Sept. 9, 2009
Penguins Make 2009 Home Debut Against Austin Peay
Opening Kickofff
TThe Penguins play their 69th home opener and 28th opener at Stambaugh Stadium
this Saturday against Austin Peay...kickoff is set for 4 o’clock...YSU is
44-22-2 all-time in home openers...in Stambaugh Stadium lidlifters the Guins are
20-6-1...since 1989, YSU is 17-1-1 in home openers...the Guins shut out Central
State 38-0 in last season’s home opener...the Penguins have won 13 straight home
openers since losing to Stephen F. Austin in 1995...Coach Heacock is 8-0 in home
openers...the Guins have scored 30-or-more points on 24 occasions since
2005...this is YSU’s fi rst game against an Ohio
Valley Conference school since 1994 (Eastern Kentucky)...Austin Peay opened the
season with a 34-23 victory over Newberry last Saturday...the Governors scored
14 fourth quarter points to break open a 20-17 contest...Ryan White and Terrence
Holt each ran for more than 100 yards against Newberry...the last meeting
between the two programs was at Stambaugh Stadium on Oct. 10, 1987...YSU won
that game by a 20-18 margin...the Guins play their next two games on the road
beginning with a contest at Northeastern on Sept. 19.
The Series vs. Austin Peay
This is the seventh meeting between the two programs, but first since 1987 - a 20-18 YSU victory at Stambaugh Stadium. In the four meetings in Youngstown, the Penguins are 4-0. YSU is 6-0 when scoring 16-plus points and 0-2 when scoring 10-or-fewer points. The Governors have not scored more than 20 points in any of the meetings. After dropping the first meeting, YSU won six of the next seven. The last two games have been decided by three points or less.
Quick Notes From Pitt
Sophomore Sir Demarco Bledsoe
had a game-high nine tackles in
his first career start last
Saturday at Pitt.
• YSU’s 16-play drive against the Panthers tied last year’s season long. The Guins had a 16-play drive against Missouri State. That drive lasted 8:27. The Guins’ longest drive last season was 7:47 at Missouri State (16 plays, 80 yards).
• In the meeting 2005, YSU converted just one third-down conversion. Last Saturday, YSU had six in 15 tries.
• A group of seven players, plus placekicker Stephen Blose made their first career starts. A total of 13 appeared in their first career game in a Penguin uniform.
• YSU has now lost three straight season openers falling at Ohio State in 2007 and 2008 and to Pitt in 2009.
• Brandian Ross intercepted the third pass of his career and returned it 24 yards. Ross, a converted safety, made his first career start at corner versus Pitt.
• WR Dominique Barnes has caught a pass in 13 straight games while WR Donald Jones has a reception in 11 consecutive contests.
• YSU is now 19-23-1 all-time against FBS foes and has lost seven straight.
• Ben Nowicki punted seven times for an average of 39.4 yards per kick.
• YSU won the time of possession margin in the game -- 32:56 to 27:04.
• Jamaine Cook became the first true freshman running back to have a rushing attempt since teammate Jabari Scott in 2005.
• The last time the Penguins opened 0-2 in two straight seasons was in 1988 and 1989. After going 4-7 in 1988, the Guins rebounded to go 9-4 in 1989. YSU was 0-2 last year.
Last Meeting: YSU 20-18
The Penguins held off a late comeback bid by Austin Peay to earn a 20-18 victory over the Governors on Homecoming at Stambaugh Stadium on Oct. 17, 1987.
YSU, which never trailed in the contest, led 14-3 with 10 minutes remaining, before APSU pulled within 14-11 on a two-yard scoring run by Mike Lewis.
The Penguins answered as Trenton Lykes capped off an impressive 10-play, 86-yard drive with a two-yard scamper with just 4:59 left. However, YSU missed the extra point to lead 20-11.
Austin Peay came back to get within two points on a one-yard Lewis score with 1:26 left.
The ensuing Governors kickoff went out of bounds and YSU was able to run out the clock on four plays to hang on for the two-point victory.
Rod Love rushed for a game-high 124 yards on 18 carries. The Penguins overcame four turnovers in the contest, including three interceptions by Lykes.
Last Game: PITT 38, YSU 3
The Penguins trailed 7-3 in the second quarter before Pitt scored the final 31 points to hand the Penguins a 38-3 setback in the season opener at Heinz Field.
Trailing 7-0, YSU marched 50 yards in 16 plays and took 8:27 off the clock as Stephen Blose kicked a career-long 48-yard field goal to get the Guins within four.
