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Published: Wednesday, November 1, 2006

Seniors ready for home final on Saturday against Salukis

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The team will honor 27 seniors on Saturday.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State's 27 seniors will make their final regular season appearance at Stambaugh Stadium on Saturday.

The seniors and the rest of the Penguins are hoping it won't be their last game at Stambaugh this season as a postseason berth is still well within their grasp.

"This is our senior class, we brought them all in and we've watch them struggle through their early years and blossom into the standout group they are today," YSU coach Jon Heacock said. "They have their annual senior tackle on Thursday and we are going to do everything in our power to give these seniors a win in their final home game."

Team ranked No. 7

Thanks to last Saturday's impressive 27-13 victory over No. 3 ranked Illinois State, the Penguins, now ranked No. 7 in the latest national polls, continue to control their own destiny in both the Gateway Football Conference and the I-AA playoffs.

Saturday, the Penguins (7-2, 4-1 Gateway) take on Southern Illinois (6-2, 3-2) in a 1:05 kickoff on Senior Day at Stambaugh Stadium.

Of the 27 seniors on this year's team, 14 of them are in their fifth season with the Penguins, including captains Ryan Jewell (offensive center) and Jason Perry (defensive cornerback).

"This group has brought both talent and leadership to this team, the components that breeds success and the things we needed to be successful," he said. "Last week we gave ourselves another chance so that we can go play again this week with still something very meaningful on the line."

Heacock said that last week's win over Illinois State reaffirmed his beliefs that the Penguins are a very good football team.

"We didn't get anything for that win, but another chance to do it again this week," he said.

Juniors sweep honors

Although this is senior week, it was the junior class that took home all the honors from last week's victory.

Junior quarterback Tom Zetts was named the Hill, Barth and King offensive player of the game and added the Haines Family Player of the Game award and also the Wachovia Leadership Award,

Zetts, the 6-1, 210 pound Boardman native, had an outstanding game, both passing and running,

He finished with a career-high 110 yards rushing on 12 attempts and scored a touchdown, while completing 9 of 17 passes for another 93 yards.

Going into that game Zetts had a career total of 92 yards rushing on 131 attempts.

The defensive player of the game was junior linebacker James Terry. The 6-2, 225 pounder from Stafford, Va., finished with four tackles, two for losses and one sack against the Redbirds.

Special teams honors was taken by junior Tyler Griffin. The 5-9, 170 pound cornerback from Columbus, was outstanding on both punt and kickoff coverage and finished with four tackles against the Redbirds.

Irizarry top lineman

Junior tight end Louis Irizarry walked off with the Jim Zdelar offensive lineman of the week award. He had one receptions for 14 yards and also caught a two-point conversion pass from Zetts and blocked well as the Penguins rushed for 352 yards.

The Jermaine Hopkins defensive lineman of the game was junior defensive end Greg Jacobs. The 6-3, 270 pounder from Midlothian, Va. finished with three tackles, one for a loss and sparked a defense that held the Redbirds to 161 total yards and just 18 rushing yards.

The Wash on Wheels Derick Pixley Hit of the Week was recorded by senior Jason Perry (5-9, 165) on his hit sacking ISU's quarterback Luke Drone deep in Redbird territory in the second half.

Wednesday, November 1, 2006