#21 North Dakota (3-2) at Youngstown State (2-2)

[BeamMeUp]

The 3-2 Fighting Hawks of North Dakota make their first trip to Stambaugh Stadium to take on 2-2 Youngstown State. In last year's meeting in Grand Forks, YSU blew a 21-10 4th Quarter lead with 10 minutes to go as UND scored 2 late TD's to win 24-21. From what was posted on the UND forum, YSU opened up as a -1.5 pt favorite. Massey has it UND by 1. Sagarin has it YSU by 2. Needless to say this should be a close contest under the lights.

UND is coming off an impressive victory over previous #7 Missouri State 48-31. They outscored the Bears 38-10 after falling behind 21-10 early in the contest. YSU is coming off a 27-14 loss at #1 North Dakota State. The Penguins never really threatened NDSU, but kept it respectable and held NDSU to just two 2nd half FG's.

YSU has a QB contest up for grabs. The starter thru the 1st four games (Crenshaw) has not been very good (outside of 5 passing TD game performance vs. Duquesne). He did little against Kentucky and was just plain bad in the first half in Fargo before getting benched. He has the reputation of being a mobile QB, but this season that is far from the case which is a head scratcher. Through 4 games, Crenshaw has rushed it just 24 times for 44 yards and 1 TD. Last season, Crenshaw rushed it 132 times for 599 yards and 7 TD's. Either the offensive staff is completely in over their heads or there are other issues with Crenshaw preventing him from rushing the ball. The bottom line is if they aren't going to run him (or he can't run), then he does not give us any chance to win against the mid-to-upper tier of this league. I expect Mitch Davidson to start on Saturday night. Mitch opens up the pass game a bit, but it comes at a price... his accuracy. NDSU dropped two pick-sixes last week that would have changed our opinion of his performance. However, he jumpstarted our offensive and helped cut the deficit to 24-14 with 4 minutes to go last week. With a full week of practice under his belt with the #1's, I hope the offensive staff gives him the right plays to allow him to succeed.

Go Guins!

[Paladin1aa]

Game notes are out and they show Crenshaw starting. We will see. This is a coin flip game. However UND has no problem at QB where they have a decent one. Should YSU fail to get a lot of DL pressure on him, he will pick our soft zone apart. YSU shows a decent D and should control UNDs run game.

I haven’t made a pick yet. Toss up game.

[penguinpower]

The 3-2 Fighting Hawks of North Dakota make their first trip to Stambaugh Stadium to take on 2-2 Youngstown State. In last year's meeting in Grand Forks, YSU blew a 21-10 4th Quarter lead with 10 minutes to go as UND scored 2 late TD's to win 24-21. From what was posted on the UND forum, YSU opened up as a -1.5 pt favorite. Massey has it UND by 1. Sagarin has it YSU by 2. Needless to say this should be a close contest under the lights.

UND is coming off an impressive victory over previous #7 Missouri State 48-31. They outscored the Bears 38-10 after falling behind 21-10 early in the contest. YSU is coming off a 27-14 loss at #1 North Dakota State. The Penguins never really threatened NDSU, but kept it respectable and held NDSU to just two 2nd half FG's.

YSU has a QB contest up for grabs. The starter thru the 1st four games (Crenshaw) has not been very good (outside of 5 passing TD game performance vs. Duquesne). He did little against Kentucky and was just plain bad in the first half in Fargo before getting benched. He has the reputation of being a mobile QB, but this season that is far from the case which is a head scratcher. Through 4 games, Crenshaw has rushed it just 24 times for 44 yards and 1 TD. Last season, Crenshaw rushed it 132 times for 599 yards and 7 TD's. Either the offensive staff is completely in over their heads or there are other issues with Crenshaw preventing him from rushing the ball. The bottom line is if they aren't going to run him (or he can't run), then he does not give us any chance to win against the mid-to-upper tier of this league. I expect Mitch Davidson to start on Saturday night. Mitch opens up the pass game a bit, but it comes at a price... his accuracy. NDSU dropped two pick-sixes last week that would have changed our opinion of his performance. However, he jumpstarted our offensive and helped cut the deficit to 24-14 with 4 minutes to go last week. With a full week of practice under his belt with the #1's, I hope the offensive staff gives him the right plays to allow him to succeed.

Go Guins!

