Posts Tagged ‘Eric Wolford’

Eric Wolford started a new practice week like a politician, promising change.  Wolford made good on the promise of a more stubborn defense.  Something Wolford can’t scheme against or plan differently are the mistakes that doomed his Penguins.  Southern Illinois blocked a punt for a score, landed on a loose ball in the end zone, intercepted passes and recovered a fumble to defeat the Penguins, 38-21.

“We didn’t play very well.  There are three phases and we only played good defense”, said Eric Wolford.  “We know we are capable of being a good football team but we have been shut out the last three games on offense.  We need to simplify some things.”

YSU started the game in very workmanlike fashion.  The Penguins marched 55 yards in ten plays to take a 7-0 lead on a 1-yard Jamaine Cook plunge.

The Salukis scored by the end of the first quarter on a 26-yard Austin Johnson field goal that cut the YSU lead to 7-3.

Cook garnered his second touchdown of the game on a 4-yard scamper that would increase the lead to 14-3 for the Penguins.  The touchdown came with 11:43 left in the first half and capped off a ten play, 65-yard drive.

Big special teams plays by the Salukis hindered YSU’s improved defensive effort in the first half.  Southern Illinois blocked a punt with 5:36 left in the half and Courtney Richmond pounced on the loose pill in the end zone to close the gap to 14-10.

YSU would again retaliate with a good drive.  Cook had his third rushing touchdown of the half when he dove in from a yard out to increase the Penguin lead to 21-10.  It marked the third successful scoring drive of the half, this one covering 76 yards.

As a steady mist fell, Southern Illinois would cut the lead to 21-17 when Kory Faulkner spotted LaSteven McKinney for a 10-yard touchdown.

On a third-and-short, Southern Illinois used play-action to catch the YSU defense out of position.  MyCole Pruitt was pretty much by himself, catching a Faulkner pass on about the ten and jogging into the end zone to give the Salukis their first lead of the afternoon at 24-21.

On the next YSU possession, with the Penguins trying to drive and get their lead back, an errant snap exchange between Hess and center Mark Pratt from the shotgun formation rolled into the Penguins end zone and Southern Illinois’ Tyler Williamson landed on the ball for a 31-21 Salukis lead.

With five minutes left and YSU driving, Hess was stripped of the ball while trying to make something out of nothing.  Southern Illinois recovered with a 10-point lead.

The final straw was a last gasp drive that ended in Hess getting picked off in the end zone and running 100 yards for a game-sealing touchdown.

The Penguins fell to 1-3 in the conference and probably can’t lose again if they want into the postseason.

“It hurts [the loss] just like the rest of them.  Our defense played a great game and as a leader, I can take the blame, our offense did not get the job done”, said YSU’s Cook after the game.

Aronde Stanton, another captain, gave his views.  “We lose as a team, so it doesn’t matter who plays better, offense or defense, it is a team loss.”

“I will be thinking all night about how to keep this team loose”, said Wolford.  “We play South Dakota next week and we have not beaten them since I got here, so we have to really focus.”

Racing out to a 4-0 start is a good thing.  Collapsing on the road for two key conference games is not such a good thing.  Saturday, #15 Youngstown State (4-2, 1-2) will try to regain the winning form that vaulted them into being ranked as high as third in the polls when they take the field for their first home game since September 22.  Southern Illinois, one of the hottest teams in the league, comes in at 4-2, but are 3-1 in the conference.  The task is not easy, but the Penguins need to start winning again.

“Our backs are against the wall and we need to respond”, said Penguins junior QB Kurt Hess.  “We are still growing as a team and cannot afford to hurt ourselves with small penalties.”

In last week’s loss to Illinois State, the Penguins didn’t break any records for penalty yardage, but the timing of at least two penalties proved very costly.

“We got a penalty on a kickoff and had to re-kick”, said Penguins Coach Eric Wolford. “Instead of having them pinned deep, we kick again and they get the ball around midfield.  We also had a personal foul penalty that was a dumb mistake on our part.  To win games in this conference, you just can’t make those kind of mistakes.”

