly, they played NDSU last week. Teams in our conference rarely play particularly well the week after that game.

Only a fool would try to project off of comparative scores.  But North Dakota managed only 21 points at home off of that bad South Dakota team.  They also yielded 153 yards rushing to that nonexistent South Dakota ground game (129 after you reduce the lost yardage from four sacks.)

This Saturday will be an excellent measuring stick as we look ahead to next fall.






Offline Kandrase

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Re: North Dakota game
« Reply #1 on: March 25, 2021, 11:04:21 PM »
I believe the lack of interest is because at this point the season is pretty much meaningless besides the team growing.

There's no playoffs or conference championship on the line  for us so I can see why lots of folks aren't super enthused.

I'm very excited for this team, but moreso excited about what's to come in the fall.


Offline Penquin68

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Re: North Dakota game
« Reply #2 on: March 26, 2021, 10:18:00 AM »
The improvement over the last few games is unbelievable. This week will tell us for sure if what we think as improvement is real. I think it is. The coaches approach to the kids seems really good and shows how much can be done with positive coaching and fundamental teaching. These games are great for our development and evaluating our future needs. So I feel these games are very important to us. And hopefully a few good new freshman and transfers to fill our greatest needs.

Offline peteonastick

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Re: North Dakota game
« Reply #3 on: March 26, 2021, 11:56:09 AM »
Hearing game is canceled. Covid protocols. No official word yet.
THE DRIVE FOR 5

Offline 4lessgovt

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Re: North Dakota game
« Reply #4 on: March 26, 2021, 12:19:17 PM »
Moved to April 17.

Offline guinpen

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Re: North Dakota game
« Reply #5 on: March 26, 2021, 12:53:57 PM »
Seems that there is a Covid issue with them
“Life is hard, it’s harder if you're stupid” - John Wayne

Offline lakesbison

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Re: North Dakota game
« Reply #6 on: March 26, 2021, 05:27:02 PM »
UND pussed out, its what they do, lil b.tches.
(another reason they shouldn't of been invited,  youll see more shenanigans out of them)
they were decimated physically by NDSU and knew Youngstown St would be just as physical.  so they pulled the 1 person for a "false" positive trick to heal up.   what do you expect out of the und 134th med school

i was loaded up hard on Youngstown  St +12 too
« Last Edit: March 26, 2021, 05:27:47 PM by lakesbison »

Offline Wick250

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Re: North Dakota game
« Reply #7 on: March 26, 2021, 10:51:33 PM »
Interesting Lakes.  In the fall there will be no place to hide. No way to beg off. I do have a question for you. Is UND strictly a finesse team as is the entire Big Sky from where they came?  If so, they will have to adjust quickly if they expect to compete near the top of this league.

Offline guinpen

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Re: North Dakota game
« Reply #8 on: March 27, 2021, 09:15:13 PM »
The South Dakota NDSU game was also canceled do to Covid. what is going on out in the bad lands?
“Life is hard, it’s harder if you're stupid” - John Wayne

Offline 4lessgovt

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Re: North Dakota game
« Reply #9 on: March 27, 2021, 09:36:21 PM »
Chattanooga ranked in the top 10, sat their starters and lost to Mercer.  It seems this is based on spring to fall football and not covid.   I understand playing more players, but not playing your starters at all, seems unseemly.

Offline Double ET

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Re: North Dakota game
« Reply #10 on: April 01, 2021, 05:51:42 AM »
Article from today’s Tribune/Vindy:

Improving Penguins come off idle week

LOCAL SPORTS
APR 1, 2021

JOE SIMON
Sports Reporter
jsimon@tribtoday.com
 
 
YOUNGSTOWN — The gradual improvement is evident to Youngstown State coach Doug Phillips — and probably any fan of YSU.


Every time the Penguins have played a football game this spring season, a young, inexperienced team has taken major strides. That’s part of the reason the cancellation of their game last week was so disappointing to Phillips and his players.

“We would rather play,” Phillips said. “We get better when we do play. So, if we had to choose, our young men would say they would rather have played Saturday. All the coaches would have rather played, but it’s something you deal with. You focus on the things you can control. We can’t control that, so we made the necessary adjustments and moved forward.”

The pandemic demands such adjustments.