However, Pitt answered just over two-and-a-half minutes later and never looked back. Dion Lewis scored from one-yard out at the 11:23 mark and caught a three-yard swing pass from Bill Stull just 65 seconds before halftime.
In the second half, Pitt scored 10 points in the final four minutes of the third quarter and added a touchdown with 12:05 remaining for the final margin.
For the game, the Panthers had 390 yards of total offense while the Guins had 159. The Penguins had 113 passing and 46 rushing. YSU had a lead in time of possession by a 32:56 to 27:04.
Home Openers
The Penguins have won 13 straight home openers dating back to the 1995 campaign when it lost to Stephen F. Austin. In the 13 games since then, YSU has outscored its opponents by an impressive 470- 136.
The Penguins have pitched two shutouts, including last year’s win over Central State. Also, the most points allowed was 21 by Slippery Rock in 2006. On offense, the Guins have scored at least 23 points in each of those games and gone over 30 nine times, including a high of 51 versus the Rock in 2006.
Home Opener All-Time Notes
Most Points: 51 vs. Slippery Rock, 2006
Fewest Points: 0 vs. Stephen F. Austin, 1995 (3 times)
Most Points Allowed: 43 by Southern Illinois, 1969
Fewest Points Allowed: 0, Central State, 2008 (9 times)
Margin of
Victory:
44 | 50-6 vs. Clarion, 1998
Senior Wide Receiver Aaron Pitts
made his first career start last
Saturday.
Old OVC Foes Meet
YSU played in the Ohio Valley Conference from 1981-87. The Penguins posted a 27-21 mark in the seven years in which they were members of the conference, including winning the conference title in 1987, their last year in the league.
The last time the Guins played an OVC team was Eastern Kentucky in the 1994 playoffs.
First Time Penguins
A total of 14 players made their Youngstown State debuts at Pitt. Those individuals were LB Noah Taylor, LS Bryan Whitaker, LB Michael Kreatsoulas, WR Ely Ducatel, C Andy Kowicki, TB Jamaine Cook, CB Vinnie Patella, LB Taylor Hill, SS Sir Demarco Bledsoe, OT D.J. Main, FB James Cravens, OT Andrew Radakovich, WR Jelani Berassa and FS David Fleming.
First Time Starters
A total of seven players made their first career starts at Pitt, including seven on offense. Those individuals were LB Taylor Hill, SS Sir Demarco Bledsoe, OT Bill Dugan, C Andy Kowicki, OG Tyler Figueroa, TE Aaron Rogers and WR Aaron Pitts.
Other First times
Freshman tailback Jamaine Cook had his first career rushing attempt and first career kickoff return. Donald Jones had his first career punt return. David Rogers, Dionte Snow and James Cravens all had their first career receptions. Sir Demarco Bledsoe, Taylor Hill and Vinnie Patella all were credited with their first career tackles.
Mr. Jones and Me
Senior wide receiver Donald Jones had a solid start to the 2009 campaign. Jones had four receptions for 34 yards and caused a pass-interference penalty against the Panthers.
Last season, Jones did not tally his fourth catch of the year until the fifth game. He has now caught a pass in 11 consecutive games and has had multiple receptions in the past nine.
He finished last season with 31 receptions for 510 yards and seven touchdowns, including five in the final four games. His first touchdown reception last year came in week four.
Smith Made Solid Return
Senior tailback Kevin Smith returned to the gridiron against Pittsburgh after sitting out the 2008 season with an injury.
Against the Panthers, Smith was in the starting lineup and had 47 yards on 17 carries to go along with an 11-yard pass reception.
He played in nine games in 2007, starting seven for the Guins. He ran for 610 yards on 123 attempts, scoring 10 touchdowns. He also caught 13 passes for 80 yards and a score. He had a career-high 122 yards at Indiana State.
Barnes Becomes Playmaker
Junior wide receiver Dominique Barnes caught two passes for 27 yards, including a game-high 18-yard reception that came on a 3rd-and-17 play late in the first quarter. He also returned two kickoffs for 36 yards versus the Panthers.
Barnes has now caught a pass in 13 straight games and has 12 career multi-catch games, including his last 10 contests.
As a true freshman in 2007, Barnes caught just three passes for 21 yards. In 2008, he had 368 yards receiving on a team-high 38 receptions and scored three touchdowns.
For his career he has 19 kickoff returns for 435 yards and a touchdown.
Bledsoe, Ross Lead Effort
Against the Panthers, YSU’s top three tacklers were members of the secondary.