Southern Illinois has a tremendous talent at tight end in MyCole Pruitt.  Pruitt has 32 catches for 362 yards and three touchdowns.  He is also a pretty good blocking tight end.  Pruitt commented on what his team has to do to come away with a big road win.

“I expect this year’s game to be like last year”, said Pruitt.  “It can probably go down to the end and the team who wins will make a play.”

Pruitt moves like a wide receiver, but looks like a lineman at 6’3″ and 247 pounds.

“I feel like there isn’t a linebacker in the conference that can cover me.”

Saluki QB Kory Faulkner is a dual-threat after starting a play.  He can run (47 yard rushing touchdown last week), or he can beat you with his arm (had a 384 yard passing game this season).  Southern Illinois keeps a defense off balance with plenty of motion and shifting.  The Penguins seem like they know what is coming, but can they execute?

YSU center, Mark Pratt, reflected on what the last two weeks have been like.

“I hate losing.  I get sick to my stomach and I don’t eat right.  I didn’t talk to my wife much and I didn’t sleep well either.”

Wolford knows that Southern Illinois is a worthy opponent and that the Penguins need to be on their game, all three phases, and have to convert third downs, avoid penalties, and not commit turnovers.

“It gets agonizing to sit and watch films when you keep seeing the four or five plays that beat you,” said Wolford.  “You don’t know going into a game which four or five plays will define a game, but at the end, you definitely know which plays they were.”

Wolford said that there will be changes.  Jamarius Boatwright will get the start in the defensive backfield.  The defensive line also looks to be shaken up, but Wolford would not say who would be where because it would be based on who performed the best in practice this week.

“We need to get back to having fun again”, said Wolford.

Everyone smiles on a winning team from the top down.  In this battle of a couple of teams who dominated the I-AA division in sections of years, one team will leave the field smiling, attempting to regain championship form from years past at their respective universities.  The other will leave scratching their heads wondering why it is so difficult to rekindle the magic that once defined their team as a powerhouse in this sport.

YSU 37, Southern Illinois 29.

Last week was a forgettable one for both #8 Youngstown State (4-1, 1-1) and their opponent this week,#14 Illinois State (5-1, 2-1).  YSU suffered a lopsided 48-7 road loss at the hands of the defending FCS champion, North Dakota State.  Illinois State dropped a 17-0 verdict to Southern Illinois.  The winner of this game will be the team that is able to regroup and make the fewest mistakes.

“Both teams will be playing with a chip on their shoulders”, said Redbirds sophomore receiver Donovan Harden.  “College football is a game of momentum and we are happy to be facing a very talented Youngstown State team at home this week.”

Youngstown State is taking a new approach on how they actually get to Hancock Stadium for this week’s 2:04 kickoff.

“We are leaving on the bus Thursday, stopping about halfway, and then finishing the ride on Friday”, said YSU coach Eric Wolford.  “It is a different approach that we planned awhile ago.  We will practice at the University of Illinois Friday and then have dinner and chapel.  After the game we will fly home.”

“All great teams play well on the road and we have to do that now”, remarked YSU OL Andrew Radakovich.  “We will worry about the process and the result of the game will handle itself.”

“If we stay here on Thursday night, there is a good chance that a player will take his Suzie Q out for wings or pizza”, added Wolford.

YSU will have its hands full with another good quarterback.  Senior Matt Brown (above) already has 1582 yards and eleven touchdowns this season.  Tyrone Walker has caught 39 passes for 549 yards and Harden leads the team in receiving touchdowns with four.  RB Darrelynn Dunn has nine rushing touchdowns to lead the Redbirds.

“Brown is a great quarterback”, said Wolford.  “He has two dynamic receivers in Walker and Harden.  For us to win, we cannot turn the ball over.  It is nothing magical.  Take care of the ball like it is gold and make the plays on third down on both sides of the ball.”

