The 2016 Youngstown State Penguins football team represented Youngstown State University in the 2016 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by second-year head coach Bo Pelini and played their home games at Stambaugh Stadium. They were a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Youngstown State finished the season 12–4 overall with a 6–2 mark in MVFC play to finish in third place. They received an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs, where they defeated Samford, Jacksonville State, Wofford, and Eastern Washington to advance to the National Championship Game, where they lost to James Madison.
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|
| 7:30 pm | Duquesne* | | | ESPN3 | W 45–10 | 12,219 |
September 10 | 2:00 pm | at West Virginia* | No. 20 | | RTPT | L 21–38 | 56,261 |
September 17 | 4:00 pm | Robert Morris* | No. 20 | - Stambaugh Stadium
- Youngstown, OH
| ESPN3 | W 38–6 | 19,033 |
October 1 | 4:00 pm | South Dakota | No. 20 | - Stambaugh Stadium
- Youngstown, OH
| ESPN3 | W 30–20 | 15,151 |
October 8 | 3:00 pm | at No. 23 Illinois State | No. 15 | | ESPN3 | W 20–6 | 12,570 |
October 15 | 7:00 pm | No. 21 Northern Iowa | No. 14 | - Stambaugh Stadium
- Youngstown, OH
| ESPN3 | W 14–10 | 13,373 |
October 22 | 3:00 pm | at No. 7 South Dakota State | No. 13 | | ESPN3 | L 10–24 | 17,730 |
October 29 | 4:00 pm | Indiana State | No. 15 | - Stambaugh Stadium
- Youngstown, OH
| ESPN3 | W 13–10 | 15,082 |
November 5 | 3:30 pm | at No. 4 North Dakota State | No. 15 | | ESPN3 | L 3–24 | 18,332 |
November 12 | 12:00 pm | Southern Illinois | No. 17 | - Stambaugh Stadium
- Youngstown, OH
| ESPN3 | W 21–14 | 11,262 |
November 19 | 3:00 pm | at Missouri State | No. 15 | | ESPN3 | W 65–20 | 5,070 |
November 26 | 5:00 pm | No. 23 Samford* | No. 13 | | ESPN3 | W 38–24 | 5,322 |
December 3 | 2:00 pm | at No. 2 Jacksonville State* | No. 13 | | ESPN3 | W 40–24 | 18,838 |
December 10 | 2:00 pm | No. 19 Wofford* | No. 13 | | ESPN3 | W 30–23 2OT | 8,066 |
December 17 | 6:30 pm | at No. 3 Eastern Washington* | No. 13 | | ESPNU | W 40–38 | 5,233 |
January 7, 2017 | 12:00 pm | vs. No. 5 James Madison* | No. 13 | | ESPN2 | L 14–28 | 14,423 |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Eastern time
|
Roster
2016 Youngstown State Penguins football team roster
|
Players
|
Coaches
|
Offense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
WR
|
2
|
Darius Shackleford
|
Fr
|
WR
|
4
|
Damoun Patterson
|
Jr
|
WR
|
5
|
Alvin Bailey
|
Jr
|
QB
|
6
|
Hunter Wells
|
Jr
|
QB
|
7
|
Nathan Mays
|
Fr
|
WR
|
8
|
Robert Byrd
|
So
|
WR
|
9
|
I'tavious Harvin
|
Jr
|
WR
|
9
|
Isiah Scott
|
So
|
QB
|
11
|
Trent Hosick
|
Jr
|
QB
|
12
|
Ricky Davis
|
Jr
|
WR
|
13
|
Stefan Derrick II
|
Jr
|
WR
|
16
|
Jermiah Braswell
|
Fr
|
TB
|
20
|
Jody Webb
|
Sr
|
WR
|
21
|
Darien Townsend
|
Jr
|
WR
|
23
|
Donovan McWilson
|
Fr
|
RB
|
24