Hamstring injury

[BeamMeUp]

YSU Beat Reporter Article:
https://www.vindy.com/sports/2022/10/ysu-scouting-report-north-dakota/

[wapiti]

The winner of this has a much easier path to the playoffs.

[Professor Chaos]

The winner of this has a much easier path to the playoffs.
YSU might have the easier path regardless. UND still has to play NDSU and SDSU while YSU has already played NDSU and doesn't play SDSU this year. YSU could survive a loss in this one and still pretty reasonably get to 7-4. If UND loses their playoff hopes are in trouble since they'd have to split vs NDSU and SDSU and win the rest. Although I can see your point where if UND wins all they need is home wins over USD and ACU and a road win over Indiana St to get to at least 7-4.

I don't think the MVFC is strong enough to get a 6-5 team in this year unless it's a historically weak playoff bubble.

[F'N Hawks]

Like you guys said, very big game for both teams! I think they are very evenly matched - going to come down to a few big plays! Jaleel worries me quite a bit.

[Chalupa Batman]

YSU might have the easier path regardless. UND still has to play NDSU and SDSU while YSU has already played NDSU and doesn't play SDSU this year. YSU could survive a loss in this one and still pretty reasonably get to 7-4. If UND loses their playoff hopes are in trouble since they'd have to split vs NDSU and SDSU and win the rest. Although I can see your point where if UND wins all they need is home wins over USD and ACU and a road win over Indiana St to get to at least 7-4.

I don't think the MVFC is strong enough to get a 6-5 team in this year unless it's a historically weak playoff bubble.

UND does play SDSU in Grand Forks, where they are much better. They also have a bye the week before that game while the Jacks will be up in Fargo playing what is always a real physical game with the Bison.

[POD Knows]

Interesting stat, since joining the MVFC, UND has won ONE road game against conference opponents and that was over WIU. That stat ends this weekend as they roll YSU

[Paladin1aa]

Interesting stat, since joining the MVFC, UND has won ONE road game against conference opponents and that was over WIU. That stat ends this weekend as they roll YSU

I look for a close game, POD. I’m picking UND. They have a superior QB over YSU who has none. While YSU D is improved and will stuff the run, they have no pass rush and the secondary will get picked apart. Expect them to target Jaleel and give him 100 yds but few scores.

[BeamMeUp]

Until Crenshaw heals from the rumored hamstring injury, I believe Youngstown State should (and will) start Mitch Davidson at QB. Now I am not going to sugarcoat his abilities (average), but I feel he gives YSU the best chance to have some success throwing the ball and sustaining drives, which in turn will keep our defense off the field and much more fresh. This game has the makings of being a tight one to the very end.

I think this game comes down to turnovers. UND is probably the better team, but they have had issues playing on the road in league play thus far. Furthermore, they have never played in Stambaugh, not that I expect many fans with the cold. I think the computers having this within a field goal either way are about right.

Go YSU

[Paladin1aa]

MD starts at QB. Guins ball but must punt. Slow start.

[POD Knows]

This game is going to be a blow out. UND is going to have receivers running free on that secondary all game long and Schuster almost never takes a sack.

[Paladin1aa]

UND scores first, 7-0. They have a QB. We don’t.

[Paladin1aa]

YSU hits a 48 yd FG. 7-3 UND.

[Paladin1aa]

Hawks hit a 32 yd TD. 14-3.

[Gil Dobie]

Black pants, Ugh.

[Paladin1aa]

YSU hits another FG. 14-6 Hawks

[skinny_uncle]

This game is going to be a blow out. UND is going to have receivers running free on that secondary all game long and Schuster almost never takes a sack.

Did he not get sacked 7 times by SIU?

[Paladin1aa]

YSU TD pass and 2 pt conversion. 14 all

Tomczak with great catch.

[POD Knows]

UNDs offense fascinates me, I don’t think a ball ever comes out their QBs hand at over 30 mph but he completes over 70% of his throws. Really accurate and a soft ball to catch.

[Paladin1aa]

Hawks TD run. 21-14 Hawks.

[POD Knows]

Did he not get sacked 7 times by SIU?
Yea but I think he got sacked like 8 times all of last year. The SIU game was kind of an anomaly, he gets rid of the ball in a hurry normally.

[Paladin1aa]

YSU TD pass. 21 all. 6 seconds left in 1st half.

[BeamMeUp]

Incredibly poor defensive half by YSU, but quite frankly both squads. The decision by Phillips to start Davidson has been key to YSU keeping this a tie game at half. 9 of 13 for 144 yards and 2 touchdowns.

