Posts Tagged ‘Mychal Savage’

Donald Jones, the former Youngstown State Penguin, came home for a visit and he didn’t come alone.  Jones ran routes on the Stambaugh Stadium turf early Monday morning.  Scouts from Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Indianapolis were there early to evaluate select Seniors in various categories.

To enter Stambaugh Stadium at 7 am brought back memories of the dreaded eight o’clock classes.  Looking around, the weight room was full of life as several people were doing workouts.  Unsure of where the scouts, players to be tested, or Donald Jones were, Jon Moffett, of the Vindicator, and I walked into the gym to strategize where to be.  Walking toward us was Donald Jones.  Jones had a big smile on his wide awake face and stopped to chat.  “It feels great to be home”, exclaimed Jones.

When asked what to expect today, Jones knew exactly what he would be doing.  “They [NFL scouts] are pretty happy with my numbers from the combine.  All they want me to do today is run routes.”  Jones did just that putting on a good show as classmate Aaron Pitts threw balls to Jones.

Jones enhanced his draft status with a good showing at the NFL Combine a couple of weeks ago.  He tied for first benching 225 pounds a set amount of times and he also ran a 4.47  40-yard dash.  He is projected to go in the fifth round, where he would be a steal.  Jones has the size, speed, and hands to carry a team and as an added bonus the NFL needs a few guys like DJ with their heads screwed on straight.

Phil Kreidler, a scout from the Pittsburgh Steelers organization, remembered me from the Pitt and South Dakota State games, where we spoke about Jones.  His task on this day was to put other Penguins through some tests in hopes of scooping up a good free agent or two.  “We have the guys run two forties, vertical jump, broad jump, and we look for explosiveness.  We also see how many times each person can bench 225.  We then move to some agility drills to evaluate their overall athletic ability and a few change of direction drill as well.”

If someone performs well, Kreidler reports back to the Steelers.  “We grade every Senior and look to see if maybe someone can be helpful to us as a free agent.  Every guy gets a specific grade based on their performance here today.  We then get together and go over every single player we give a draft grade to.”

Many of  last years Seniors were present for the testing.  Mychal Savage (pictured), Lenny Wicks, Dana Brown, Jabari Scott, and Brandon Summers, were all there to get timed, tested, and put there numbers on the board in hopes of making it to the National Football League.  Good luck to all who participated!

Even though this game can not aid either team to win a conference championship or vault into the playoffs, it somehow holds meaning.  Youngstown State University (5-5, 3-4) heads to Fargo, North Dakota in hopes of ending the season with a winning record.  The Penguins will have no easy task facing the North Dakota State Bison (3-7, 2-5).

This only marks the fourth time these two teams will square off.  The last time YSU played at NDSU was in 1972 when Ron Jaworski was the Penguins QB.  Last season Youngstown State took a 32-24 victory over the Bison.  North Dakota State was ranked #2 before dropping last year’s contest at Stambaugh Stadium.

The game is also significant because it marks the final chance for twelve special players wearing a Penguin uniform to leave one last impression.  The seniors want to win badly to recoup some sense of salvation to a season which started with so much promise and hope and finish with a winning record.

Coach Heacock stressed that this game will be prepared for just like any other.  “We rebounded in this last one.  We are 5-5 and have an opportunity to get our sixth win.  We will just keep grinding.”

On North Dakota State, Heacock stated stopping the run, in particular Pat Paschall, is paramount to this weeks success.  “They have a running back [Paschall] who is real good and they like to line up and run the football.  They do a nice job setting up play-action off of their runs.  Their tailback is something, he can take it the distance at any time.  I would guess that he is a pro prospect.  We have to match-up and try to stop them.” Paschall has 1,257 yards in 9 games and is averaging 7 yards per carry.  His 139.7 yards per game average is the best in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

Penguin kicker Stephen Blose is coming off of his best week of the season with three field goals in the 30-18 win over Illinois State last week.  Blose commented on the mood of the team.  “The team is positive and it feels great coming off of a win.  We get down on ourselves after a loss, but we always had to prepare.  After a win, this week is no different.  We need to take advantage of opportunities when we get them.”

The Penguins and Bison kickoff at 2 p.m.  Tune in to AM-570 with Bob Hannon and Dick Hartzell at 1:30 as they preview the game and provide the call on all of the action.  The weather does not matter this week as the game will be played indoors at the Fargodome.

Penguin Facts

• WR Dominique Barnes has caught a pass in 22 straight games.  Donald Jones has a reception in 20 consecutive games.
• LB Draye Ersery made 11 tackles against Illinois State.  In the 17 games prior to that one, he had a total of 10.
• The last time YSU had two players rush for 100 yards in a game was aginst North Dakota State last season.  Kamryn Keys had 146 yards, and Jabari Scott added 120.
• North Dakota State MLB Preston Evans leads the Bison in tackles with 88, 43 of which are unassisted.

