FARGO - Youngstown State was cookin' last year, starting with an upset victory at the University of Pittsburgh. The Penguins were 4-0, including a win over Northern Iowa heading into a key game at North Dakota State.
The Bison flattened them by a score of 48-7, and that started a stretch of four straight losses, which cost YSU a postseason berth. But four-year starter Kurt Hess and a talented group of receivers return to give the Penguins another shot at the playoffs.
"(Hess) has taken this offense and held people accountable across the board," said head coach Eric Wolford.
Senior receiver Jelani Berrasa is back after missing spring practice with a knee injury. Junior Christian Bryan has 76 career receptions and senior Kevin Watts has 45 in his tenure. Berrasa is the deep threat.
Chris Elkins returns on an offensive line that gave up only eight quarterback sacks last year. The Penguins will need to replace three starters, though.
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"I think we recruited well," Wolford said. "We gave up eight sacks and I told those guys that's still not good enough. The better we are up front, the better it gives Kurt more opportunities to find a receiver."
The Penguins will also have to replace three starters up front on defense. Wolford is high on 300-pound transfer Octavius Brown from Georgia Military Academy.
YSU, once the power of FCS with multiple national titles, hasn't been to the playoffs since 2006. With the expanded playoff field to 24 teams, they appear to have the look of ending that drought.
The schedule is in their favor. They play seven home games for just the second time in school history including all three playoff teams from the Missouri Valley Football Conference: Illinois State, North Dakota State and South Dakota State.
The Bison and Jackrabbit games are the final two of the season.
Forum reporter Jeff Kolpack can be reached at (701) 241-5546.
Kolpack's NDSU media blog can be found