YSU (1-4, 1-4 Missouri Valley Football Conference) is moving on from what was a big matchup with No. 6 North Dakota after the Fighting Hawks had a positive COVID-19 test and subsequent contact tracing within their team. The last-minute cancellation was disappointing as the Penguins were coming off their first win and had momentum as they prepared for another high-ranked team. The challenge now is to not let the positive vibes within the team dwindle.


Next up is winless Western Illinois (0-5). It’s the first night game of the season as game time is set for 8 p.m. Eastern in Macomb, Illinois. And while the Leathernecks may be winless, the Penguins say every team in the MVFC is formidable.

“(Coach Phillips) has emphasized that they’ve been pretty close in most of their games,” offensive lineman Derek Hite said. “We’re approaching it like we have any other week. It’s not going to be easy. No game in this conference is easy, obviously. Everyone knows that. We’re just going to have to have a great week of practice, preparation and then go in there and approach it just like we did against South Dakota.”

The 28-10 victory over South Dakota was the first of the season for the Penguins, who had played toe-to-toe with everyone on their schedule — four of the five were ranked in the top 11 in the nation.

The biggest reasons for YSU’s progress has been the running game and the development of the offensive line. Running back Jaleel McLaughlin is second in the conference in rushing yards (469) and touchdowns (4). A team that couldn’t protect its quarterback nor run the ball is doing both, and in doing so is controlling the tempo of the game and creating an identity. With a young defense that has been consistent all season, the Penguins may have found a winning formula.

“Each week, especially after that win, our confidence has just grown, which has been big for us,” Hite said. “(The linemen are) all young, and we’re just getting into the feel of actually playing together, so it’s definitely helped.

“Obviously (McLaughlin) is an incredible player,” he later added. “We love blocking for him. Our confidence, as it grows each week, it’s giving him more confidence. And he makes some amazing plays, which makes us look good, but it’s definitely fun blocking for him.”

The defense deserves just as much credit for the improved play.

YSU, which lost in the final minute against No. 8 South Dakota State on March 13 and nearly pulled off an upset over No. 11 Southern Illinois the week before, is second in the conference in pass defense. The run defense is seventh, but it’s coming off a game in which it held South Dakota to 12 yards on the ground. A young secondary has blossomed quickly, and linebackers Grant Dixon and Griffin, who didn’t have any experience playing together prior to this season, are becoming leaders for the Penguins.

“They’re getting better at just making sure they’re understanding the defense,” Phillips said of the linebackers. “It’s one thing to play hard but not make the proper run fits, but what we’ve seen the last two to three weeks is now they’re really understanding (defensive coordinator Joe) Schaefer and (linebackers coach Bryan) Nardo, in where they need to fit. Now you put that in with play-hard, and you’re finding out that they’re around the football a lot, and if you’re around the football, you can be productive and make plays, whether they’re sacks, fumble recoveries or getting interceptions. But the thing I love about those two is they’re play-hard guys.”

That “play-hard” attitude seems to be contagious.

Both the offense and the defense are showing exponential growth, and when one isn’t playing well, the other side of the ball usually responds. That complementary football is part of a chemistry YSU has been forming under Phillips.

“I think you can tell when you walk into a locker room whether there’s a brotherhood or a team,” Phillips said. “We’ve seen that. We have a leadership council that the players voted on, with different kids from different classes. We meet every Monday, and those guys are part of the decision making. It’s their team. I don’t get to play on Saturdays. They do, so we want them to buy in and to feel empowered to help with those decisions, whether it’s making a schedule, how we travel, how we eat to what uniforms we wear. I enjoy those meetings every Monday with that group. They represent the whole (team), but when you go in the locker room, that’s where you can see (the chemistry).”

It’s starting to show on the field.

Offline go guins

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Re: North Dakota game
« Reply #11 on: April 01, 2021, 08:42:21 AM »
Article from today’s Tribune/Vindy:

Improving Penguins come off idle week

LOCAL SPORTS
APR 1, 2021

JOE SIMON
Sports Reporter
jsimon@tribtoday.com

It’s starting to show on the field.
Ya gotta love the direction DP has this group moving.  No doubt, we will have disappointments going forward.  But overall, this guy seems to "get it!"  The step by step approach to the development on the field is a real case study in how to build a program.  Great Job Coach Phillips!  (so far)
Watching Penquins Football & Basketball since 1967!