April 18, 2008

Football: Rowan, Stiff Defense Lead Red Team to 15-0 Victory in Spring Game

    Youngstown -- Junior quarterback Todd Rowan completed 11-of-16 passes and threw a touchdown, and the Red Team defense allowed just 43 yards to earn its sixth straight victory in the 36th Annual YSU Red-White Spring Game.
    The Red defense forced punts on five of seven possessions and came up with the game's lone turnover on White's final drive.
    Kevin Smith and Jabari Scott also combined for 84 yards rushing for the Red squad, which racked up 98 as a team on 18 carries.
    The Red team had four sacks, including two by Brad Miller, and Andre Elliott intercepted Brandon Summers late in the second half.
    Defense dominated the first 18 minutes until the Red squad took over with 12:15 remaining in the first half and drove 81 yards for the game's first score. Rowan raced for 13 yards on the opening play, and Smith later ran for 24 yards on three straight carries. Scott's 18-yard rush down to the 6-yard line set up Josh Lee's touchdown on a tipped pass in the end zone from Rowan.
    Ferlando Williams returned the ensuing kickoff 71 yards to the Red 19, but the drive stalled as the running clock ran out with the ball on the 8.
    Bob Gratz then put the Red team up 9-0 with a 37-yard field goal with 19:13 remaining in the second half, and a trick play on Red's next possession blew the game open. Scott rushed for 23 yards to start the drive, and Rowan hit Nate Schkurko for a 14-yard catch to the White 22. Dominque Barnes then hit Aaron Pitts in the end zone on a halfback pass for the game's final score.
    Redshirt freshman quarterback Paul Corsaro completed all five of his passes for the Red Team for 19 yards. David Rogers, Pitts and Da'Michael Horne all had three receptions with Rogers leading the way with 44 yards.
    Summers finished 7-for-17 total for 80 yards after also going under center for the Red on its final drive. Rowan accounted for 92 yards through the air and 13 yards on the ground, and White's Nick Canterino had three catches for 18 yards.
    Despite losing the last six games, the White team holds an overall record of 20-16.
    The Red-White Game capped off the spring practice season for the Penguins that began on March 26. The Penguins practiced 14 times in the last four-and-a-half weeks. A group of 90-plus players participated in the first practice, including 23 seniors and 37 letterwinners.