Youngstown State getting ready for second-round FCS playoff game against Villanova

The No. 21 Youngstown State football team continues postseason play with a second round trip to No. 8 seed Villanova on Saturday. Kickoff for the FCS Playoffs contest at Villanova Stadium is set for noon. The game is available on ESPN+, WKBN 570 AM and iHeartRadio.

The Penguins (8-4) opened the FCS Playoffs with a resounding 40-7 win over Duquesne last Saturday at Stambaugh Stadium. YSU led 10-7 in the second quarter before scoring the final 30 points of the contest. The Guins had 532 yards of total offense and time of possession of 42:27. The Dukes only had 148 yards on just 44 plays.

In its first playoff contest since the 2017 National Championship Game, YSU played well-rounded football to defeat Duquesne, 40-7 at Stambaugh Stadium.

The Guins took a 10-0 lead in the contest following a nine-yard touchdown pass from Mitch Davidson to CJ Charleston and a 34-yard field goal by Andrew Lastovka. Duquesne pulled within 10-7 on a 24-yard TD run by Edward Robinson late in the first quarter, but after that it was all Guins.

Dra Rushton added a two-yard score before Davidson connected with Bryce Oliver for a 21-yard touchdown pass to push the halftime lead to 24-7. The TD catch by Oliver was the 26th of his YSU career, which eclipsed the previous school mark of 25 held since 1979.

Lastovka kicked three straight field goals from 25, 40 and 50 yards as the Penguins built a 33-7 lead. QB Bean Brungard’s TD with 3:10 left capped off a 10:57 drive late in the fourth quarter.

Villanova (9-2) has won six straight games entering Saturday’s contest against the Penguins. The Wildcats went 7-1 in CAA play this season and were one of three teams to share the league title. VU has won eight straight home games dating back to last September.

YSU and Villanova will be meeting in the playoffs for the fourth time. YSU has won the previous three meetings by a total of seven points - 17-16 (1991), 23-20 (1992) and 37-34 (1997). In a hard-fought series that the Guins lead 7-2, the last five meetings have been decided by a touchdown or less, including a 28-21 contest in 1999. Ironically, after not playing for nearly 25 years, the teams will also play on August 29, 2024 at Villanova.

YSU has rich playoff history

The Penguins are appearing in the FCS playoffs for the 13th time in school history.

One of the most successful FCS postseason programs, YSU is 30-8 all-time for a .789 winning percentage. The Guins won I-AA/FCS titles in 1997, 1994, 1993 and 1991. YSU also advanced to the title game in 2016, 1999 and 1992.

In 2016, YSU picked up road wins over No. 2 seed Eastern Washington and No. 3 seed Jacksonville State on the way to the FCS title game.

Youngstown State offense putting up the points

In their 11 games against FCS opponents this season the Penguins have scored at least 31 points in nine of them. In six of those contests, the Guins have registered 40 or more.

YSU set a school record with six consecutive 30-plus point contests during the season and with 40 points vs. Duquesne last Saturday, the Guins have set a school record for 40-point games in a season breaking the record of five (2016, 2001 and 1978).

Against three non-conference opponents YSU has scored 52 vs. Valparaiso, 48 against Robert Morris and 40 vs. Duquesne.

In five league games, YSU has scored 44 against Missouri State, 41 vs. UNI and Illinois State, 34 against Murray State and 31 each against Southern Illinois and South Dakota.

In its 11 FCS games this year, YSU is averaging 34.6 points per game.

YSU passing numbers skyrocket

The Penguins have unleashed their aerial attack throughout season and entering the Villanova game are just 10 yards shy of a new school record for yards in a season.

After 12 games, YSU has 2,873 yards passing, just behind the 2,883 passing yards record set in 2016 when the Guins played 16 contests. YSU is averaging 242.4 yards passing a game which eclipses the previous school best of 235.8 set back in 1972.

Against Missouri State, YSU threw for 415 yards, the third most in a game in school history. Only a 446-yard effort vs. Eastern Kentucky in 1985 and 418 at Western Illinois in 2018 rank higher. Four times this season YSU has thrown for more than 300 yards in a game.

Youngstown State tough on the run and third down

The Penguins are allowing just under 100 yards rushing per game which ranks seventh in the FCS entering round two of the playoffs.

YSU has allowed just 94.8 yards per game. Nine times this year, the Guins have allowed fewer than 111 yards in a game, highlighted by a season-low six against Southern Illinois.

On third downs, YSU’s defense ranks fourth in the FCS allowing a success rate of just 29.4 percent (40-of-136).

Bryce Oliver sets school touchdown record for YSU

WR Bryce Oliver broke a long-standing school record with his 26th career touchdown reception last Saturday against Duquesne.

Oliver broke a tie with Jim “Flea” Ferranti (1976-79) who had 25 career touchdown receptions.

In his YSU career, Oliver has 144 receptions for 2,027 yards and 26 touchdowns. This season he has 61 catches for 940 yards and eight scores.

Oliver has played in 32 games and has a touchdown reception in 18 contests (six in 2023, seven in 2022 and five in 2021). He owns the school record with eight multi-touchdown reception games.

Tyshon King continues to impress for Youngstown State

Transfer running back Tyshon King has been a strong addition to the program since coming in from Northern Michigan.

In his first season at YSU, King has rushed for 995 yards on 179 carries and scored a team-high nine touchdowns. Five times this year he has had 18-or-more carries in a game.

Six times this year he has eclipsed the 100-yard mark. The second-team All-MVFC selection had a career-high 152 yards at Murray State in the regular-season finale.

On three occasions he was named the MVFC Newcomer of the Week for his efforts.

Dra Rushton with career year for YSU

TB Dra Rushton has had the best season on his six-year YSU career this fall.

Rushton has accumulated 865 all-purpose yards with 616 on the ground, 146 receiving and 103 on kickoff returns.

On the ground he has carried the ball a career-high 150 times and scored nine touchdowns. At South Dakota, he rushed for a career-high 116 yards on 16 carries.

Entering this season he had 387 yards on 87 rushing attempts and just two touchdowns.

Youngstown State faring well on special teams

The Penguins special teams have performed well throughout the campaign.

YSU ranks sixth in the nation in net punting at 41.17 yards and is tied for fourth in the nation with four blocked punts.

First-year punter Brendon Kilpatrick is averaging 43.5 yards per punt which ranks second in a season in school history. As a team, YSU is averaging 43.5 yards a kick, which is tops in school history over 43.3 set in 2013.

PK Andrew Lastovka has made 15-of-19 field -goal attempts in his first season as well. Against Duquesne he had a career-high four field goals and a personal-best 50-yarder. Also, YSU is allowing fewer than 20 return yards on 49 kickoff returns.

Alex Howard having big year for YSU

LB Alex Howard leads the Penguins with 72 total tackles (39-33) on the year. That total crushes his 2022 season total of 34.

He’s had at least five tackles in all but two games with a high of nine against Valparaiso and Illinois State.

Last year, Howard had 34 total tackles and just 3.5 TFLs playing in 10 games while making three starts.

Charleston, Tomczak step up for Youngstown State

Wide receivers CJ Charleston and Max Tomczak have had huge seasons for the Penguins.

Tomczak has caught 47 passes for 564 yards and a touchdown while Charleston has 33 receptions for 503 yards and four scores. Tomczak led the Penguins during MVFC play with 41 receptions.

Charleston missed last year after suffering an Achilles tendon injury in fall camp. Entering the season he had 27 catches for 361 yards in his career. In 29 career games he has 60 catches for 864 yards and four scores.

Tomczak was named to the MVFC All-Newcomer Team last year. He had 26 catches for 430 yards and two touchdowns in 2022.

CONNECT WITH US

WEB SITE ► https://www.mahoningmatters.com

DAILY NEWS EMAIL ► https://www.mahoningmatters.com/customer-service/newsletter-signup/

FACEBOOK ► https://www.facebook.com/mahoningmatters

TWITTER ► https://twitter.com/mahoningmatters

YOUTUBE ► https://www.youtube.com/@mahoningmatters2814

INSTAGRAM ► https://www.instagram.com/mahoningmatters

SUPPORT US ► https://givebutter.com/vNfzEW