On Senior Day, the weather and general atmosphere on the sidelines was warm. It was nice to see the Senior Penguins with their parents before kickoff as they were recognized for their outstanding efforts as Youngstown State athletes.  Coach Heacock stressed all week that it was about this Senior class to succeed in this game, to find ways to involve them into the gameplan in a positive fashion.  They all seemed to contribute.  Pictured are two of the Seniors, Aaron Pitts (left) and Mychal Savage (right).

In what looked to be an even match on paper, Youngstown State and Illinois State were not playing for a championship or a postseason berth, but rather for pride.  The Penguins dug into the cupboard of forgotten plays and tried some new wrinkles on offense. Some of the results were good, others needed to stay in the cupboard. The result was a 30-18 Youngstown State victory.

Youngstown State took their opening possession on their own 14-yard line. The Penguins marched 45 yards in 12 plays to allow Stephen Blose a 45-yard FG attempt. Blose was successful on the attempt, and at the 4:37 mark, YSU held a 3-0 lead.

Coach Heacock rolled the dice and tried an onside kick that the Penguins recovered and the Penguin offense went back to work. Brandon Summers hooked up with Donald Jones for a 30-yard completion, but the Penguin drive stalled and Senior Ben Nowicki buried the Redbirds on their own 5.

The first quarter would come to an end with Youngstown State ahead 3-0 and driving. The Penguins stalled around the Illinois State 19 and were forced to take another Blose field goal to increase their lead to 6-0.

YSU tried a second consecutive onside kick that the Redbirds recovered. The Illinois State offense cashed in on the good field position as Zach Kutch connected from 41 yards out to cut the Penguin lead to 6-3 with 11:11 remaining in the first half.

A scenario the Penguins have become accustomed to this year came back to haunt them. The Redbirds Bert Whigham came up the middle almost untouched and blocked Nowicki’s punt. The ball rolled right into the end zone but the converging Redbirds were unable to come up with the recovery for a touchdown and YSU was lucky to give up a two-point safety. Weird score as YSU still lead 6-5.

The free kick following the safety further exposed the kryptonic special teams play of Youngstown State as Illinois State’s Ben Erickson returned the kick all the way to the YSU 40. Four plays later, with 8:03 left in the half, Cliffton Gordon scampered four yards to paydirt and just like that YSU was behind 12-6.

Southern Illinois caught the onside kick fever and tried their own, unsuccessfully. When the YSU drive appeared to stall and Blose kicked a field goal of 22 yards, a penalty of roughing the snapper set the Penguins up on the three. On the next play Kevin Smith got into the end zone for a 3-yard score and Blose knocked in the extra point to give YSU the lead back at 13-12.

Zach Kutch connected on a career-long 49-yard field goal to give the Redbirds a 15-13 lead with just over a minute left in the first half.

Blose tried to give YSU the lead back on a 42-yard attempt to end the opening half. The kick was blocked and the special teams hamster race continued. Halftime at the Ice Castle, Redbirds 15, Penguins 13.

Youngstown State finally got a big play. Dominique Barnes hauled in a 55-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Summers. Youngstown State held a 20-15 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The Redbirds effective kicker, Zach Kutch was again clutch, this time from 42 yards. The field goal shaved the Youngstown State lead to two points as they clung to a 20-18 lead.

Not to be outdone, Stephen Blose connected from 37 yards away to vault YSU to a 23-18 lead. For Blose, his third field goal capped his most productive day on the season.

At the 9:32 mark of the fourth quarter, Donald Jones caught a Brandon Summers pass from 8 yards away. YSU moved the ball 56 yards in 2:35 in increasing their lead to 30-18. Summers was 2-2 on the drive for 25 yards and a 3-yard run.

The Redbirds had a little left in the tank, but YSU was able to keep them out of scoring range and kept the score where it was to seal the victory.  Final score, YSU 30, Illinois State 18.  With the win, the Penguins improved to 5-5 and 3-4 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.  Illinois State fell to 5-5 and 4-3 in the conference.

YSU was paced by Brandon Summers who finished the game one yard short of a career-high with 346 passing yards on 25-38 passing.  Kevin Smith (pictured) had his third one hundred yard game of the season and finished with 136 all-purpose yards.  The deadly duo on the sides clicked again as Donald Jones caught 7 balls for 105 yards and Dominique Barnes hauled in 8 for 122 with each scoring a touchdown.  Aaron Pitts chipped in with 68 receiving yards on three catches.

The Redbirds Freshman Quarterback, Matt Brown, finished the game 32-49 for 328 yards.  Cliffton Gordon carried 18 times for 58 yards, and TE Cody White had a career-high day with 6 receptions and 76 yards.

After the game, Coach Heacock again praised this Senior class.  “It was a special day for them.  We had a nice breakfast with the parents and loved ones this morning.  They came out and played hard and it was great to see so many of them play their hearts out.  Of all the Senior plays today, none was bigger then Ben Nowicki preventing Illinois State from scoring a touchdown on the blocked punt.”