Penguin Tidbits

• Illinois State offensive line coach, George Barnett, and YSU’s Eric Wolford and offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo all served as coaches at the University of Illinois.
• YSU has scored at least 27 points in 13 of its last 15 games, and at least 20 points in the last 12 games against the Redbirds.
• Jamaine Cook has 73 carries for 335 yards and a pair of touchdowns in two games against Illinois State.
• Kurt Hess is 50-67 for 543 yards and six touchdowns in two games against Illinois State.
• ISU’s Matt Brown completed 32 passes against Youngstown State in 2009.

YSU leads the all-time series 11-10 and won last year’s game 37-24 at Stambaugh Stadium.

“We are ready to move forward again”, said Penguins TE Will Shaw.  “We have to stay true to our gameplan and stay focused.”

If the Penguins can take some of the heat off of Hess and the secondary can minimize the production of Harden and Walker, their chances of winning vastly improve.

My prediction:  YSU 40, Illinois State 31

Youngstown State University never got going in Fargo.  The Penguins dropped out of the undefeated ranks as #1 North Dakota State was able to capitalize on three YSU turnovers and win the special teams battles.  The Bison (5-0, 2-0) never trailed and won every facet of the game on their way to a 48-7 win.

Jamiane Cook had trouble handling an exchange from Kurt Hess on the first play from scrimmage.  North Dakota State came out of the pile with the ball and took over on a very short field at the YSU 31.  The Bison used six plays to jump out to a 7-0 lead. Backup running back John Crockett, filling in for suspended teammate Sam Ojuri, finished the drive with a one-yard burst.

Youngstown State seemed to recover from the early mistake as they used their second drive to march 74 yards for a game-tying score.  Hess found Carson Sharbaugh in a small crowd just over the goal line for the score.

Before the first quarter would end, Bison QB Brock Jensen found Zach Vraa for a 46-yard scoring hookup.  Things would get worse on the ensuing possession for the Penguins when Marcus Williams returned an interception 98 yards for a touchdown making the score 21-7.

North Dakota State would add two more touchdowns, a Crockett one-yard scamper and a Jensen to Ryan Smith 16-yard strike, to take a commanding 35-7 lead into halftime.

The Bison seemed just fine with Crockett filling in for Ojuri.  The 5’11” sophomore from Minneapolis finished the game with 25 carries for 103 yards.

Ryan Smith was the big-play guy that YSU could not stop.  Smith had seven catches for 82 yards, one rush for nine yards and a 76-yard punt return that would increase the Bison advantage to 45-7.

Adam Keller kicked a pair of field goals for North Dakota State (49, 34) to close the scoring at 48-7.

The things that YSU coach Eric Wolford always says can’t happen, did happen.  The Penguins lost the time of possession battle (33:12 – 26:48), committed three turnovers compared to ND State’s 0, and were badly outplayed on special teams.

Part of the reason Hess was unable to have much success today was because of the pressure the Bison defense continually provided.  Many blitzes, especially off of the edge, proved very harmful to the Penguins offensive efforts.

Hess finished the game 11-20 for 117 yards.  Cook had 43 yards on nine carries and Kintrell Disher caught three passes for 34 yards to lead the Penguins.

Don’t rule out the possibility of these two teams meeting again in the playoffs.

YSU has little time to fix everything as Illinois State waits in the wings for a game that kicks off at 2 p.m. Saturday.

 

If you were to ask Kurt Hess or Jamaine Cook why the Youngstown State offense has been so successful over the past couple of seasons, I would bet they could give you at least five big reasons.  One of those five reasons is DJ Main.  Coach Eric Wolford knows that big games between two good teams are won in the trenches.  Main and company have owned the trenches so far this season.

DJ Main is a fifth year senior from Strongsville, Ohio.  He was recruited by Jon Heacock to play football here and is one of the few to survive, and prosper, under a new coaching staff.  Main is finishing up his requirements before departing with a degree in Exercise Science, but he has the size and the work ethic to keep doing something he has loved doing since third grade – playing football.

Paneech:  Sometimes when a coach leaves, recruits may follow him.  In this case, you had nowhere to follow Coach Heacock to, so were you ever contacted to transfer to Kent or anywhere else after the coaching change?

