Penguins Return Home to Take On 10th-Ranked South Dakota State – Youngstown State Athletics

The Youngstown State football team plays host to No. 10 South Dakota State on Saturday at Stambaugh Stadium. Kickoff for the contest is set for 2 p.m. The game is available live on ESPN+, WKBN 570 AM and iHeartRadio. The Penguins (2-4, 1-3 MVFC) dropped a 28-17 contest at Indiana State last Saturday. YSU led 17-14 after three quarters, but a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns by ISU proved to be too much to overcome. YSU feel behind 7-0 after Indiana State scored on its opening possession. QB Anthony Thompson scored on a six-yard keeper to opener the games scoring. The Penguins answered back as Jaleel McLaughlin scored on a 21-yard run late in the period. ISU went back in front on a two-yard scoring run by Peterson Kerlegrand. With two seconds left in the half, QB Joe Craycraft connected with Bryce Oliver for a score from 14 yards out. The Guins marched to the ISU two-yard line before settling for a 20-yard Colt McFadden field goal on its opening possession of the second half. After YSU was stopped on a fourth and short late in the third, ISU took the lead on a 12-yard run by Thompson on the first play of the fourth quarter. Following a YSU turnover, Kerlegrand scored on a 55-yard touchdown run to put the game out of reach. YSU's final four offensive possessions of the game ended with interceptions. South Dakota State (5-2 and 2-2) is coming off a 26-17 home defeat to UNI last Saturday. The Jackrabbits and Panthers were tied twice in the early going but the Panthers scored 13 unanswered points to take a 23-10 lead. SDSU closed within 23-17 early in the fourth quarter on a nine-yard touchdown run by Pierre Strong. UNI kicked a field goal on its ensuing possession to make it a two-score game. In its comeback bid, South Dakota State turned it over on downs three times and missed a field goal in its final four possessions. QB Chris Oladokun, who played against YSU in 2019 while at Samford, completed 24-of-53 passes for 300 yards. In the spring, SDSU kicked a field goal in the final seconds to knock off the Penguins 19-17 at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. YSU's last win in the series was a 19-7 triumph at Stambaugh Stadium in September 2017. SDSU has won four of the last five meetings overall.

Last Time Out: ISU 28, YSU 17 The Penguins dropped a 28-17 contest at Indiana State at Memorial Stadium. YSU led 17-14 after three quarters, but a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns by ISU proved to be too much to overcome. YSU feel behind 7-0 after Indiana State scored on its opening possession. QB Anthony Thompson scored on a six-yard keeper to opener the games scoring. The Penguins answered back as Jaleel McLaughlin scored on a 21-yard run late in the period. ISU went back in front on a two-yard scoring run by Peterson Kerlegrand. With two seconds left in the half, QB Joe Craycraft connected with Bryce Oliver for a score from 14 yards out. The Guins marched to the ISU two-yard line before settling for a 20-yard Colt McFadden field goal on its opening possession of the second half. After YSU was stopped on a fourth and short late in the third, ISU took the lead on a 12-yard run by Thompson on the first play of the fourth quarter. Following a YSU turnover, Kerlegrand scored on a 55-yard touchdown run. YSU's final four offensive possessions of the game ended with interceptions.

Last Time vs. South Dakota State The Penguins suffered a tough 19-17 defeat to No. 8 South Dakota State in the spring. YSU trailed 16-7 in the fourth quarter before taking a 17-16 lead with 6:21 remaining. However, in the final minutes, the Jackrabbits moved into YSU territory and Cole Frahm's 29-yard field goal with 31 seconds proved to be the difference. YSU trailed 10-0 just under nine minutes into the game. But Jaleel McLaughlin raced 42 yards for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 10-7. The Jackrabbits broke through on their first drive of the second half. Mark Gronowski's one-yard touchdown run increased the SDSU lead to 16-7. The Guins pulled within 16-10 on a 33-yard field goal by Colt McFadden. Later in the fourth, Zaire Jones intercepted at Gronowski pass and set up the offense at the SDSU 20-yard line. Three plays later, McLaughlin scored from a yard out and YSU led 17-16 with 6:21 left. SDSU took advantage of two big pass plays on its final drive of the contest moving to the YSU 11-yard line.

Breaking the 6k Mark TB Jaleel McLaughlin is one of 34 running backs in NCAA history to rush for more than 6,000 yards in career. McLaughlin has 6,165 yards on 970 careers in 41 career games and has scored 61 touchdowns. He officially eclipsed the 6,000-yard career rushing mark with a 156-yard effort against Missouri State. He is the active career NCAA leader in attempts, touchdowns and yards. On the all-time list he is up to 26th place in NCAA history. In 13 games at YSU, McLaughlin has rushed for 1,417 yards and scored 13 TDs. He has rushed for more than 100 yards in nine of his last 11 contests. In 28 games at Notre Dame, he had 24 100-yard performances.

White Having Breakout Season Sophomore DB Jordan White is having a breakout season for the Penguins. White has 39 total tackles, including 25 solo stops in six games. He recorded his second interception of the season against Missouri State. He had a six-tackle effort against Indiana State. In the spring, White had 16 total tackles.