Strong Safety Sir Demarco Bledsoe led the way with nine total stops, including an impressive eight solo tackles. Junior Brandian Ross, who was making his first career start at cornerback, had six tackles - five solos - and returned an interception 24 yards. Sophomore cornerback Randy Louis was credited with five solo stops in the game.
Defense Shows Improvement
Compared to the opener last year, YSU’s defense made a significant improvement.
The Penguins allowed 390 total offensive yards, 203 through the air and 187 on the ground. Last year, Ohio State had 495 total yards - 251 on the ground and 244 through the air.
YSU held the Panthers to two three-and-outs, intercepted a pass, and the longest drive lasted 3:33. Last year, Ohio State did not have a three-and-out, did not punt and had four drives over 3:30. OSU held the ball for 36:06 in the game.
New Faces on Line
YSU had three first-time starters on the offensive line against Pitt. Players making their initial start last Saturday were Andy Kowicki, Tyler Figueroa and Bill Dugan. Dugan and Kowicki were playing in their first game.
In fact, all five starters on the line on Saturday, did not start on the line in 2008.
Tackle Chris Gammon started one game at defensive tackle in 2008 after originally starting the year on offense. Guard Brian Mellott started twice as a tight end. Mellott had started nine games as a sophomore in 2007.
Two Long Drives
YSU had two long drives against the Panthers - a 16-play 50-yarder that took 8:27 off the clock and a 14-play 61-yarder in the fourth quarter that lasted 8:32. The first drive resulted in a field goal, while the second ended with an interception in the end zone.
For the game, YSU led in time of possession at 32:56 to 27:04.
Blose Drills 48-yard fg
In a stadium known to be a nightmare for field-goal kickers, junior placekicker Stephen Blose drilled a career-long 48-yard attempt in the second quarter. Blose had plenty of distance to spare as his kick that made the game 7-3.
For the Guins it was the longest made field goal since Nick Terracina’s school-record 56-yarder at Liberty on Sept. 27, 2003.
It was his second career field-goal made. Blose kicked a 41-yarder in the 2007 season opener at Ohio State.
Great Scott!
Senior tailback Jabari Scott has rushed for 1,065 yards on 183 carries in his 22-game YSU career. He has scored 13 rushing touchdowns - most on the team.
Scott, who missed time with an injury last season, had four carries last Saturday against Pittsburgh.
Nowicki Had Strong Outing
Senior punter Ben Nowicki had a strong performance against Pittsburgh. Nowicki had seven punts for an average of 39.4 yards, including a long of 49 yards.
Last season, Nowicki ranked second in the conference averaging 41.1 yards per punt. In 2008 Nowicki placed 14 punts inside the oppositions 20-yard line and had eight punts of 50 yards or more, including a long of 66 at Southern Utah.
In 2007, he averaged 37.1 yards per kick. Of his 98 career punts, only three have been touchbacks.
Few Seniors At Spots
YSU has one senior in the secondary (Lenny Wicks), one senior on the offensive line (Brian Mellott) and one senior linebacker (Draye Ersery). YSU has three senior running backs and three senior wide receivers, meaning 50 percent of the group is from those two positions. The Guins have two on the defensive line and have one each at quarterback and punter.
Freshmen Saw Action
Two true freshmen saw action at Pitt for the Penguins. Tailback Jamaine Cook and Wide Receiver Jelani Berassa both played against the Panthers.
Cook had a rush for two yards and returned a kickoff 20 yards. Berassa saw action as a reserve wide receiver and on special teams.
Last season, six true freshmen played for YSU - four on defense and two on offense.
O-Line Junior Dominated
The 2009 squad has just one senior (Brian Mellott) to go along with seven juniors. The line has four redshirt freshmen, one sophomore and one true freshman. Against Pitt, Mellott, junior Chris Gammon and three redshirt freshmen were in the starting lineup.
Of the current members of the line, junior Bobby Coates has the most starts of the group at 13 while Eric Rodemoyer started 10 times last year. Mellott started nine games along the line in 2007 and had two starts as a tight end last year. Last year, junior Justin Rechichar started at left guard, right guard and center.
Jones, Savage are Captains
Senior wide receiver Donald Jones and senior defensive tackle Mychal Savage have been named the Guins’ captains for the 2009 season.
Savage is a repeat selection from last year. However, his captaincy was cut short after suffering a season-ending injury at Ohio State.
Jones is the first wide receiver since Herb Williams in 1992 to be tabbed as a team captain. He is also the first junior college transfer to be named a captain since YSU defensive backs coach Sherod Holmes in 2003.
