YSUsports.com - Football: Tenth-Ranked Penguins Prep For Top Ten Clash With No. 6 SIU

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Octt. 4, 2007

Football: Tenth-Ranked Penguins Prep For Top Ten Clash With No. 6 SIU

    The No. 10 Youngstown State football team ventures outside the state of Ohio for the first time this season when the Penguins take on sixth-ranked Southern Illinois. The CSTV nationally-televised contest is set for 3:36 p.m. Eastern Time at McAndrew Stadium in Carbondale, Ill.
    YSU (4-1 overall and 1-0 in the Gateway) enters the contest with the Salukis following an impressive 49-21 victory over Missouri State. The Penguins posted season highs in points, total yards, rushing yards and passing yards against the Bears. The defense held MSU to 20 points under its season average and the special teams units chipped in a touchdown.
    Southern Illinois (5-0 and 1-0) cruised to a 72-10 victory over Indiana State last Saturday. The Salukis scored 35 second-quarter points - and 55 in the first half - against the Sycamores. SIU has scored 37 touchdowns this year while allowing just eight. The Salukis average almost 40 more points per game than their opponents.
    The Penguins are looking for their first win in Carbondale since 2001. YSU suffered a 31-17 loss to SIU in 2005 and a 24-17 defeat in 2003.
    Last year at Stambaugh Stadium, YSU scored two late touchdowns and stopped SIU at the two-yard line as time expired for a wild 31-24 victory.

With a Victory YSU:
    • Improves to 5-1 on the season and 2-0 in the Gateway Conference.
    • Extends a current four-game winning streak to five. The second five-game winning streak since the start of 2006
    • Earns its 410th win in school history and 212th since joining the FCS in 1981.
    • Gives the Penguins an 11-7-1 all-time series advantage against Southern Illinois.
    • Snaps a two-game losing streak in Carbondale, Ill.
    • Earns its 24th victory in the past 31 games since the start of 2005 season.
    • Improves to 42-20 all-time in Gateway Conference play.
    • Extends a Gateway road winning streak to five after going 4-0 in 2006.
    • Begins Gateway play 2-0 for the fifth time in school history and third straight year.
    • Coach Jon Heacock wins his 48th game as the Penguins’ head coach.
    • Starts a season 5-1 under Coach Heacock for the fourth time.
    • Defeats a ranked team for the fifth time in last six meetings.

Streaks, Storylines, Sidebars...
    • In 2005 and 2006, YSU rebounded following losses to BCS schools to win four straight contests. YSU has won four straight after losing at Ohio State.
    • YSU has won seven straight games decided by seven points or less.
    • Youngstown State improved to 9-2 in Gateway openers following Saturday’s victory. YSU has been 2-0 in the Gateway four times, including the past two years.
    • Against Southern Illinois, senior quarterback Tom Zetts is 41-of-73 (56.2 percent) for 532 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He threw for 291 yards at SIU in 2005 - the second most in his career.
    • Against Missouri State, Zetts broke the school career records for completions and passing yards.
    • Junior tailback Kevin Smith was named the Gateway’s Offensive Player of the Week. In his first career start he had 102 yards on 15 carries and scored three touchdowns.
    • In the first half of games this season, the defense has allowed 168 yards rushing on 72 carries (2.3 yards per rush).
    • YSU has outscored teams 90-38 in the first half. The Guins’ most productive quarter is the second (42 points).
    • Senior wide receiver Rory Berry has caught six passes in three different games this year. Since 1997, only four other Guin receivers have accomplished the feat.
    • Junior tight end Derrick Bush has caught eight passes this year, with seven going for first downs.
    • WR Ferlando Williams has found the end zone six times in the past three games. Williams has two receiving and four rushing touchdowns in that time. He scored from five and three yards against MSU.
    • Sophomore tailback Jabari Scott rushed for 276 yards and three touchdowns in the three games prior to missing the Missouri State contest.
    • Placekicker Brian Palmer has made five consecutive field goals and eight of his last nine.
    • YSU has had a 100-yard rusher in its last seven Gateway games. Overall, the Guins have won 18 of their last 20 when a back goes over the 100-yard mark.

Southern Illinois Breakdown
    Southern Illinois is on an impressive run midway through the 2007 season. The Salukis have scored at least 34 points in every game and allowed more than 14 just once. SIU is averaging 53.4 points per contest while allowing 13.6 a game.
    The Salukis feature about as balanced an offense as you will find. SIU averages 247.4 yards rushing and 235.6 passing per game. Southern Illinois is jumping on opponents early and late. In the first and fourth quarter, SIU has outscored its opponents 65-7.

