What better way to kick off the 2019 college football season on Saturday than the Guardian Union FCS Kickoff Classic in Montgomery, Alabama. The matchup was between the Youngstown State Penguins and the Samford Bulldogs. As first game aired on ESPN for the season, college football fans watched the Penguins dominate in Alabama, 45-22.
FCS Kickoff Classic
The last time these two teams played each other was in 2016. That matchup ended with the Penguins winning 38-24 during the first round of the FCS Playoffs. YSU was 4-0 all-time against Samford heading into the game. Leading up to Saturday, there was speculation about who would be the starting quarterback for both the Penguins and the Bulldogs.
For the Bulldogs, it was announced that Liam Welch would start for the first time since he was in high school. For the Penguins, it was Nathan Mays who many thought was going to be backup behind Joey Craycraft.
Both teams started slow, but Samford would make noise on the next possession when Welch threw a 55 yard touchdown to Robert Adams. The Penguins would answer back however when Mays drove down the field with help from running back Joe Alessi. Mays would find wide receiver Samuel St. Surin for a 16-yard touchdown. New kicker Colten McFadden, son of former NFL kicker Paul McFadden, would make the extra point tying the game at seven.
A few plays later, the Penguins would answer again as Welch would cough up the football on a run play. Ma’lik Richmond would try to recover the ball, but instead bobbled it right into Cash Mitchell’s hands who took it all the way for a 26-yard touchdown. The Penguins would lead 14-7. The Penguins would expand their lead by ten after McFadden’s 43-yard field goal in the second quarter. Mays would then find tight end Josh Burgett, who only had one reception but it was an important one, as it would be a four-yard touchdown reception making the score 24-7 at the end of the first half.
Joe Craycraft also got a series in during the second quarter, but only completed one pass. Other defenders who made a big impact in the first half were Justus Reed, who sacked Welch, and Vanderbilt transfer Zaire Jones who picked Welch off twice, on batted passes.
Penguins Dominate in Alabama
In the first half, the Penguins had 271 yards on total offense while Samford had 166 yards. YSU was 8-of-11 on third downs and gained 120 yards during those two touchdowns.
The second half would be different for the offense as they would struggle to move the ball for a bit. The defense did not miss a beat as they forced Samford to punt three times and Welch would be picked off for a third time, this time by Josh Harper. Craycraft and Braxton Chapman would lead the Penguins to another scoring drive at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Chapman rushed it in for one yard making the score 31-7. Chapman would then score with 5:16 left making it 38-15.
Before that, Samford quarterback Welch would be replaced by Chris Oladokun who took them down the field finding Montrell Washington for a 64-yard touchdown. Oladokun completed a two-point conversion, and then followed that play by rushing it in for a 10-yard touchdown making the score 38-22. The Penguins would end it off however in the fourth with a Christian Turner touchdown.
First Win of the Season in the FCS Kickoff Classic
The Penguins beat the Bulldogs 45-22, a big bounce back after the opening loss last season against Butler. YSU is now 5-0 All-Time against Samford.
Nathan Mays improved on his passing from the last few seasons. Mays was 10/18 for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Mays was also the leading rusher with 13 carries for 90 yards. His competitor throughout camp and friend Joe Craycraft came in was 3/3 for 35 yards.
The other running backs showed some speed, as Christian Turner had more reps in the fourth and had 13 carries for 89 yards, Joe Alessi had 14 carries on 56 yards, and Braxton Chapman had 11 carries on 50 yards and scored those two touchdowns. London Pearson had four carries for 17 yards, and Craycraft had 15 yards on the ground.
Samuel St. Surin led the receivers with five receptions for 93 yards, Ryan Emans had three receptions for 23 yards, Jeremiah Braswell had two receptions for 22 yards, and Josh Burgett had a touchdown that went for four yards.
Next Up
Youngstown State will have an off weekend to prepare for the September 7th matchup against the Howard Bison at Stambaugh Stadium aka the Ice Castle. Kickoff is 2pm on ESPN+.
Meanwhile for the Bulldogs, they will regroup and get ready for next week’s matchup against Tennessee Tech at Tucker Stadium. We will see if Welch will still be the starting quarterback, or if a change will be made and Oladokun starts against the Golden Eagles. Kickoff for that game is 7pm also on ESPN+.
FCS Kickoff Classic Main Photo Credit:
