Last week was a forgettable one for both #8 Youngstown State (4-1, 1-1) and their opponent this week,#14 Illinois State (5-1, 2-1).  YSU suffered a lopsided 48-7 road loss at the hands of the defending FCS champion, North Dakota State.  Illinois State dropped a 17-0 verdict to Southern Illinois.  The winner of this game will be the team that is able to regroup and make the fewest mistakes.

“Both teams will be playing with a chip on their shoulders”, said Redbirds sophomore receiver Donovan Harden.  “College football is a game of momentum and we are happy to be facing a very talented Youngstown State team at home this week.”

Youngstown State is taking a new approach on how they actually get to Hancock Stadium for this week’s 2:04 kickoff.

“We are leaving on the bus Thursday, stopping about halfway, and then finishing the ride on Friday”, said YSU coach Eric Wolford.  “It is a different approach that we planned awhile ago.  We will practice at the University of Illinois Friday and then have dinner and chapel.  After the game we will fly home.”

“All great teams play well on the road and we have to do that now”, remarked YSU OL Andrew Radakovich.  “We will worry about the process and the result of the game will handle itself.”

“If we stay here on Thursday night, there is a good chance that a player will take his Suzie Q out for wings or pizza”, added Wolford.

YSU will have its hands full with another good quarterback.  Senior Matt Brown (above) already has 1582 yards and eleven touchdowns this season.  Tyrone Walker has caught 39 passes for 549 yards and Harden leads the team in receiving touchdowns with four.  RB Darrelynn Dunn has nine rushing touchdowns to lead the Redbirds.

“Brown is a great quarterback”, said Wolford.  “He has two dynamic receivers in Walker and Harden.  For us to win, we cannot turn the ball over.  It is nothing magical.  Take care of the ball like it is gold and make the plays on third down on both sides of the ball.”

Penguin Tidbits

• Illinois State offensive line coach, George Barnett, and YSU’s Eric Wolford and offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo all served as coaches at the University of Illinois.
• YSU has scored at least 27 points in 13 of its last 15 games, and at least 20 points in the last 12 games against the Redbirds.
• Jamaine Cook has 73 carries for 335 yards and a pair of touchdowns in two games against Illinois State.
• Kurt Hess is 50-67 for 543 yards and six touchdowns in two games against Illinois State.
• ISU’s Matt Brown completed 32 passes against Youngstown State in 2009.

YSU leads the all-time series 11-10 and won last year’s game 37-24 at Stambaugh Stadium.

“We are ready to move forward again”, said Penguins TE Will Shaw.  “We have to stay true to our gameplan and stay focused.”

If the Penguins can take some of the heat off of Hess and the secondary can minimize the production of Harden and Walker, their chances of winning vastly improve.

My prediction:  YSU 40, Illinois State 31