|
Devon McNutt
|
Fr
|
RB
|
28
|
London Pearson
|
Fr
|
RB
|
29
|
Martin Ruiz
|
Sr
|
TB
|
30
|
Joe Alessi
|
Fr
|
WR
|
36
|
Zack Torbert
|
Fr
|
RB
|
37
|
Tevin McCaster
|
So
|
C
|
51
|
Cole McKenry
|
Fr
|
G
|
54
|
Jarred Jones
|
Fr
|
G
|
60
|
Gavin Wiggins
|
So
|
OT
|
61
|
Justin Spencer
|
Jr
|
G
|
64
|
Norman Fox
|
Fr
|
G
|
67
|
Brock Eisenhuth
|
Sr
|
OT
|
68
|
Connor Sharp
|
So
|
C
|
69
|
Cole Newsome
|
Jr
|
C
|
70
|
Vitas Hrynkiewicz
|
So
|
OT
|
71
|
Cameron Fraser
|
Jr
|
OT
|
72
|
James Wilson
|
Fr
|
G
|
74
|
Jacob Zinni
|
Fr
|
G
|
75
|
Jason Sims
|
Fr
|
OT
|
77
|
Dylan Colucci
|
Sr
|
OT
|
78
|
Jeff Rotheram
|
So
|
WR
|
80
|
Lasander Washington
|
Jr
|
WR
|
81
|
Ryan Emans
|
Fr
|
WR
|
82
|
Samuel St. Surin
|
Fr
|
TE
|
83
|
Kevin Rader
|
Jr
|
TE
|
86
|
Shane Kuhn
|
Jr
|
WR
|
87
|
Brad Good
|
Jr
|
TE
|
88
|
Jacob Wood
|
Sr
|
WR
|
89
|
Tre'von Williams
|
Fr
|
TE
|
95
|
Anthony Parente
|
Jr
|
|
Defense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
CB
|
1
|
Eric Thompson
|
Sr
|
DE
|
2
|
Joshmere Dawson
|
Sr
|
FS
|
3
|
LeRoy Alexander
|
Sr
|
LB
|
4
|
Jonathan Pollock
|
Fr
|
LB
|
5
|
Lee Wright
|
Jr
|
LB
|
6
|
Jamar Pinnock
|
Sr
|
CB
|
7
|
Kenny Bishop
|
Sr
|
CB
|
8
|
Nate Dortch
|
Sr
|
DE
|
9
|
Avery Moss
|
Sr
|
S
|
10
|
Kyle Hegedus
|
Fr
|
DE
|
11
|
Derek Rivers
|
Fr
|
FS
|
14
|
Solomon Warfield
|
Jr
|
CB
|
15
|
Avery Larkin
|
So
|
FS
|
16
|
Jalyn Powell
|
Jr
|
DB
|
17
|
Billy Nicoe Hurst
|
Jr
|
CB
|
18
|
D. J. Thomas
|
Jr
|
CB
|
19
|
Chrispin Lee
|
So
|
DT
|
21
|
Jamal Smith
|
Fr
|
CB
|
22
|
Darius Hall
|
Fr
|
LB
|
25
|
Nathan Pittman
|
So
|
SS
|
26
|
Jameel Smith
|
Sr
|
SS
|
27
|
Kieran Winn
|
Fr
|
LB
|
28
|
Malachi Newell
|
Fr
|
CB
|
31
|
David Rivers III
|
Sr
|
DE
|
33
|
Johnson Louigene
|
So
|
CB
|
34
|
Mike Nash
|
Fr
|
LB
|
35
|
Christiaan Randall-Posey
|
Fr
|
FS
|
38
|
Logan Rhea
|
So
|
LB
|
40
|
Jaylin Kelly
|
Sr
|
LB
|
41
|
Curtis Parks
|
Fr
|
LB
|
42
|
Armand Dellovade
|
So
|
LB
|
45
|
Cole Kochman
|
Jr
|
DE
|
50
|
Shereif Bynum
|
Fr
|
DT
|
52
|
Savon Smith
|
So
|
DT
|
53
|
Justin Metzel
|
Fr
|
DT
|
55
|
Giacamo Cappabianca
|
Fr
|
DE
|
59
|
Simon Smith
|
Fr
|
DT
|
66
|
Cody Squiric
|
So
|
DT
|
76
|
Lamont Ragland
|
So
|
DT
|
90
|
Wesley Thompson
|
Fr
|
DT
|
92
|
Donald Mesier
|
Jr
|
DT
|
97
|
Rickey Hagood II
|
Sr
|
DE
|
98
|
Fazson Chapman
|
Jr
|
|
Special teams
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
P
|
39
|
Nate Needham
|
Fr
|
PK
|
49
|
Connor McFadden
|
Jr
|
LS
|
57
|
Steven Wethli
|
So
|
P, TE
|
85
|
Mark Schuler
|
Fr
|
PK
|
99
|
Zak Kennedy
|
So
|
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
Roster
|
Game summaries
Duquesne
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Dukes
|
3
|
7
|
0
|
0 |
10 |
Penguins
|
10
|
14
|
7
|
14 |
45 |
At West Virginia
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
#20 Penguins
|
0
|
14
|
0
|
7 |
21 |
Mountaineers
|
7
|
7
|
17
|
7 |
38 |
Robert Morris