One of the brightest spots in covering YSU football this season was the chance to speak with Brian Mellott.  Mellott is very intelligent, in fact, he graduated in August.  He is loyal to Coach Heacock and the YSU system and feels he has come out a better person.  Brian is one of just twelve Seniors who will be playing one last time in front of the Youngstown State faithful.

Paneech: Coming out of Austintown Fitch, you went to Ohio University.  You redshirted in 2005 and transferred to YSU.  Why the transfer?

Mellott: It just wasn’t for me down there.  I never really felt comfortable and got hurt on the very first day of camp.  I had surgery and was out of the loop.  I never felt like I was really part of anything there [Ohio University].  These guys [YSU] were winning back home.  There are friends and family here and that is how it all kind of worked out.

Paneech: When you got to YSU, you were a defensive lineman and now you are an offensive guard.  How did that happen?

Mellott: We lost an All-American Center, Ryan Jewell, during my Redshirt Freshman year.  They [coaching staff] were looking for a guy to try it.  They approached me about playing center, which I was at first, unsure about.  It ultimately came down to playing and I got that chance, took it, and never turned back.

Paneech: You have flirted with an overall GPA of 4.0.  What do you attribute your academic success to?

Mellott: Just showing up in class every day and paying attention.  My parents stressed to me when I was young to take advantage of all of the opportunities you will get.  I have got to be here anyways, so I may as well take advantage of it.  I realized that I was ahead of schedule and realized I might be able to get more use out of my scholarship by continuing.

Paneech: When did you graduate and what are you doing with your days now?

Mellott: I graduated right around the time of the second jersey scrimmage, sometime in August.  I have about 11 hours of the 32 that I need in for my MBA.  I will finish it up in July.  These days I am able to get some rest, I sleep a little bit longer.  I prepare for the week, watch films, and receive treatments if I need them.  After football practice, I go straight to class four nights a week.

Paneech: How much salvation can this team get out of winning these last two games?

Mellott: Well, that’s all that is left now.  It’s all about pride and how you want to go out.

Paneech: This group of Seniors is really unified.  I don’t see any fingerpointing, bickering, or hear any excuses for the somewhat average record.  How frustrated are you to know that this team has still not played a complete game?

Mellott: I couldn’t sit here and try to put it into words.  When you sit back and look at some of those games, you just wonder what could have been.  It will not help us beat Illinois State.  We will have time in two weeks to reflect and do that.  Our goal now is to play four solid quarters so we can look back and say, hey, we went out with a bang.

Paneech: Looking back at four years here as a player, which team was the most fun to be a part of?

Mellott: It was definitely 2006, just because of the winning.  I kind of got spoiled by that situation.  They had 27 Seniors that season.  We worked hard every year I was here.  That team [2006] had alot of guys who were making plays.  I was lucky to be along for the ride.  I wasn’t expected to play in any of those games, but I traveled with the team, it was almost like a vacation every week.  I got to watch and see alot of things and I got in here and there, but the whole playoff thing was an amazing experience.

Paneech: There is alot of references at the press conferences about the 2008 team and the internal problems that existed.  How bad did it get last season?

Mellott: I wouldn’t even say you could pinpoint one thing.  We lost Mychal Savage real quick and people don’t realize, maybe next year they will, that his presence carries alot of weight around here.  His presence on the field makes guys more accountable.  I think losing a guy like that hurt alot.  Then you have guys quitting, and that divides the team somewhat.  As young as the team is this year, we were even younger last year.  When you have alot of young guys, the focus shifts, the losses snowball, and it just is not a good situation.

Paneech: When does a press conference, where so many negative questions get asked, become an annoyance?

Mellott: It was annoying at the first one I did, where the negative questions started popping out.  The other two were not as bad.  When I walked into the press conferences, I told myself that I would not sidestep any questions.  I don’t think it is annoying, and I understand that it is the jobs that you guys have to ask the hard questions sometimes.  As a Senior, it is my job and provide a solid answer that not only the reporters can understand, but also the fans.

Paneech: Being a local guy, how would you convince athletes to attend YSU instead of going somewhere bigger?

Mellott:  I made that mistake when I went to OU.  If you are being recruited by a big school, 9 times out of 10, you are going to go.  The things that are making schools popular these days are: Do you have a sponsor, how many games are on TV, is there an indoor practice facility, and the material things drive the signings.  I wasn’t at OU long, and I am not bashing them by any means, but I just never felt right being there.  It’s a genuine family-type atmosphere here, and that is hard for a guy coming out of high school to appreciate or understand.

Paneech: Much has been said lately about Coach Heacock and maybe it being time to go.  Do you think he will be asked to come back?

