Davidson, Oliver set career highs as YSU gets past Missouri State 44-28
Trending
YOUNGSTOWN -- Saturday's performances by Youngstown State quarterback Mitch Davidson and wide receiver Bryce Oliver have been a long time coming.
The pair first burst onto the scene during the tail end of YSU's 3-7 season in 2021. In blowout losses to South Dakota State and North Dakota State, Davidson would sub in late and would lead the Penguins on scoring drives -- at times connecting with Oliver for touchdowns.
"Mitch would throw it up, and Bryce made the catches," head coach Doug Phillips said. "You saw it last year, you see it in the summer and you see it in the offseason. There's definitely a connection there."
Since then, the duo's relationship has only blossomed on and off the field.
On Saturday against Missouri State, Davidson and Oliver each set career highs as they led the Penguins to a 44-28 victory over the Bears at Stambaugh Stadium.
"That's our brotherhood. He's one of my best friends -- probably going to be the best man at my wedding one day," Davidson said. "It's him coming over to my parents' house for dinner, it's us going to get food together. When we're not in the facility, it's us hanging out on Thursday night watching football. It's all that stuff. That's where you truly create this team bond that we have and this brotherhood that we have."
Oliver had been quiet the last couple games. But against the Bears, he exploded for the Penguins, catching six passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns, all coming in the first half and topping his previous high of 145 yards set last season in a win over Southern Illinois.
"The last couple games, teams who opposed us did a great job of scheming to take me out of the game. Saw a lot of that on film -- a lot of cloud coverages and things like that to deny me access to the ball. This week, we knew they play a lot of heavy man, quarters -- we treat that as man in the receiver room -- so it was just about me making certain plays."
Knowing YSU's propensity for running the ball, Missouri State opted to load the box most of the game, according to Phillips.
That opened things up for Davidson in the passing game, and he took advantage, especially with the deep ball downfield. He finished 26-for-33 for 390 yards and four touchdowns to three different receivers, besting his career high of 339 yards that he set earlier this season against Robert Morris.
The Penguins were 6-for-8 for 215 yards on throws 20-plus yards downfield.
"Every week you come and see how teams are going to defend you," Phillips said. "It's a new challenge. We'd love to establish the run, but I thought we were able to get the yards when we needed to. ... When teams (load the box), you see play-action pass going deep. CJ (Charleston) had one, Bryce had one.
"A couple years ago, when teams put that many guys in the box, we couldn't do anything because we couldn't throw the ball downfield. When you have the receivers we do, and the protection that our offensive line gives us, Mitch is going to find the open receiver and those guys are great athletes."
Behind Davidson and Oliver's downfield connection, YSU took a 31-14 lead by halftime. After the Bears had tied the game at 14 on a 45-yard touchdown run by Jacardia Wright, the Penguins scored three straight times to end the half. YSU scored on its opening drive of the second half, as well, building a 24-point lead.
But Missouri State responded with back-to-back touchdowns to make it a 10-point game. By that point, the Bears had all the momentum.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Missouri State began its drive in favorable field position at the Penguins' 49 yard line. After picking up a first down, MSU quarterback Jordan Pachot took a deep shot downfield into triple coverage and was picked off by YSU cornerback Troy Jakubec, his second interception in the last two games and his team-leading third of the season.
The Penguins were able to turn the turnover into points, as Andrew Lastovka kicked his second of three field goals to end the drive.
"You always want to see how your young men react when something doesn't go right," Phillips said. "In the fourth quarter, we were able to get an interception, get control of the football and move the football. You'd like to see those turn into touchdowns, but we took the field goal because we needed to get points there. That's that complementary football."
After back-to-back wins at home, the Penguins now take to the road to face Indiana State next week as they look for their first road win of the season.
"This is when you have to be playing your best football," Phillips said. "I don't know if I've seen us play our best football. ...I think we've been very consistent in how we prepare and how we practice. But you've got to go out there on Saturday. You gotta adjust, you gotta make the adjustments and you gotta trust your players to do their job."
nmadhavan@tribtoday.com