Game Preview: Youngstown State University

The Jackrabbits head out to Youngstown, Ohio to face Youngstown State University, their longest road trip of the season, to take on the 4-1 Penguins who are coming off their first loss of the season.  YSU is always a phyiscal game on both sides of the ball.  The Jacks have won 8 of the last 10 games against YSU but lost in their last visit to the Ice Castle in 2017 (7-19).  As usual, YSU is fairly undisciplined with 39 penalties for 407 yards on the season. Bo Pelini is in his fifth season and the last two seasons have not lived up to the early success of his tenure at YSU.

Offense
The YSU offense is predicated on the run.  This has been true for as long as Bo Pelini has been the coach.   This year they are rushing for 248 yards per game but were held to just 55 yards on the ground this past week against UNI.  They are passing for 180.2 yards per game and went for 239 yards against UNI.  On the season they have been pretty good on 3rd down, converting on 46% of their opportunities.

YSU is led by #7 Nathan Mays (6-3, 225) who is a three year part-time starter.  This year it appears he is the undisputed starter.  However, he was dinged up towards the end of the UNI game and his status is unknown at the start of this week.  On the season he is 52-80 for 782 yards and 7 TD to just 2 INT.  He is also a threat on the ground having gained 285 yards and 4 TDs.  The Jackrabbit defensive line will have to be disciplined in their rush lanes and will have to ensure they wrap up when they get there.  Mays' primary backup is #5 Joe Craycraft.  He has completed 9 of 14 for 101 yards and a TD.  He would be making his first start if Mays is unable to go.

As we mentioned, YSU wants to win on the ground.  They control the ball to the tune of 32 minutes a game.  They have a 3 headed monster at running back.  #30 Joe Alessi, #20 Christian Turner, and #3 Braxton Chapman are the trio who along with Mays have put up really good numbers on the ground.  Alessi, a 5-10, 190# senior, has been the main ball carrier.  He has carried 55 times for 375 yards and 3 TD.  Turner, a 5-10, 195# junior, has contributed since he stepped foot on campus and this season has 37 attemps for 211 yards and 3 TD. Chapman is a bigger back at 6-2, 220 and just a sophomore.  He has rushed for 216 yards and 3 TD on 29 attempts.  YSU doesn't use a traditional fullback but often times their tight end #80 Miles Joiner (6-4, 250) will function as an H-back but will mostly be in line.  He doesn't have any carries but he does have 6 receptions for 118 yards.  Last year he was named to the MVFC All-Newcomer team.

The receiving corp for YSU has some decent experience returning.  The group is led by senior #2 Jermiah Braswell.  On the year, Braswell has 13 receptions for 266 yards and 3 TD.  He had a long reception for 75 yards against UNI on a busted coverage on a playaction fake.  Joining him are #81 Ryan Emans, 123 yards and 1 TD off 11 receptions and #8 Samuel St. Surin who has 8 receptions for 142 yards.  Both Braswell and St. Surin have starting experience. All three have pretty average size and have decent speed.

The YSU offensive line struggled last week against UNI giving up 6 sacks and couldn't establish the run like they had during the non-conference schedule.  From left to right they go #77 Dan Becker (6-5, 285, Sophomore), #74 Jacob Zinni (6-4, 305, Senior), #55 Matt Jones (6-3, 325, Senior), #75 Myles Douglas (6-2, 295, Senior), and #71 Devon Robinson (6-6, 300, Senior).  YSU is a program that really utilizes transfer and jucos.  This year they brought in Jones and Douglass who both contributed extensively at Tennessee Tech (Douglass) and West Virginia (Jones).  Jones is actually a grad transfer and started the final 25 games of his career at West Virginia. Becker, Zinni, and Devon Robinson have elevated to the starting lineup this year after being utilized as spot starters in the past.  The Jackrabbit defensive line will have their hands full with this group.

Defense
The YSU defense is always solid and 2019 is no different.  They are holding their opponents to just 19 ppg and allow only 118.6 ypg on the ground.  They do give up 185 yards through the air but are good on 3rd down, allowing opponents just a 36% conversion rate.  Against UNI they allowed 235 passing yards and 99 rushing yards.  UNI was really able to get open for some big gains through the air but the YSU pass rush made it difficult to put consistent drives together.  YSU opened the game against UNI in a 4-2-5 allignment but they have traditionally played a 4-3.

The YSU defense is led by their defensive line.  #12 Ma'lik Richmond (6-4, 265, Sr) and  #4 Justus Reed (6-3, 270, Jr) are a very good duo from the edge and #55 DeMarko Craig Jr. (6-1, 265, RFr) and #9 Antonie Cook (6-4, 260, So) can really make a mess through their pass rush on the interior.  Richmond has 4 sacks, 18 tackles, and 3 other quarterback hits on the season.  Reed has 5 sacks, 16 tackles, and 3 QBH of his own.  Craig Jr. has 26 tackles and 3 sacks while Cook has 19 tackles and a sack to go with a blocked kick.  This group is productive, physical, and very athletic.  This will be the biggest test of the season for the #605Hogs, no doubt about it.  #50 Shereif Bynum (6-4, 255, Sr) has spent plenty of time in the starting lineup in his career at YSU.  This year due to depth, he has moved to the interior where he has 6 tackles and .5 sack on the season.  This smaller group of defensive tackles is acutally proving to be pretty effective this season and is giving interior offensiveline fits.

The linebackers have good experience but lost the always dangerous Armand Dellovade to graduation. #8 Ray Anderson and #3 Cash Mitchell both started last season.  Anderson was named to the MVFC All-Newcomer team in 2018.  So far on the season Anderson has 21 tackles and Mitchell has 19 tackles, a sack, and 6 TFL.  #15 Terry Bryant has 15 tackles on the season as a part-time starter and #35 Christiaan Randall-Posey has chipped in with 11 tackles in a reserve role.

The secondary is led by #10 Kyle Hegedus (5-11, 195) from his safety position.  He is the defensive back that probably spends the most time around the line of scrimmage and he leads the team in tackles with 27 and has 2 TFL, a INT, and a forced fumble.  The other safety is Vanderbilt transfer #1 Zaire Jones (6-0, 200) who has 22 tackles, 2 INT, and 2 passes defended.  The corners are an experienced group led by #7 Bryce Gibson (5-10, 180)  Gibson has 12 tackles on the season, 2 tackles for loss, 1 INT, and 3 PBUs. I would expect Gibson to follow Cade Johnson around the field.  #29 DJ Smalls (6-0, 180) is a good player and has 14 tackles, 1.5 TFL, and an INT on the season.  #23 Melvin Jackson (6-0, 175) is new to the starting lineup but did contribute as a redshirt freshman.  On the season he has 11 tackles.

Special Teams
The YSU special teams has historically not been good against the Jacks but appears pretty decent this season. #19 Colten McFadden is 2 for 3 on the season with his only miss coming last week against UNI from 44 yards.  McFadden is just 24 of 27 on extra points this season so that may be something to watch if points are at a premium.  He is also handling the kickoff duties and has booted 33 with 12 touchbacks.  Opponents have returned them for a 22.5 yard average.  #43 Nick DeSalvo handles the punting duties.  He has struggled on the season having punted 22 times but only forced 7 to be fair caught and only landed 5 inside the 20.  Christian Tuner and #9 London Pearson are the kick returners.  Turner has a 19.4 yard per return averaged while Pearson has a 26.5 ypr avg on just 2 attempts.  The Penguins have a dangerous punt returner in #10 Jake Coates.  On 16 attempts he has a 12.6 average and 1 TD which he scored from 63 yards out.


Prediction
Jacks 24
Penguins 13


Go Jacks!
Matt