Last Meeting: YSU Won 31-24
    Youngstown State scored 21 of the game’s final 24 points and stopped Southern Illinois at the two-yard line on the final play in a 31-24 victory on Nov. 6, 2006.
    Youngstown State tied the game at 24 when Tom Zetts completed an 18-yard scoring strike to Louis Irizarry with 5:01 remaining.
    On the SIU’s ensuing possession, Codera Jackson intercepted a Nick Hill pass at the 30. YSU capitalized when Marcus Mason scored on a 22-yard run with 1:33 left.

Series History
    The Penguins have won 10 of the 18 all-time meetings between the two programs. The key number for both teams is 21. YSU is 8-0-1 when scoring 21-or-more points in the series and just 2-7 when scoring less. SIU is 7-3 when reaching that mark.

Last Time Out: YSU 49, MSU 21
    Kevin Smith scored three touchdowns and Ferlando Williams added two more as Youngstown State opened Gateway play with an impressive 49-21 victory over Missouri State before the sixth-largest crowd in Stambaugh Stadium history.
    After falling behind 7-0 just over two minutes into the game, YSU scored 28 unanswered points to take control of the contest. After Missouri State cut the deficit to 28-14, the Penguins scored the next two touchdowns -- a three-yard Williams run and a three yard pass from Tom Zetts to Ben Lane -- to lead 42-14.
    MSU pulled within 42-21, but on the ensuing onside kick, Dominique Barnes returned it 37 yards for a touchdown.

Zetts Within Reach of Marks
    Quarterback Tom Zetts eclipsed two YSU career passing records against Missouri State. Zetts now has school records for completions (545) and yards (6,506). He ranks second in 200-yard passing games (one shy), touchdown passes (two shy) and attempts (16 shy).
    His next 200-yard performance will tie a school record held by Ron Jaworski.
    Zetts, who holds the school mark for completion percentage, will also be making his 42nd career start, tying the record held by Jeff Ryan (1998-2001).

Fabulous Four at Tailback
    The Penguins have impressive depth at tailback and it has shown. All four tailbacks - Jabari Scott, Kevin Smith, Brandon Nicholson and Jordan Edwards - have rushed for more than 100 yards total this year. Actually, a group of six players - Tom Zetts and Ferlando Williams - is over 100 yards rushing, a first for the Guins since 1997.
    Nicholson, Scott and Smith have combined to score 10 touchdowns for the year.

Mr. Smith Shows His Stuff
    Junior tailback Kevin Smith stepped in for an ailing Jabari Scott at tailback against Missouri State and promptly scored three touchdowns and picked up the Guins’ first 100-yard rushing game of the campaign.
    Against the Bears, Smith had 102 yards on 15 carries and his three scores. He was the first Penguin with three rushing touchdowns in a game since Marcus Mason had three at Illinois State in 2006.

Williams Knows the End Zone
    Ferlando Williams is the only player in the Gateway with multiple rushing and receiving touchdowns. Williams has scored six touchdowns this year - four rushing and two receiving. He finished with a career-high eight rushes against MSU, two of which wound up in the end zone. All nine of his receptions have come in the past four games.

Berry Becomes Go-To Receiver
    Senior wide receiver Rory Berry has caught six passes in three different games this season. Berry is one of just four YSU players since 1996 to catch at least six passes on three different occasions during the same year. He has six catches against Missouri State, South Dakota State and Stony Brook. His career high in receptions entering the season was four.

Palmer Making his PATs
    Junior Brian Palmer, who has made his last five field goal attempts, including both this year, is third in school history by making 110 point-after kicks. In his career, he has attempted 117, also third most in school history.
    Palmer has made 21-of-29 field-goal attempts in his career and has made eight of his last nine kicks.

Defense Holding Numbers Down
    The Penguins defense has not allowed a team to score more than a touchdown in each of the past 16 quarters. Saturday, YSU faces the top scoring outfit in the FCS in Southern Illinois.
    Ohio State scored two touchdowns in the second and fourth quarters in the season opener. But in the other 18 periods, no one has scored more than seven. Earlier this season, YSU did not allow a touchdown in back-to-back games for the first time since 1996.

Offensive Line Coming Together
    The Penguins have taken some Jermain Taylor hits on the offensive line, but like Youngstown’s own Kelly Pavlik they have bounced back in fine fashion.
    A reshuffled group has allowed just four sacks, 13th fewest in the country, and only two in the past four games. YSU has lost tackles Tyler Booth, Matt Kishman and Stiles O’Brien to injuries, but do-everything Brad Samsa is filling the left-tackle role. Brian Mellott, Nhemie Theodore and Josh Tanner have started all five games.
    The Guins have started the same line the past two weeks totalling 898 yards, including 583 on the ground.

He’s Got the Wright Stuff
    Senior linebacker Jeremiah Wright leads the defense in tackles through the first five games. Wright has been credited with 46 total stops, including 24 solos. He has been the team’s leading tackler the last four games. He has been credited with eight-or-more tackles in every game, including 10 against MSU.