Mellott: I pray he will be asked to come back.  I don’t see how you can take a guy like that and not be able to show him off as an asset to your team.  People around here don’t realize how lucky we are to have a guy like that.  He puts time and effort in that you couldn’t ask for.  He has two kids and a wife who miss him at home.  The winning has not been around the last couple of years.  This season he took a more hands-on approach by taking over the defense, and from last year to this year, you would be crazy to not give him the credit.  I don’t think that it is fair and that they would be cutting themselves short to get rid of him.  I dont think it is called for and there are always going to be peaks and valleys, but that is your guy, so you have to stick with him.  It bothers me that I am a part of the reason that he is in this situation.

One Word Answers

Favorite Board Game: Monopoly.

Favorite Flavor of Handel’s Ice Cream: Cookie dough.

Best Show On Television: (long pause and a laugh)  SportsCenter.

Favorite Holiday: New Years Eve.

Best Musician Out There: Tim McGraw.

Worst Habit: Saying “Uh and Um” too much in interviews.

Favorite NFL Team: Dallas Cowboys.

Favorite NFL Player: Jason Witten , Jay Ratliff.

Best Area Pizza: Wedgewood.

One Word To Describe The Season: Frustrating.

One Word To Describe Tax Season: (hardest question I asked) Exciting.

Dream Car: Escalade truck.

This week is a special week for 12 individuals who will be playing in their final home game ever at YSU.  Saturday’s game pits Youngstown State University (4-5, 2-4) against Illinois State University (5-4, 4-2) in the home finale for the Penguins.  It also marks Senior Day, a celebration of the hard work put in by the leaders.  Parents and friends will come out to see YSU Seniors give it one last go at The Ice Castle.

The twelve YSU Seniors are a pretty unique group.  Not once this entire season have I heard a Senior on this team make excuses or point fingers of blame toward underclassmen, coaches, or each other.   They have won and lost as they should, a unified team.   I can see why these twelve are so special and respected by those learning from them.  Paneech.com congratulates this very unique and tight-knit group of young men for striving to be leaders on and off the field.

The 12 Seniors:

• Kevin Smith, Brandon Summers, Draye Ersery, Dana Brown, Lenny Wicks, Jabari Scott, Ben Nowicki, Brian Mellott, Donald Jones, Aaron Pitts, Crispin Fernandez, and Mychal Savage. Congratulations Seniors! Not for the wins and losses, but for never quitting, playing hard, and most importantly setting an example for the future.

So Saturday marks the end for some.  Illinois State is no free lunch either.  The Redbirds have continued to improve all year and run a wide open offense that YSU has not been used to seeing much of this season.  Coach Heacock was complimentary of the Redbirds saying, “They have alot of things in the arsenal.  They play with alot of emotion and seem to just get better every week.  We have to play a great game to win this week.”

Heacock seems to genuinely like this group of Seniors.  “There is no more important of a week than Senior Week.  It’s all about these 12 seniors this week.  There is nothing like it, and it is a game they will never forget being a part of, their last game at home.  We, as coaches, want to find ways to get them all on the field.  We used to start all of the Seniors, some out of position, but we had more than 24 a few years back, so that tradition doesn’t exist anymore.”

To hear Senior Brian Mellott talk about Heacock proved that the respect is mutual.  “Coach Heacock is here 18 hours a day battling for his life right now.  He handles things with class and dignity.  I’m not badmouthing anyone, but when some guys got here, the transformation they underwent as people under Coach Heacock was very obvious.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the early forecast is calling for cloudy skies with a high of 58 degrees.  The game will also be televised on tape-delay on MyYTV with Chad Krispinsky and Chris Burch.

Penguin Notes

• Last year, Illinois State won a wild one, 54-44, at Hancock Stadium.
• The series is tied 9-9 and is seperated only by one point (446-445) in favor of the Redbirds.
• Illinois State Coach Brock Spack makes his initial appearance against Youngstown State.
• The last time YSU had a 60+ yards passing touchdown was last season against Illinois State when Brandon Summers hit Donald Jones for a score.  It was also the last time YSU went over the 500-yard mark for a game.

Youngstown State University needs to work on their costume a bit for this weekend.  The Penguins will host the South Dakota State Jackrabbits on Halloween.  Coach Jon Heacock has unfairly taken alot of criticism for the costume not being at its full potential yet, but promises to work on making the proper alterations needed for Halloween success.

The Penguins (4-3, 2-2) are coming off of a 27-8 loss at Southern Illinois.  The South Dakota State game marks this years Homecoming and YSU Hall of Fame Induction.  The Jackrabbits are undefeated in conference play and stand at 6-1 overall.   

You probably read the first paragraph of this game preview and said,  What?  A writer defending Coach Heacock?  I am.  Let me tell you why.  The coach of a football team does not miss a tackle, he puts a player in position to make a tackle.  If the player misses the tackle it should not fall back on the coaches.  A coach does not snap on punts or field goals, he does not fumble, throw interceptions or miss blocks, players do.  All a coach can do is prepare a team for what they can expect to see by breaking down hours of film, installing a gameplan, and teaching that gameplan in a very short period of time.

