Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes. YSU’s Bryce Oliver (center) dances with quarterback Mitch Davidson following his second touchdown Saturday afternoon versus South Dakota.

YOUNGSTOWN — Since his arrival to Youngstown State after transferring from Kentucky, wide receiver Bryce Oliver says he and quarterback Mitch Davidson have developed a bond.

“We’ve been hanging out a lot since I got on campus,” Oliver said. “And recently, this year, we’ve just been stepping it up on and off the field. We’ve been going to the movies a couple times a week. I even went out to dinner with Mitch and the (offensive) linemen on Thursday.

“So just getting that rapport more throughout the year since he’s been the starter. That’s what it’s all about on and off the field — cohesiveness. Mitch is my boy.”

Their on-field connection is undeniable, too.

Since Davidson made his first start against North Dakota back on Oct. 8 after a midseason change from Demeatric Crenshaw, the YSU passing game has taken a dramatic step forward.

The biggest benefactor of that is Oliver, who has led YSU in receptions in each game this season, but in the last four games has seen his production skyrocket.

Prior to the midseason change, Oliver had 15 receptions, 185 yards and two touchdowns through four games. Since, he’s racked up 26 receptions for 429 yards and five touchdowns in the same amount of contests.

As a result, his season-long production should put Oliver in the All-Missouri Valley conversation. The Kentucky transfer ranks second in the league in receptions (41) and touchdowns (7) and third in yards (614) and average yards per game (76.8).

Other receivers are feeling the love, too. Max Tomczak has a similar amount of yardage (158 yards in the last four games vs. 178 yards in the first four), but has nearly doubled his reception count (13 in the last four vs. 7 in the first). Latrell Fordham has 10 receptions for 93 yards in the last four games, and had seven receptions for 59 yards in the first four. That’s even after sustaining an injury at Western Illinois and not playing Saturday against South Dakota.

The tight ends had three receptions for 32 yards between them in the opening four games, but have combined for eight receptions, 70 yards and a touchdown since.

Davidson, meanwhile, doesn’t have the necessary appearances to rank highly in the MVFC in most statistics, but his efficiency rating of 159.4 is second only to Northern Iowa’s Theo Day. Thus far, Davidson is 74-for-121 (61.16%) for 1,085 yards, nine touchdowns and just one interception.

That’s allowed the YSU offense to become more balanced in the last month, rather than heavily relying on the run as it was in games past — something head coach Doug Phillips had sought since his arrival.

“I hope that makes it a little more difficult to just zero in on us,” Phillips said prior to YSU’s game at Western Illinois. “Last year, teams could just zero on us and blitz to stop No. 8 (tailback Jaleel McLaughlin). Right now, there’s other players on that field that I don’t think you could just focus on stopping Number 8. They still have to stop him, but we have the ability to at least get the ball out to other players.”

McLaughlin’s stats certainly haven’t suffered. He ran for 518 yards and four touchdowns in YSU’s first four contests, and has 96 attempts for 664 yards and six touchdowns since Davidson took over.

It should be noted that the Penguins’ first four games included tough road contests at Kentucky and North Dakota State, in which the YSU offense struggled for the most part.

However, even with the step back in competition, the balance the Penguins have showcased has been both impressive and necessary. Consider that McLaughlin is averaging 24 carries, 166 yards and 1.5 touchdowns per game in the last four weeks, even as Davidson has thrown for 220-plus yards in each of those contests.

It’s also shown in the win column, as the Penguins are riding their first three-game MVFC win streak since 2017.

The work is far from over, Phillips says. The Penguins could have landed a final knockout blow against South Dakota coming out of halftime, but went three-and-out instead. Those situational matters are still a work in progress, but the framework is there for the YSU offense to continue stepping forward.

Making those strides will be imperative as YSU (5-3, 3-2) enters a critical month of November with its playoff hopes still intact. The Penguins travel to Illinois State (5-3, 3-2) and Missouri State (3-5, 1-4) before hosting Southern Illinois (5-4, 4-2) to conclude the regular season.

“We’re not perfect,” Phillips acknowledged. “We’re not, but I still think we have our best football ahead of us.”

And it will take that best football for Youngstown State to realize its goals.

jwhetzel@tribtoday.com