#6 SIU heads to Youngstown, OH to face a Penguins team they've lost to 2 straight seasons.
In 2021, SIU lost 35-18 at Saluki Stadium on Senior Day getting down 21-3 in the 2nd quarter and not being able to dig themselves out of that hole. Nic Baker went 11-34 for 126 yards, 1 TD, and 2 interceptions in his worst start as a Saluki. Despite the loss, SIU was able to sneak into the FCS Playoffs.
In 2022, SIU lost 28-21 in Youngstown blowing a 21-7 4th quarter lead with 11:18 left. The Penguins scored 21 points in 8:43 of game time to shock the Salukis and end their season for good. Baker threw for 320 yards and 3 touchdowns but threw for 3 interceptions.
Meet the Penguins:
In the preseason, the Penguins were picked 6th, one spot behind SIU, in the MVFC Preseason Media poll.
Youngstown State is coached by Doug Phillips in his 4th year with the program. Phillips spent time as Cincinnati's running backs coach before getting the Youngstown State job. After going 4-13 his first two years as coach, the Penguins improved to 7-4 last year just missing out on the playoffs.
The Penguins started their season with a 52-10 win over Valparaiso. They then went to Columbus and got paid for a 35-7 loss at Ohio State. Youngstown came back home and beat Robert Morris 48-28 before losing at Cedar Falls 44-41 at the UNI Dome.
The quarterback of the Penguins is 6-4 Senior Mitch Davidson. Davidson has been at Youngstown State since 2018 and sat until 2021 where he played 2 games. Last season, Davidson started the final 7 games of the Penguins season and threw for 1,613 yards with 12 touchdowns and 1 interception. He also rushed for 148 yards and 4 touchdowns. In the win over SIU last year, Davidson passed for 268 yards with 2 touchdowns leading the Penguins to a comeback win. This season, Davidson has thrown for 899 yards with 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions and has added 3 touchdowns on the ground.
The leading rusher for Youngstown State is 5-11 Senior Tyshon King. King started his collegiate career at Northern Michigan where he was a dual threat running back last year rushing for 984 yards on 182 carries and also adding 442 receiving yards on 35 receptions. This season, King has rushed for 327 yards on 43 carries and has 6 rushing touchdowns. He hasn't been much of a factor in the passing game yet, hopefully that doesn't change on Saturday.
The Penguins leading receiver is 6-1 Senior Bryce Oliver. Oliver was a 3 star recruit out of Fort Lauderdale, FL and started his collegiate career at Kentucky. Oliver spent 3 years at Kentucky where he tallied 8 catches for 125 yards and 1 touchdown. In his first season at Youngstown State, Oliver caught 24 passes for 266 yards and had 8 touchdowns. Last season, Oliver caught 59 passes for 821 yards and had 10 receiving touchdowns leading him to be named to the All-MVFC First Team. In YSU's win over SIU last year, Oliver caught 12 passes for 145 yards and has 2 touchdowns. This season, Oliver has caught 24 passes for 321 yards and 1 touchdown.
Youngstown State returned 8 of their 9 top tacklers from last season and 12 of their top 14 tacklers overall. 6-2 Junior linebacker Alex Howard has been one of their standouts this year leading the team with 16 solo tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks.
Weather:
Massey Ratings:
Massey Ratings has SIU winning 31-27 and gives SIU a 60% chance of winning.
Links:
Nick Hill Press Conference 10/2
I expect a very competitive game. Coach Hill said this is our toughest opponent so far this year. Would be a huge W!
Huge game.
I’m hoping Youngstown has a hangover from the close loss to UNI last week, and hoping we come out a little juiced after a lackluster win over MSU.
Youngstown is good, so going there and getting the win would be yet another statement for this team.
Yes this is huge. We need to come home 6-0 for our #1 matchup. I want to see how full Saluki Stadium can get when our team truly deserves a sellout (we probably won’t get there, but they would’ve earned it)
Ro ranked by Sam Herder as highest rated RB from last week. Any word on his status for YSU?
Ro ranked by Sam Herder as highest rated RB from last week. Any word on his status for YSU?
I must say that Ro seems to have a jump in his step that I have not witnessed before. I certainly hope he is a go for YSU, but I believe turf toe can be a difficult injury to recover from. Mr. Lester might be called upon. Here's hoping he can answer the call!
GO DAWGS!!!
Yes this is huge. We need to come home 6-0 for our #1 matchup. I want to see how full Saluki Stadium can get when our team truly deserves a sellout (we probably won’t get there, but they would’ve earned it)
I believe there has only been one sell out at Saluki Stadium. The first game ever played in the new stadium.
I seriously doubt if the #2 Michigan Wolverines played at SIU that there would be 15,000 fans to equal a sell out. Although the Blue and Maze would show so who knows?
But yes, coming back from Ohio 5-0 would be an amazing feat.
Go Dawgs!
It's tough to judge how good this YSU team is. I know their whole defense is back from last year. The two wins have been against wimps - Valparaiso and Robert Morris. The two losses have been against Ohio State and UNI. They gave up 44 points to UNI (Theo Day passed for 300+) but just 35 to Ohio State, but OSU had their first string out pretty early in the third quarter.
They no longer have RB McGlaughlin, who's doing very well in the NFL with the Broncos.
We should be able to pass on them.
Hoping for a "W," but have a bad feeling about this one. Two consecutive losses = the penguins will be pissed.
Go Dawgs!
March on triumphantly!
Two straight losses to YSU, too. Hill should have plenty of motivation for this one.
I’m excited. I’ll be watching, and hoping we see some of both Ro and Cox.
I'm pretty sure Cox is out at least a couple more weeks. Haven't heard anything about Elliott. I would love to be wrong about Cox and see him play, but pretty confident he won't.Two straight losses to YSU, too. Hill should have plenty of motivation for this one.
I’m excited. I’ll be watching, and hoping we see some of both Ro and Cox.
I'm pretty sure Cox is out at least a couple more weeks. Haven't heard anything about Elliott. I would love to be wrong about Cox and see him play, but pretty confident he won't.Two straight losses to YSU, too. Hill should have plenty of motivation for this one.
I’m excited. I’ll be watching, and hoping we see some of both Ro and Cox.
Cox wasn’t listed on the two deep so he won’t be playing today. Hopefully he’ll be ready to go by Homecoming!
SIU is favored by 4, over/under of 57