Defensive Posting Solid Numbers
    The defensive unit ranks in the top 20 in the country in four categories. YSU is 11th in total defense (276.00 yards), 14th in scoring defense (17.0 points), 17th in rushing defense (92.60 yards) and 17th in turnover margin (plus-one per game).

FBS Transfers Part Of YSU
    The Penguins have six former FBS players on the roster.
Those are safety Vince Gliatta (Penn State), tight end Louis Irizarry (Ohio State), center Brian Mellott (Ohio), defensive end Maurice Smith (Michigan State), offensive tackle Nhemie Theodore (Minnesota) and cornerback De’Angelo Wilson (Nevada).

Five Captains Represent Team
    The Penguins selected quarterback Tom Zetts, tight end Louis Irizarry, linebacker Jeremiah Wright, linebacker James Terry and strong safety Bob Perez as captains. Of the group, only Terry is not a fifth-year senior.
    Wright is a two-time captain. Last season he was named team captain before being sideline at Penn State with a knee injury. The last two-time captain was Mark Derthick in 1983 and 1984.

Rush For 100, Can Mean A ‘W’
    The Penguins have won 18 of the last 20 games when a back rushes for more than 100 yards. The Guins are 1-0 in 2007 after beating Missouri State last Saturday. YSU won nine of 11 games last year when someone rushed for over 100 yards - losses to UNI and at Appalachian State. YSU was 6-0 in 2005 and won its last two in 2004.

Plenty of Senior Leadership
    For the second straight year, the Penguins have more than 20 seniors, with 20 on the current roster. However, of those 20, Matt Kishman, Tyler Booth and Joe Nicholson have been sidelined with injuries.
    Last season, YSU had 27 seniors, of which 25 were on the 60-player postseason roster. Of the 20 seniors, 15 are taking part in their fifth season with a collegiate program - 12 of which have been at YSU that long.

Newcomers, First Timers in 2007
    The Penguins have had plenty of new faces contribute in 2007. So far true freshmen Na’eem Outler, Nick Gooden, Dominique Barnes, Erik Johnson, Stiles O’Brien and Brandian Ross have seen action.
    Freshmen who redshirted last year but have played significantly in 2007 are Stephen Blose, Bobby Coates, Jordan Edwards, Chris Gammon, Luke Matelan, Nick Mernedakis, Torrance Nicholson, Justin Rechichar and Deon’te Williams.
    Other newcomers who have contributed are Nevada transfer De’Angelo Wilson, junior college transfer Kevin Smith, junior redshirt Ferlando Williams and sophomore redshirt Jabari Scott who have stepped in at key spots on offense as well.

Going For Three Titles
    The Penguins will be attempting to win their third consecutive Gateway title in 2007. Only twice in the league’s previous 22 years has a team won three straight Gateway titles -- Southern Illinois from 2003-2005 and UNI from 1990-1996.
    Besides winning Gateway titles in 2005 and 2006, YSU won an Ohio Valley Conference championship in 1987 and Mid-Continent Conference Championships in 1978 and 1979 at the Division II level.

Guins Winning the Close Games
    After a streak of horrible luck in close games from 2003 through 2004, the Penguins have won their last seven contests decided by a touchdown or less. Of those seven games, six were contests at Stambaugh Stadium. Prior to the current streak, YSU had dropped eight straight nail bitters.
    This year, the Guins are 1-0 in such games following a 23-17 victory over South Dakota State on Sept. 8.

Numbers of Note
• Turnover Margin: Since 1996, the Penguins are 82-13 when they win or tie in the turnover margin. When committing more turnovers, YSU is just 13-30.
• Close Games: YSU has won its last seven games decided by seven points or less.
Since 1990 YSU is:
• 122-14-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 21 points in a game.
• 94-6 when rushing for 200-plus yards.
• 108-10 when scoring 28-or-more points.
• 60-5-1 when holding opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing in a game.
• 134-7 when leading entering the fourth.
• 64-3-2 when holding opponents to 10 points-or-less in a game.

Point-Scoring Streaks
• YSU has won its last 44 games when scoring more than 30 points. The last loss came at Central Florida (44-32 in 1998).
• YSU has won its last 35 games when scoring more than 40 points. The last loss came to James Madison (52-49 in 1992).
• When scoring at least 50 points, the Penguins are a perfect 20-0. YSU is 18-2 in games following a 50-point contest.
• When scoring 21-plus points under Coach Jon Heacock YSU is 45-6. The Guins are 2-22 when they fail to score 21 points.

Next Week...Southern Utah
    The Penguins return home to play host to Southern Utah on Oct. 13. The contest against the Thunderbirds will start a two-game homestand. SUU has played the toughest schedule in the nation and travels to nationally-ranked Montana State on Saturday.