Last week against Southern Illinois, I went to the weekly Monday press conference and listened to Heacock outline his plan to the media: 

•  Objective #1 was to stop All-American RB Deji Karim.  Check.  Karim had an average game by his standards and finished well below his season averages.
• Objective #2 was to pressure Saluki QB Chris Dieker.  Check.  Dieker leaves the game with a shoulder injury but felt pressure while he was in there.
• Objective #3 was to attack the defense, get after the linebackers (two of them were also All-Americans), and move the ball without turning it over.  Check.  YSU had success moving the ball and put themselves in a position to score more than once in a first half where they came away with zero points.

Ultimately, a standup coach takes the blame in a loss.  That same coach also deflects the praise back to the players in victory.  Heacock follows this trend, he is a standup guy.  At this weeks press conference, I mentioned that it seems this YSU team is snakebitten.  It is not an insult, just a feeling.  Bad luck is something you can’t coach against.  Two special teams plays cost the Penguins 10 total points.  Heacock remarked, “We practiced punt team more than anything else during the bye week.  Apparantly, we did not work on it enough.  You can’t have a punt blocked or a 2-yard pass go for 86 yards.  In three-and-a-half minutes we went from being in a dogfight to being down 14 points.”

Lay off of him already. 

Moving forward, things will not get any easier for YSU.  Another Top-10 ranked school is on the agenda for this week.  South Dakota State (6-1, 5-0) is ranked #9 and coming off of a huge road win last week at Northern Iowa.  The Jackrabbits are a very physical team.  They do not give up many points and Heacock called them the best defensive team in the conference.  Redshirt-Freshman Thomas O’Brien was 26-37 against Northern Iowa for 285 yards and a pair of TDs.  He was not sacked, a credit to the Jackrabbits O-Line.  Kyle Minett rushed for 105 yards and caught four passes for 39 more.  YSU will have to stuff the run and get pressure on O’Brien to be successful on defense this weekend.

Alignment has been an ongiong problem for the YSU defense.  When asked how the defense can still have alignment issues 7 weeks in, DL Mychal Savage (pictured) responded.  “They change the things that we see, so we have to change what we do.”  Makes sense to me.  The things a coach sees on film are not the guaranteed cliffnotes to a victory.  Teams DO change the things they do on both sides of the ball every week. 

Kickoff is set for 4:07 and the weather looks decent with mostly cloudy skies and 55 degrees.

Penguin Notes

• YSU is 4-4 all-time in Halloween games, 47-19-1 on Homecoming (19-8 at The Ice Castle), and 5-5 all-time against South Dakota State. 
• South Dakota State won last years meeting 40-7.
• Donald Jones 11 catches against Southern Illinois again tied a school record.  Jones tied the record earlier in the season.
• Senior Aaron Pitts had his best game ever against Southern Illinois with 102 yards on 7 receptions.
• Junior Na’eem Outler also had his career best effort with nine tackles against Southern Illinois.

About the only cooperative factor in Saturdays Youngstown State football game was the weather.  The Penguins (3-2, 1-1) shot themselves in the foot several times and ultimately lost, 17-7, to Missouri State (3-2, 1-1).  Missed opportunities proved to be the difference in the game.  A blocked field goal, a failed 4th-and-1 on the Bears 5-yard line, and three uncharacteristic Brandon Summers interceptions proved to spell the fate of YSU in the loss.

The Missouri State offense didn’t take very long to get on the board.  All-American Tight End Clay Harbor hauled in a 52-yard touchdown pass from Cody Kirby to put the Bears up 7-0.  The drive, which only consisted of four plays, covered 64 yards in 1:26 with the big blow of 52 yards.  Sir Demarco Bledsoe almost knocked the pass down but missed on his swat.

After YSU went three-and-out, the Bears struck again, but this time only got three to extend the lead to 10-0 with 6:57 left in the first.  On the drive, Kirby found Jonathan Davis for a 57-yard completion.  Matt Hottelman connected from 25 for the three-pointer.  YSU dodged a bullet as Missouri State had the ball 2nd and goal on the YSU one, but were unable to convert.

YSU took the next kickoff all the way out to their own 49.  Brandon Summers went to work with a 25-yard gainer to Dominique Barnes, a 16-yarder to Donald Jones, and another 10-yarder to Barnes.  After a couple of runs and a penalty, YSU had a 4th and less-than-one at Missouri State’s five-yard line.  Summers tried to sneak for the needed yardage for a new set of downs but was stuffed and YSU turned the ball over on downs.  Missouri State took over on downs and ran a few plays before the first quarter ended with YSU trailing 10-0.