13 Played All 12 A Year Ago
YSU returns 13 players who played in all 12 games last year. The Penguins to play in every contest were Crispin Fernandez, Dominique Barnes, Stephen Blose, Jaimie Frasure, Jordan Edwards, Andre Elliott, Nick Gooden, Donald Jones, Brian Mellott, Na’eem Outler, Aaron Pitts, Eric Rodemoyer and Brandian Ross.
Senior QBs Have Success
Quarterback Brandon Summers hopes to continue a string of recent success by YSU senior quarterbacks.
In 2007, senior Tom Zetts led the Penguins to a 7-4 mark. In 2001, senior Jeff Ryan led the program to an 8-3 record. In 1997, senior Demond Tidwell led the Guins to a National Championship.
Connection is Made
Both Brandon Summers and Dominique Barnes played quarterback at Southfield High School before moving on to the college ranks. Summers was the Bluejays’ QB from 2003-04 while Barnes followed from 2005-06.
Last year, the two connected on touchdown passes three times - Liberty, Illinois State and Indiana State.
Barnes returned the favor in the final game of the year connecting on a 35-yard pass with Summers against Western Illinois.
Summers completed two passes to Barnes last Saturday at Pittsburgh.
Summers tied TD Mark
Quarterback Brandon Summers threw 18 touchdown passes last season, tying the school record for TD throws in a regular season. Summers tied Ron Jaworski, who threw 18 touchdowns back in 1972. In 1972, Jaworski played in nine games. Summers played in 10 contests last season.
MVFC Celebrates 25 Seasons
In 2009, the Missouri Valley Football Conference will be celebrating its 25th season of existence. Ironically, the MVFC is in its second season being referred to as Valley Football. The MVFC was known as the Gateway Football Conference since the league formed in 1985 through 2007.
Injuries Were a Major Pain
YSU has occasionally lost players to injuries, but last year saw something new every week.
In 2008, a total of 28 players missed at least one game because of an injury, while 21 of those missed multiple games.
At Pittsburgh, six players missed the contest with injuries, the most notable senior cornerback Lenny Wicks, who started nine games last year. Wicks suffered an injury in the spring game and is close to returning to the lineup. He may be able to play this Saturday vs. Austin Peay.
Offense Was Clicking
In the final three games of the 2008 season, the offense found its groove. YSU averaged 36.7 points, scoring 110 points. The Penguins had 1,311 yards of total offense, averaging 437 per contest. Of those 1,311 yards, 732 came via the pass.
28 New Starters Last Year
The Penguins had 28 first-time starters last year -- 10 against Ohio State, six against Central State, five at Southern Utah, one at Missouri State, four against Southern Illinois and two at Illinois State.
Offensive starters for the first time were linemen Greg Sazdanoff, Eric Rodemoyer and Justin Rechichar, fullback Kyle Banna, tailback Kamryn Keys, wide receivers Dominique Barnes and Donald Jones and quarterbacks Todd Rowan, Paul Corsaro, Dailyn Campbell and Brandon Summers.
On defense, ends Joel Younkins, Stephen Meadows, Jaimie Frasure and Josh Myers, tackles Crispin Fernandez, Roger Gillum and Chris Gammon, linebackers Na’eem Outler, John Sasson, Mike Barlak, Deonta Tate and Jordan Edwards along with safeties Brandian Ross, Andre Elliott and Nick Gooden and corners Tyler Griffin and Randy Louis all started for the initial time.
Of those 28 players, 23 return in 2009.
More Road Than Home
In 2009, the Penguins play just five regular-season home games for the first time since 1987. YSU plays three of its first four games on the road - the last time that happened was to start the 1993 campaign. The last time the program played three road games in September was 1987.
Two DT’s Preseason All-MVFC
Senior defensive linemen Crispin Fernandez and Mychal Savage were named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s Preseason Team, the conference announced in late July.
As a team, YSU was picked to finish sixth in the nine-team league. The last time the Guins were tabbed sixth, they tied for the conference championship in 2005.
Rankings In Recent Years
YSU was also picked sixth in the conference race prior to the 2004 and 2005 seasons. In 2004, the Guins tied for fifth and in 2005 shared the title with UNI and Southern Illinois, but did not qualify for the playoffs.
The Penguins were picked third in both the 2007 and 2008 preseason league polls. The only time YSU was ever picked to win the conference in the preseason poll was 1998.
Nine Can Be Fine
The Guins are hoping to repeat some history in seasons that end in the number nine. In 1999, YSU reached the NCAA Championship Game, in 1989, the Guins reached the FCS quarterfinals, in 1979, Youngstown State played for the Division II National Championship.