Main:  No, I never really thought of coming here as dedication to a coach.  I saw it more as dedication to the program that I signed to be a part of.  When I signed to come to Youngstown State, I knew I would fulfill my four or five years here.  I haven’t had any contact with Coach Heacock since he left.  Youngstown stayed in contact with me since I was a junior in high school, so there is loyalty on my end.

Paneech:  The edge for a player in a program this competitive is that they have an understanding of the playbook and system.  You lost that edge with the coaching change.

Main:  We did have to learn a whole new system but the coaches were really willing to work with us because they knew it was unfamiliar to the players.  They took time during individuals to work on form and technique.  Truthfully, the coaches have been the building blocks of this system.

Paneech:  Talk about Coach Bricilo and how he has been to work with.

Main:  Coach Bricilo is in ‘in your face’ guy, but I think those are the best coaches.  Those coaches will not let you slack or just settle on being average.  They want the best for us, and sometimes that means they are not our best friends.  Off the field, things are totally different.  We are laughing and hanging out, but we know when we are on the field that it is business.

Paneech:  What do you see yourself doing after this whole experience is over?

Main:  Everyone always has NFL aspirations.  I have got it set up so when I finish up my degree in the Spring, regardless of what happens, I will leave here looking for a job.  As an Exercise Science Major, I would love to be a strength coach for a college or high school.  I am going to enjoy the rest of what is left because the potential of this year’s team is off the charts.

Paneech:  When you got here, there was no WATTS, just a bunch of weeds and a gravel track.

Main:  I don’t know if you could even call what was here a track when I got here.  There was weeds growing inside of the track and it wasn’t even a flat surface.  The programs that this institution have changed are unbelievable, like night and day.  It has all been for the better.

Paneech:  What have you done to make yourself a better player since you got here?

Main:  Improvement comes a lot with the strength staff.  When you get here as a freshman, you are on top of the world because you got recruited.  You get a rude awakening when you get to the first practice and see guys that are bigger than you.  They take you under their wing and teach, it is great to learn from veterans.

Paneech:  I have heard wild tales about you lineman and your ability to do some damage on the dining facilities in the Mahoning Valley.  Share some of the horror with me.

Main:  We are a very close group of guys.  We have done some damage at Chipotle.  You get more bang for the buck there and you get a lot of food.  Chris Elkins can eat two double wrapped burritos in less than ten minutes, it is disturbing.  I get a double wrap burrito too, but only one.  I am done doing weight gain.  We did the Quaker Steak And Lube all-you-can-eat wing night last year.  It wasn’t just linemen either, there was a large group of us that went.  Elkins only ate about twenty, but my man Radak [Andrew Radakovich] with a plate of wings in front of him is pretty gross to watch.

Paneech:  Do you like amusement parks?

Main:  I used to when I was younger, but the last time I went, I got on a ride where the floor drops out from under your feet.  My feet were still touching after the floor fell, so they made me get off of the ride.  The rides don’t work out real well for me anymore.

Paneech:  Do you have to deal with the stereotype that linemen aren’t very smart?

Main:  Everyone knows that is a complete lie.  Any program that you go to, if that team is having any type of success you look at their offensive line and I can guarantee that they are mentally strong enough to take care of their business up front.

One Word Answers

Favorite NFL Player:  Joe Thomas

Favorite Breakfast Food:  Pancakes

Favorite Drink After Practice:  Gatorade

Best Football Movie Ever Made:  Remember The Titans

Favorite NFL Team:  Bengals

Other Sports You Watch:  Basketball – I Love March Madness

Worst Habit:  Going To Bed Too Early

TV Show:  Everybody Loves Raymond

Dream Destination:  Anywhere There Is A Beach

Youngstown State University entered their game with Northern Iowa 1-0 when there was a rain delay (Pitt).  YSU also entered the game riding an 11-game losing streak to UNI. When the clouds yielded, the teams were both granted 45 minutes to stretch out and warm up before the kickoff.  The delay lasted 45 minutes and about 3/4 of the announced crowd of 19,277 (largest in Stambaugh Stadium history) was noisy.  When the smoke cleared, the Penguins ended the losing streak and kept the rain-delay streak alive with a dramatic 42-35 win over Northern Iowa.