YSU got on the board with 3:34 left in the second quarter when Summers found Donald Jones for a 32-yard touchdown.  Dana Brown had 4 rushes for 23 yards on the 11 play drive that covered a total of 76 yards.  On the TD, Summers had all day and Jones kept running until Summers found him in the corner for a great hookup to make the score 10-7 in favor of Missouri State.

With Missouri State driving and under a minute to go in the half, Lenny Wicks made a remarkable one handed jumping interception to keep the Bears out of the end zone and the half ended with Missouri State leading Youngstown State 10-7.

Youngstown State took the second half kickoff.  Kevin Smith coughed up the ball and it would be costly as Missouri State drove 36 yards in seven plays and would cash in on a 4-yard jaunt from Jonathan Davis to take a 17-7 lead with 11:36 left in the third quarter.

YSU moved the ball somewhat effectively on their next drive.  The drive was ended when Stephen Blose attempted a 37-yard field goal which was blocked by Waylon Richardet to give Missouri State the ball back on their own 35.  Richardet was dominant on defense all day for the Bears.

The third quarter ended with Missouri State on top 17-7.

Richardet stopped another YSU drive single-handedly when he picked off a tipped Summers pass.  YSU was in a third-and-goal at Missouri State’s 4-yard line when Summers threw his third pick of the evening.  This drive, the third of its kind in the game, covered 90 yards and resulted in nothing on the scoreboard for the Penguins. 

YSU could not stop Missouri State after the turnover.  The Bears were obviously trying to run some of the clock down, and YSU would give up a couple of yards on runs, yet the Bears converted twice on third-and long situations to take more than 5 minutes off of the game clock.  The Penguins finally successfully stopped the Bears and got the ball back with 2:24 left in the game and no timeouts.

The Penguins were unable to score and could not convert when they had to in this game.  A blocked field goal, three interceptions and a failed fourth and inches in the first quarter ultimately spelled doom for YSU as they fell 17-7 to the Bears.

For the Penguins, Kevin Smith rushed for 80 yards on 16 carries.  Dana Brown added 72 yards in 15 carries.  Donald Jones tied a school record with 11 catches for 130 yards and a TD.  Dominique Barnes had 9 catches for 113 yards and finished the game with 169 all-purpose yards.  Summers finished 23 of 39 for 251 yards, a touchdown, and the three interceptions.

Missouri State was led by QB Cody Kirby who finished the game 19-28 for 252 yards with a TD and a pick.  Clay Harbor had 6 catches for 106 yards.  Jonathan Davis finished with 118 all-purpose yards.

After the game, a very disappointed Jon Heacock addressed the loss.  “Missouri State came in and played hard.  They played like their life was on the line, give them credit, they played like crazy.  They were able to pressure us with three and four guys and we were not able to pressure them when we were sending six.”

Heacock also commented on the team being able to bounce back next week.  “If they have got any courage and competitiveness, they’ll be up.  I think our team does.  It’s not going to be easy.  We better buckle up.  If they have any red blood cells they’ll be competitive.”

Mychal Savage addressed the media after the game and took the loss particularly hard.  Having interviewed Savage this past week, I got a vibe that he is the pulse of this defense, the leader.  “I personally feel like tonight I let my team down.  I feel like I owe these guys one and that they deserve more from me.  I feel like I could have did more for this team, and I didn’t do it.”   This particular statement was delivered from the heart and I really feel for Savage.  He is putting way too much blame on himself though.  It is just his nature to assume responsibility for his group during a bad time, the mark of a true leader.  Mad respect for him.

YSU goes back to work in preparation for their Missouri Valley Conference game against Western Illinois Saturday.  The game is set for a 6:00 kickoff.

Lenny Wicks was the toughest YSU football player I have had to interview.  He lives a very structured life and doesn’t have much spare time with football, classes, and a kid.  His time is limited but his effort on the field is limitless.  Lenny knows that something special is brewing in Youngstown these days and can’t wait for everyone to take notice of what a special bunch these 2009 Penguins really are.

Paneech: Talk about the injury that forced you to miss the first couple of games this season.

Wicks: In the Spring game, one of the defensive linemen fell on my leg and broke my fibula and dislocated my ankle and tore tendons in my ankle.  I couldn’t walk for about four months. 

Paneech: Any lingering effects from the injury?

Wicks:  I’m back up there.  It gets a little sore sometimes, but I’m good.

Paneech: Why YSU?

Wicks: Coming out of high school, I thought I was real big, but, I guess I really wasn’t.  I actually walked on here, I didn’t get a scholarship.  I walked on here because my brother  [Eric Wicks] told me this would be a good place for me to go.  he told me that they win games up here and that if I worked hard, I could be a part of that.

Paneech: Speaking of your brother Eric who had some great years at West Virginia, what would happen if you each got to cover Ochocinco for ten plays?

Wicks: Lock Down! (laughs)  Me and my big bro?  That would be alot of fun.

Paneech: What was your reason for choosing criminal justice as a major?