Dixon Model of Consistency Senior LB Grant Dixon has at least five tackles in every game this season. He has 39 total stops this fall - 20 solos and 19 assists. Dixon also has interceptions against UNI and Indiana State. In the spring, Dixon led the Penguins in the spring with 55 total tackles. In 10 of 13 games with the program he has recorded at least six stops. He had a fall season-best nine stops at Indiana State despite playing with a broken hand. He also intercepted a pass in the end zone vs. the Sycamores.

Topping Spring Totals Through just five games, a good number of Penguins have nearly eclipsed their spring tackle numbers. SS Jordan White has 39 tackles while DB D'Marco Augustin has been credited with 32 stops. In the spring, White and Augustin each had 16 tackles. Natavious Payne (19), Dylan Wudke (14), Chris Fitzgerald (14), Andres Lehrman (14), Devin Johnson (11) and Gage Salyers (10) all have career highs as well. Payne moved from wide receiver in the fall and is now playing corner.

Craycraft Steps In QB Joe Craycraft came on in the first quarter vs. Indiana State when starter Demeatric Crenshaw went out with an injury. Craycraft completed 13-of-31 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 29 yards on five carries. He does bring experience to the position for the Penguins having started seven previous games in 2019 (four) and the spring of 2021 (three). In his career, he has 194 yards rushing on 75 attempts while completing 106-of-211 passes for 1,297 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Two No. 4s Return The YSU lineup got a shot in the arm with the return of a pair of No. 4's - Dra Rushton and Quincy Lenton. Lenton returned to the lineup just six months following an Achilles injury while Rushton had not played this year, also because of injuries. Rushton had four rushes for 15 yards while Lenton played a good amount in the secondary and was credited with three tackles, two of which were solos.

Two-Way Starter Junior CB Natavious Payne has been a key addition at cornerback after switching from wide receiver in the fall. Payne has started twice this fall in the secondary after he spent the first three years with the program as a wide receiver. Impressively, he started six games at wide receiver in the seven-game spring campaign before switching positions in fall camp. Payne caught a team-high 12 passes for 141 yards in the spring. This fall, he has 19 tackles, including 18 solos and a sack. In his career he has 30 receptions for 313 yards and a TD.

Turner is Mr. Dependable TB Christian Turner has been one of YSU's most versatile players in school history during his Penguins career. With his 26-yard scoring run in the third quarter at Michigan State, he has scored in five straight seasons for the Penguins. Turner had two touchdowns in the 2021 spring season, four TDs in the fall of 2019, a receiving touchdown in 2018 and three scores in 2017. Following his 28-yard rushing performance vs. UIW, he eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for his career. He now has 1,103 yards on 236 attempts. Turner has caught 80 passes for 638 yards.

Defense Spreads Wealth YSU has 13 players with at least 14-or-more tackles this season. Leading the defense is DB Jordan White who has 33 stops this year, including 21 solos. LB Grant Dixon is second on the team with 30 stops. D'Marco Augustin is the only other play above 20 tackles with 21. Eleven players are between 10 and 19 tackles.

Spring MVFC Honors YSU had seven Penguins earn All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors in the spring. LB Grant Dixon was a first-team honoree, TB Jaleel McLaughlin, OT Dan Becker and S Zaire Jones were second-team picks while DE James Jackson, CB Keyon Martin and PR Jake Coates were honorable-mention picks.

Team of Graduates The Penguins have an impressive amount of college graduates on this year's squad. QB Joe Craycraft, TB Christian Turner, DE James Jackson, PK Colt McFadden, DB Zaire Jones, DB Patrick Minenok, OL Jordan Velez, WR Sam St. Surin, TE Josh Burgett, DB Quincy Lenton, WR Jake Cummings, OT Dan Becker, OL Jordan Velez and OL Henry Yoboue have all earned their undergraduate degrees from YSU. YSU has seven graduate transfers as well - LB Grant Dixon, DB Isacc James-Gray, P Paddy Lynch, DE JT Ngangum, TE Andrew Ogletree, WR Jorge Portorreal and OL Nick Rosen.

Two Campbell Award Nominees The Penguins can boast one thing not many other programs can - two William V. Campbell Trophy Presented by Mazda, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame semifinalists. YSU's nominee for the honor was senior TB Christian Turner in 2020. The other Campbell semifinalist on the team is Grant Dixon who transferred by Marist in 2020. Turner is YSU's nominee for the 2021 fall season.

Touchdowns By Current Guins The Penguins have 12 players on their roster who have scored touchdowns while at YSU. TB Jaleel McLaughlin leads the team with 12 rushing touchdowns. TB Christian Turner and WR Samuel St. Surin are tied for the lead with five receiving TDs.

Numbers of Note Turnover Margin: Since 1996, YSU is 146-43 when they win or tie the turnover margin. When committing more turnovers, YSU is just 27-82.Since 1990 YSU is: 171-22-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 21 points in a game. 148-21 when rushing for 200-plus yards. 170-30 when scoring 28-or-more points. 89-13-1 when holding opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing in a game. 200-19 when leading entering the fourth. 92-3-2 when holding opponents to 10 points-or-less in a game.

Up Next:The Penguins will play North Dakota for the first time since the early 1960's next Saturday.

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Penguins Return Home to Take On 10th-Ranked South Dakota State - Youngstown State Athletics