Jackrabbit football head coach Dan Jackson previously mentioned in a press conference how their game against Mercyhurst was a way to show what the Jacks had improved on during their bye week.
The 51-7 win over the Lakers proved to do the team well. All three phases of the team played well in what was the Jacks’ 32nd consecutive home win. They will need to keep up the momentum as they head to Ohio to play their third ranked team of the season, the No. 18 Youngstown State Penguins. The Penguins are 3-1 on the season, with their lone loss being to Michigan State in a 24-41 point game.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
The Jackrabbits went into their Mercyhurst game playing against a passing defense that had been holding quarterbacks to an average of under 150 passing yards per game. SDSU quarterback Chase Mason would have a career game against that same defense. He tied a career high with three passing touchdowns while throwing for a career high 321 passing yards. Mason threw for a season high 29 passes, completed 21 and also threw a season long 52-yard throw.
Graham Goehring led the receiving room in receptions and receiving yards. Despite not recording a touchdown, he hauled in a 52-yard bomb and had his best game of the season in receptions and receiving yards.
On the contrary, the Laker running defense that previously had let up an average of 204 yards a game, held the Jacks to 126. James Basinger led the Jacks in carries and rushing yards with 15 and 53 respectively, he also scored two touchdowns.
“You’ll see big leaps with him,” Jackson said. “Now that he’s gotten some of those reps I would expect him to make a jump.”
Adam Urena is Mercyhurst’s starting quarterback and going into the game, his stats looked good. He threw for 1,144 passing yards and six passing touchdowns, albeit with five interceptions and -36 rushing yards on the season.
The Jackrabbit defense held him in line nearly the entire game, allowing a lone touchdown and 103 passing yards. They also recorded two interceptions and three sacks on Urena.
SDSU is now averaging 34.5 points per game while holding teams to 13.75. On offense, the rushing attack is averaging four yards per rush and has scored nine touchdowns. They have run the ball for a net yardage of 700, gaining 817 yards over the season but having lost 117.
South Dakota State’s opponents have run for 396 yards against the Jacks, an average of 99 a game. They have only let up three touchdowns on the year.
For the passing game, SDSU has thrown for 932 yards, which averages out to be 233 a game with each passing averaging a gain of 8.876 yards. Their defense has been equally as good, having only let up 548 yards over four games this season. Only two passing touchdowns have been let up by the Jacks.
YOUNGSTOWN STATE
The Penguins are coming off of a close game against the then 2-1 Towson Tigers. Youngstown State won that game 31-28 after a 42 yard field goal won them the game at the buzzer. After Towson took a fourth quarter 28-17 lead, Youngstown State scored 14 unanswered points, a touchdown plus two point conversion and two field goals.
Quarterback Beau Brungard was a first team MVFC athlete last year, and has continued the level of play that earned him that honor throughout this season. He earned that honor not as a quarterback, but as an “all purpose player.” Brungard is not only a threat through the air but also as a runner, having 526 rushing yards alongside his 755 passing yards.
Earlier this season against now 1-3 Robert Morris, he ran for 264 yards and scored four touchdowns. The team has created 1,659 yards of offense this season, Brungard is responsible for 1,281 of those yards, that’s 77 percent.
“He’s uber competitive,” Jackson said. “Sometimes when certain people run the ball you can tell their desire to get every yard and every inch and what that means to them, and you can tell it means a lot to him.”
His primary passing target is Max Tomczak, he has 306 yards on the season with a single touchdown. He is also coming off an MVFC first team selection following his 904 yard season. Against the Jacks last year, he caught six passes for 78 yards. Behind him in total passing yards is Jaden Gilbert, he has 151. Gilbert isn’t even a wide receiver though, he is a running back and apart from Brungard has led the team in rushing yards. Last year he had 117 yards rushing and one touchdown through ten games. In his four games played this year, he has run for 192 and has scored two touchdowns.
Out of the four other opponents SDSU has faced this year, the only teams to allow more points than Youngstown State were Drake and Mercyhurst. This season, the Penguins have let up an average of 25.25 points a game. They have recorded five sacks this season while also letting up five. Redzone defense has been a huge struggle for them. Out of the 13 times they have let opponents in the redzone, nine times have resulted in a touchdown. In the same light, the Youngstown State offense has been stellar in the redzone, scoring on 18 of their 19 trips.
It hasn’t been stopping the run that’s been a problem for them, but more so the pass. They have only let up 439 rushing yards, and that’s on 109 attempts as well. Teams have been trying but most haven’t found much success. Michigan State is the exception however, they were able to rack up 174 rushing yards and scored four rushing touchdowns. Teams have averaged more than 260 yards through the air though, and have scored seven touchdowns.
Another area of struggle has been penalties, Youngstown State has averaged 53.5 penalty yards a contest. Over the season, they have committed 23 penalties for a total of 214 yards. Opponents have fared better with an average of 35.25.
It’ll be another ranked matchup for the No. 2 Jacks as they play No. 18 Youngstown State at 5 p.m. for their first MVFC contest. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and can be listened to on the Jackrabbit Sports Network.