Wicks: When I first got here my grades were very bad.  I was an education major and wasn’t doing very well.  Then my advisor was asking me what my interests were and after she coached me up,  we settled on criminal justice for a major.  It’s been going real good and I find it interesting.

Paneech: With you returning, Crispin [Fernandez] coming back and Mychal Savage healthy, how good can this defense be?

Wicks: I don’t think there is a limit on how good we can be.  As long as we work together, we have the talent to be extremely good.  I can’t set a limit on how good we can be.  In our first couple of games we haven’t even seen how good we can be.  We are not playing as good as we can yet.  As soon as everything clicks, watch out!

Paneech: What have you learned about this team so far in 2009?

Wicks: We have alot of leadership on this team.  We have alot of people that want to win.  The younger guys are willing to follow the leaders and we don’t have too many big egos like we did in the past.  We have alot of leadership and alot of guys that are on board so we can be the best we can possibly be.

Paneech: Being one of 12 seniors, how much stress is there on you to do all of the right things?

Wicks: I don’t see it as stress because I want to do the right things.  I want to get done with school, I want to be a good example for the people under me, so I don’t really see it as stress, but rather what I should be doing, so that’s what I am going to do.

Paneech: Talk about being a parent, practicing, and attending classes during the week.

Wicks: (laughs) Why do people always ask me that same question?  It’s regular to me.  I had my daughter when I was in twelfth grade so it’s very regular to me.  I don’t know anything else.

One Word Answers

Favorite Meal Of The Day?  Breakfast, although I never get to eat it.

Best Class You Ever Took At YSU?  Weightlifting

Favorite NFL Player And Team?  Bob Sanders, but my team is the Steelers.

Nicest Thing Anyone Ever Did For You?  Still waiting for that.

Favorite TV Show?  Fresh Prince.

Best Video Gaming System Of All-Time?  I don’t play video games.

Favorite Vegetable?  Broccoli.

Favorite NBA Team?  I like players.  Kobe, LeBron and D Wade.

WWE or MMA?  MMA.

Favorite Dessert?  Brownies and ice cream.

Mychal Savage has been in the national spotlight and has tasted the worst of times during his Youngstown State football career.  In 2007, Savage was named to the first team of the All-Missouri Valley Conference as he racked up 43 tackles (five for loss), five sacks, and three hurries.  Savage also received All-American accolades in his magical 2007 season.  In 2008, he was hurt in the Ohio State game and missed the rest of the season after undergoing surgery.  A medical redshirt opened the door for Savage to return to the trenches. 

Having watched this guy play, believe me when I tell you even if he is not making the tackle, he is disrupting the flow of a play in some way.  The most impressive thing about Savage is that he does not take plays off.  He is a leader both on and off the field, and I recently had the privelage of talking with him.

Paneech: Explain what it felt like to miss the 2008 season and watch your team suffer without you.

Savage: It was tough to watch.  Anytime I have ever had to watch, it is tough because I always want to be a part of it.  The biggest hurt from last year was watching and not being able to do anything about it. 

Paneech: Are there any lingering effects from the injury or are you playing at 100% right now?

Savage: I am going one hundred plus right now.  I’m ready to go!

Paneech: Comment on why it feels like this can shape up to be a special year.

Savage: I think the chemistry builds up every week.  As far as the defense goes, I feel we have the opportunity to do something spectacular.  The whole team itself can be absolutely fantastic and off of the charts.  If we do what we have to do I don’t think there is any other team, besides us, who can stop us. 

Paneech: Being one of 12 seniors, how do the underclassmen respond to you?

Savage: I guess they respond fairly well.  We have not had too many issues with the younger kids, I think they do a good job following everyone else.  I feel like the kids that have been here a little longer have a decent amount of respect for all of the seniors that have been here and that makes it easier.

Paneech: Tell me the differences between Youngstown and New York.

Savage: New York’s a lot bigger (laughs).  New York is more culture dependant on where you go and that is pretty much the major difference.

Paneech: What is it like going to a military academy and how did you end up there at Hargrave?

Savage: I wasn’t really scouted very highly out of high school, so I thought Hargrave gave me the best chance of getting more football exposure.  To this day, I still don’t know how I ended up at Hargrave on August 13th pulling into that campus and checking in with Sgt. Major Payne.

Paneech: You are majoring in biology.  How did you pick Biology as a major?

Savage: It’s going well and I am almost done with my classes.  I picked Biology because I have always been fascinated with science and getting to know how different things worked.  Biology has led me to learn more about living things and how they work.

Paneech: What have you learned about yourself since arriving in Youngstown?

Savage: I’ve learned about myself.  I have learned that I can pretty much give myself up to anybody that needs my help.  If someone asks for help, and I see they actually need it, I will do all I can to help that person.

Paneech: Have you worn #96 since high school?  Why #96?