The Penguins have a combined record of 32-9 in those years ending in nine.
Savage on Buck Watch List
Senior defensive end Mychal Savage is one of 20 FCS players on the watch list for the 2009 Buck Buchanan Award, presented annually to the top defensive player.
Savage has established himself as one of the top defensive tackles in FCS during an outstanding career. In 2007, the All-American and first-team All-Missouri Valley selection racked up 43 tackles, five for loss, five sacks and three QB hurries. He played in one game last year before suffering a season-ending injury.
Youngsters Dominate
With just 12 seniors, YSU’s roster has a strong number of juniors, sophomores, freshmen/redshirt freshmen.
The Penguins have 29 freshmen/redshirt freshmen, 25 sophomores and 24 juniors. Against Pitt, only six seniors were in the starting lineup.
Defense Looks to Improve
Last season, the Penguins allowed nine running backs to rush for more than 100 yards in a game while three went over the 200-yard plateau. Granted they faced some of the top backs in the nation in Beanie Wells (OSU), Herb Donaldson (WIU) and Rashad Jennings (Liberty), but a total of 12 players - in 12 games - rushed for at least 87 yards in a contest.
The unit allowed a school-record 31 rushing touchdowns while the 29.1 points per game opposition average was the most since 1970. The unit surrendered 202.4 yards rushing per game, just the second time since 1986 that it allowed more than 200 a contest.
In 2007, YSU was 14th nationally in points per game allowed (18.5) and 18th in total defense (318.2 yards).
Transfer FBS Quarterbacks
Brandon Summers is the fifth FBS quarterback to transfer to YSU since 2001 and the second to start a game.
Summers joins Mike Schneider (Duke), Vince Gliatta (Penn State), Luis Gonzalez (Cincinnati) and Lou Angelo (Temple) as FBS quarterback transfers to YSU. Of that group, Gliatta had the most success, but never started, rushing for 159 yards and passing for 148 in two years as a backup and eventually moved to safety.
Of that group, only Gonzalez started and that was one snap on Senior Day against Western Kentucky.
Team Fun Facts
Senior quarterback Brandon Summers’ cousin, Durrell Summers, is a junior guard for Michigan State.
Assistant coach Sam Eddy grew up in Beloit, Wis., along with his good friend Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell.
YSU quarterbacks Marc Kanetsky and Kurt Hess roomed together at a quarterback camp in high school. One of the instructors at the camp in Toledo was Summers.
Single-Digits in Fumbles
YSU lost just nine fumbles in 12 games last season. It marked the fifth consecutive year that the Penguins kept under double digits in fumbles lost for a year.
YSU had nine fumbles lost in 2007, five in 2006, eight in 2005 and eight in 2004. Prior to the four-year streak, the Guins had committed single digits in fumbles lost in consecutive years just twice (1986-87 and 1958-59.
The Guins put the ball on the ground 16 times, but lost just nine of those last year.
FBS Transfers Come Late
YSU added three FBS transfers at the start of camp this fall. Those three players are Sir Demarco Bledsoe (TCU), Andrew Radakovich (Penn State) and James Cravens (Ball State). All three saw action against the Panthers last Saturday.
They join a group of five FBS transfers who were already on the team: Dana Brown (Iowa), offensive guard Brian Mellott (Ohio), safety Gary Pezzuolo (Akron), offensive guard Eric Rodemoyer (West Virginia) and quarterback Brandon Summers (Toledo).
Numbers of Notee
• Turnover Margin: Since 1996, the Penguins are 88-18 when they win or tie in the turnover margin. When committing more turnovers, YSU is just 13-37.
Since 1990 YSU is:
• 125-16-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 21 points in a game.
• 97-7 when rushing for 200-plus yards.
• 113-13 when scoring 28-or-more points.
• 60-5-1 when holding opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing in a game.
• 140-8 when leading entering the fourth.
• 66-3-2 when holding opponents to 10 points-or-less in a game.
Up Next: at Northeastern
YSU goes back on the road for two straight contests starting with a visit to Northeastern on Saturday, Sept. 19. Kickoff at Parsons Field in Boston, Mass., is set for 1 p.m.
The Penguins’ last visit to Northeastern was in 1992, a 28-23 loss to the Huskies. In four visits to Parsons Field in Boston, YSU has won just once -- 37-3 in 1990.
YSU won the most recent meeting in 2005 taking a 35-16 decision at Stambaugh Stadium. All-time, the Penguins lead the series 6-3.