The defense needs to get some stops in the 2nd half and it must start on the first drive of the 2nd half. UND runs a quality offense with a lot of high percentage gainers and they are running it to near perfection. YSU needs to get some pressure on the QB and when UND runs the ball, keep them from getting big gains.

Huge 2nd half ahead for this YSU program....

[Paladin1aa]

YSU FG. YSU 24-21

[Paladin1aa]

Hawks miss a FG . Still YSU 24-21

[BeamMeUp]

UND misses a field goal opportunity wide left. YSU still leads 24-21... YSU's bend but don't break defense has held UND to two scoreless 3Q possessions. Need a TD here.

[Paladin1aa]

YSU misses a FG. Still 24-21

[POD Knows]

Hideous PI call against YSU.

[Paladin1aa]

Hawks run for TD. Hawks 28-24

[BeamMeUp]

UND blocks a punt after YSU's punter drops it... UND 35-24. Wow

[Paladin1aa]

Hawks block a punt and run it for a TD. Hawks 35-24

[BeamMeUp]

YSU responds after converting 4th and 5 deep in their own territory. 2pt no good.

UND leads 35-30
5:49 left

YSU has all 3 timeouts.

[POD Knows]

WTF were they doing on that kick off. Damn it.

[POD Knows]

YSU special teams are killing them in the second half

[BeamMeUp]

YSU forces a punt, which was not good. YSU ball 3:54 left own 45 yard line

[POD Knows]

JFC. Just. Watch. They will run out of time

[BeamMeUp]

UND holds YSU on 4th and 15... Tough loss for YSU in a game they had every opportunity to win. However, this program still has a ways to go... Disappointing loss.

[Paladin1aa]

Hawks win 35-30

[POD Knows]

UND played aggressive on D and got it done 99 percent of teams sit back
and let teams pick them apart. Screw the prevent D.

[penguinpower]

That was targeting on the QB if you ask me, but special teams cost YSU the game

[Paladin1aa]

On a side note , I picked UND to win tonite in a close one. So there is that.

Honestly, as I said before, they will win 4 games with a shot at winning 5.

But not tonite.

[penguinpower]

YSU special teams are killing them in the second half

I agree. That's the story of the game. It seems though, YSU tends to get 1 or 2 bad calls a game. I understand that it's difficult to be a referee, but that DPI call was complete bull**** and it seemed to be the turning point in the game.

[BeamMeUp]

Outgained them 458-385 yards...

Difference
UND - 1 FG attempt... which was missed.
YSU - 4 FG attempts... made 3/4.

Need to finish drives. Unacceptable loss.

[semobison]

Early 4th quarter YTown looks like their going down the field to take a two score lead. Questionable offense, a missed FG, a blocked punt returned for a TD and they still had a chance at the end. McLaughin was nowhere to be found in the 4th qtr and UND had no answer for him! C’mon Man!

[POD Knows]

Early 4th quarter YTown looks like their going down the field to take a two score lead. Questionable offense, a missed FG, a blocked punt returned for a TD and they still had a chance at the end. McLaughin was nowhere to be found in the 4th qtr and UND had no answer for him! C’mon Man!Yea, he was invisible, Christ, throw him a pass in space someplace.

[Paladin1aa]

Early 4th quarter YTown looks like their going down the field to take a two score lead. Questionable offense, a missed FG, a blocked punt returned for a TD and they still had a chance at the end. McLaughin was nowhere to be found in the 4th qtr and UND had no answer for him! C’mon Man!

We have an inept AD who refuses to hire competent coaches. Winning FB games is not a high priority.

[F'N Hawks]

That was a wild game man. YSU is a good football team, either team could've won it and UND got lucky with the punter dropping the snap. Very entertaining football on display, lots of big plays.

[Paladin1aa]

Oh, almost forgot, congrats to the Hawks. Made plays when you needed to.

On another note, reading the cheerleader board is continuing the ongoing comedy at YSU. Been telling you for 20 years you hired and kept the wrong idiot at AD while he systematically killed FB, MBB and WBB. Nothing changes till he is gone.

I fail to understand how dumb people can be watching it unfold before your eyes, you blink and miss it all.

There is always next year. 🤓

[ysubigred]

8-3 won't be to bad of a finish...

Go guinsss..

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