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<\/p>\nBROOKINGS \u2014 We’ve got a big one Saturday at the Dana, with No. 2 SDSU hosting No. 9 Youngstown State. This is a chance for the Penguins to announce themselves as national championship contenders.
Here’s what I’ll be watching closely.<\/p>\n
1. Beau
Obviously, the Walter Payton Award winner is Youngstown’s ticket to winning this game, and the Jacks know slowing him down is their top priority.
The Penguins have surrounded Brungard with a strong supporting case, but make no mistake, No. 12 is what makes YSU go.<\/p>\n
Having Chase Van Tol back (he’s expected to return) will be key \u2014 he’s a linebacker with DB speed \u2014 but this will be a big test for what is still an unproven secondary. They can’t have breakdowns like the Griffin Wilde mishap two weeks ago.<\/p>\n
Dan Jackson said a big onus is on the D-line to win their blocks so they can do more than just fill their gap but get out in space to pursue Brungard and get involved in the tackle.
Maybe that’s a hint that the Jacks aren’t going to use a spy or bring extra DBs on the field too often. We’ll see.<\/p>\n
2. Penguins LT Desmeal Leigh
Considered perhaps the most NFL-ready offensive lineman in the FCS, Leigh turned down lucrative NIL offers to remain in Youngstown, presumably because the money’s going to be there when he gets drafted.<\/p>\n
A 6-7, 330-pound fifth-year senior, Leigh was a basketball and lacrosse player in high school, only going out for football as a senior. The Penguins have developed him into an All-American, and he’s adeptly protected Brungard’s blind side for the past three seasons.
Whether it’s Carter Sitzman, Dawson Ripperda, Reis Kirschenman or somebody else, it will be fun to watch the Jacks’ edge rushers go against one of the best pass blockers in the Valley.<\/p>\n
3. Lofton O’Groske
The Jacks No. 1 wide receiver hasn’t really been able to get going so far. He was injured through much of camp and consequently held out for the Stetson game, caught four passes for 60 yards in the loss to Northwestern but was then silent last week against New Haven.<\/p>\n
I’m not suggesting O’Groske is doing anything wrong or not playing well \u2014 Grahm Goering is playing the best ball of his career and Jack Smith, Landon Dulaney and others make the room plenty deep \u2014 but O’Groske is special. When you’re the No. 1 receiver in a room this deep that says a lot about your ceiling as a player. Would like to see O’Groske reach that ceiling soon.<\/p>\n
4. Who starts fastest?
After scoring a 73-yard touchdown on the first play of the season against Stetson the Jacks have started a little flat the last two games. And last year they fell behind the Penguins 14-0 in Youngstown.<\/p>\n
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South Dakota State’s Graham Spalding makes a tackle on Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard during a college football game on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 at Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings. <\/p>\n
Marcus Traxler \/ Mitchell Republic<\/p>\n
The Penguins are the 9th-ranked team in the country, but they haven’t really been in a game this big before. YSU coach Doug Phillips acknowledged there are many players on his team who will be playing in the first MVFC game of their careers.<\/p>\n
If the Penguins start fast they’ll build confidence and potentially take the crowd out of the game. If the Jacks start fast it could rattle the Penguins, overwhelm them and lead to a dominant win.<\/p>\n
I’m of the belief that starting strong is a key to basically every game, but with Brungard on the opposing sideline I feel like it’s even more important in this one.<\/p>\n
![\"Matt](\"https:\/\/cdn.forumcomm.com\/dims4\/default\/f443bc6\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/400x400+0+0\/resize\/100x100!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F08%2F01%2Fe9516c0443378c7753075c45e23c%2Fzim-2.jpg\")
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