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Colonials
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
0 |
6 |
#20 Penguins
|
14
|
3
|
14
|
7 |
38 |
South Dakota
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Coyotes
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
14 |
20 |
#20 Penguins
|
10
|
10
|
0
|
10 |
30 |
At Illinois State
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
#15 Penguins
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
17 |
20 |
#23 Redbirds
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
0 |
6 |
Northern Iowa
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
#21 Panthers
|
0
|
10
|
0
|
0 |
10 |
#14 Penguins
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
14 |
14 |
At South Dakota State
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
#13 Penguins
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
7 |
10 |
#7 Jackrabbits
|
14
|
3
|
7
|
0 |
24 |
Indiana State
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Sycamores
|
10
|
0
|
0
|
0 |
10 |
#15 Penguins
|
0
|
6
|
0
|
7 |
13 |
At North Dakota State
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
#15 Penguins
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
0 |
3 |
#4 Bison
|
17
|
0
|
0
|
7 |
24 |
Southern Illinois
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Salukis
|
0
|
0
|
7
|
7 |
14 |
#17 Penguins
|
7
|
7
|
0
|
7 |
21 |
At Missouri State
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
#15 Penguins
|
14
|
20
|
17
|
14 |
65 |
Bears
|
0
|
10
|
0
|
10 |
20 |
FCS Playoffs
First Round–Samford
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
#23 Bulldogs
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
17 |
24 |
#13 Penguins
|
7
|
3
|
14
|
14 |
38 |
Second Round–Jacksonville State
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
#13 Penguins
|
17
|
3
|
14
|
6 |
40 |
#2 Gamecocks
|
7
|
10
|
7
|
0 |
24 |
Quarterfinals–Wofford
|
|
|
|
| | |
Total |
#19 Terriers
|
9
|
0
|
7
|
7 | 0 | 0 |
23 |
#13 Penguins
|
0
|
13
|
7
|
3 | 0 | 7 |
30 |
Semifinals–Eastern Washington
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
#13 Penguins
|
7
|
10
|
3
|
20 |
40 |
#3 Eagles
|
10
|
14
|
7
|
7 |
38 |
Championship–James Madison
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
#13 Penguins
|
0
|
7
|
0
|
7 |
14 |
#5 Dukes
|
14
|
7
|
7
|
0 |
28 |
Ranking movements
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
RV = Received votes т = Tied with team above or below | Week |
---|
Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
---|
STATS FCS | RV | 20 | 20 | 16 | 20 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 2 |
---|
Coaches | RV | 22 | 20 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 12–T | 2 |
---|
References
|
---|
Venues | |
---|
Bowls & rivalries | |
---|
Culture & lore | |
---|
People | |
---|
Seasons | |
---|
National championship seasons in bold |