Savage: It’s been my number since I got to Youngstown.  I wore #74 and #73 in high school and #68 at Hargrave.  When I got here, #73 was taken, I didn’t really care for #74 anymore, and #96 was open so I chose it.

Paneech: Who is your favorite NFL team and player?

Savage: Julius Peppers is my favorite athlete and my favorite team is the New York Jets.

Paneech: When can we expect this year’s YSU team to be ranked in the Top-25?

Savage: Soon.

One Word Answers

Favorite NBA Team?  New York Knicks.

Toppings You Get On A Pizza?  Pepperoni and Sausage.

Favorite Video Game Of All-Time?  Metal Gear Solid.

Worst Class Taken At YSU?  Plant Diversity.

Favorite Season?  Winter.

Best Friend On The Team:  Lenny Wicks  (Wicks was standing next to Savage when he answered).

Was It Funner To Dissect A Frog or a Fetal Pig?  Fetal Pig.

Biggest Regret In Life?  Diving to the ground at Ohio State.

Dream Car: A fast one!

Favorite Area Restaurant: Belleria Pizza in Struthers.

Don’t be fooled by their record, at least that is what Youngstown State Football Coach Jon Heacock thinks about Northeastern University’s football program.  The 1-1 Pengiuins travel to Boston to face the 0-2 Huskies, who lost to Maine last week 17-7.  This marks the first time since 1992 that these teams have met in Boston.  In the 1992 contest, Northeastern won a tight one, 28-23.  Coach Heacock is 1-0 lifetime against the Huskies, a contest that YSU won 35-16 at home in 2005, the last time the teams squared off.

Last weeks Austin Peay vs YSU contest won by YSU, 38-21, showed an offensive balance.  YSU passed for 232 yards and rushed for 202.  The defense showed signs of greatness at times.  There are still many things to iron out on both sides of the ball before this team can be looked at as a National Championship contender.

Northeastern is coached by Rocky Hager.  Coach Hager is in his sixth season and has gone 17-40 over that span.  Coach Heacock was full of praise for the Notheastern program and knows that if the Penguins let their guard down they could have a long Saturday.  “It’s a difficult place to play.  They [Northeastern] are a hungry, competitive, and tough football team.  I don’t care about their record, I have been there enough times to know what we are getting into.  Maine was rated 20th in the country, and that game was to the wire.  You watch some of their games from last year, Villanova, that game was to the wire.”

Heacock talked about what to expect from Northeastern.  “On offense, they are different than anyone we have seen.  They run a spread and a no-huddle, very similar to our offense.  They line up fast.  Against Boston College and Maine, defenses were having trouble lining up right because they get set fast.  They run a pressure defense.  We will be doing some blitzing and stunting during practices this week to prepare for what they might do.  I expect the game to be tough and physical.”

Senior RG Brian Mellott commented on what he saw on film that impressed him about Northeastern.  “Their noseman, #57 [Mike Lukenda] is an excellent football player.  Playing against Williams and the guys we played against two weeks ago [Pitt] we know what to expect.  The two inside linebackers look excellent.  One of them,  #34 [Craig Kenney], is the captain of their team, he is the heart and soul of that defense.  We are in for a challenge.”

Mike LB Dionta Tate described the Huskies QB, Matt Carroll, as a ‘running back who plays quarterback’.  Anytime a team spreads the field and has a quarterback who can run, defenses better know their responsibilities or they will get picked apart.  The YSU coaching staff has made this clear to the players for this game.

The Brandon Summers – Donald Jones show got rolling last week.  Kevin Smith ran hard and made the most of his chances. Mychal Savage is a beast, period.  Aaron Pitts made a huge fourth down catch.  Players on this Penguins team are definitely playing their roles.  The twelve Seniors on this team are leading by example.  Watch this young offensive line improve as they gain valuable game experience.  Brian Mellott may be the best talker I have ever heard at a press conference.  I know he is communicating well with the younger guys as they gain time.

Kickoff at Northeastern is set for 1 o’clock and the game can be heard on AM-570, WKBN with Bob Hannon and Dick Hartzell.  The game can also be purchased to watch online for $8.95 at GoNU.tv.  The early weather is calling for a chance of showers on a 67 degree afternoon at Parsons Field.

Penguin Notes

• Against Austin Peay, YSU Strong Safety Sir Demarco Bledsoe finished with 15 tackles, most by a YSU player in a game since 2004.  The 15 tackles were also the most recorded by a member of the YSU defensive secondary since 2002.
• YSU’s Dominique Barnes has caught a pass in 14 consecutive games, longest streak on the team.
• Lenny Wicks should be ready to suit up for action this week vs Northeastern.
• Seasons that end in the number nine have been kind to the Peguins over the past few decades.  In 1999, YSU played in the NCAA Championship Game.  In 1989, YSU reached the FCS quarterfinals.  In 1979, YSU played for the Division II National Championship.  Can 2009 continue the pattern?