The Penguins stopped a last-minute threat by the Panthers offense to preserve the win and improve to 4-0 and 1-0 in MVFC play.  NIU had the ball at the YSU 11 and a fourth down pass to the end zone resulted in an incompletion.  YSU Coach Eric Wolford said they noticed NIU would run a pick play.

“We saw it on films and told the refs to look for it at some critical juncture in the game”, said Wolford.

“Our crowd proved to be a difference and that is what we expect around here.”, remarked Eric Wolford.  “Right now we are 4-0 on all of our assignments, the guy upstairs is watching out for us.”

Youngstown State took the opening kickoff and put together a drive filled with a little of everything.  There was a reverse, a dive, a couple of tight end pass-plays out of tight formations, an option, a sweep, and a touchdown too.  Jamaine Cook capped off the Shane Montgomery masterpiece at the 10:00 mark of the first quarter.  The twelve-play drive covered 73 yards.

On Northern Iowa’s first possession, the Panthers struck on a 32-yard pass play to tie the game.  After converting a third down, Sawyer Kollmorgen hit Terrell Sinkfield with a bubble screen on the left hash.  Sinkfield caught the ten yard pass and made a nifty move through the Penguins secondary on the touchdown.  The 7-play, 77-yard drive  gave the impression that both offenses were better than the other teams defenses.

Kurt Hess and the offense took the ball on their own twenty to start their second drive.  The offense traveled 80 yards on five plays, with the score coming on a nice 38-yard pass play.  Hess faked a reverse and found Andrew Williams on a post pattern.  Williams got a few steps on the defense and Hess hit the 6’2″ redshirt freshman in stride.

With 9:26 left in the first half, the Penguins increased their lead to 21-7.  Nate Adams, the third tight end on the YSU depth chart, caught his first-ever touchdown pass to cap off another diverse effort by the YSU offense.  At this point in the game, Hess had completions to nine different receivers.

“To see those guys [Williams and Adams] get in the end zone is great. “, said Hess.  “They both work very hard in practice and it was nice to see those two get into the end zone tonight.  I always miss Drew and was very happy to find him in the end zone tonight.”

With :27 seconds left in the half, Kollmorgen found David Johnson for a five yard strike.  The touchdown cut the lead to seven points and YSU was content with that lead to kneel out the ball to end the first half.

In the second half, UNI returned the kickoff to the 50.  Johnson would score again three plays into the half when he took in a short slant route and danced his way around would-be tacklers like pylons and then hit the afterburners outracing everyone to the end zone.

Johnson continued to torch the Penguins. With 8:59 left in the third quarter he broke a 23-yard run that gave the Panthers their first lead of the day.  Johnson’s run capped a 64-yard scoring drive that only took six plays and gave UNI a 28-21 lead.

On a fourth-and-two, the Penguins gambled.  Hess faked a handoff on the NIU 45 and then stepped back to find Will Shaw streaking down the right sideline for a 43-yard score.  The touchdown not only tied the game but also gave the Penguins defense a much-needed boost of momentum.

“We are not afraid to go for the big play on fourth down”, said Wolford.  “Youngstown has had hard times.  We play for this university, and I have a great coaching staff.  It is a great situation we are in, but we must remain humble.  Our mindset is to play 15 or 16 games.  Our kids realize that.  You can’t be conservative though and I wasn’t going to be conservative at that moment.”

Jeremy Edwards ended a threatening UNI drive when he picked off an out route on a third down play.  The Penguins were unable to cash the turnover in for any points and ended up punting.

The Johnson show continued when UNI’s 6’3″ sophomore ran another in, his fourth of the game, from 16 yards away.  The touchdown came with 12:42 left in the game and gave UNI a big 35-28 lead.

Torrian Pace pulled the Penguins back into a 35-35 tie when he plunged in from a yard out capping a drive that spanned 5:28.  A Hess to Shaw pass on a fourth and four that put the ball on the UNI three was the play that made the drive work.

The Penguins regained possession with 5:51 left in the game.  What happened from there was season-defining.  The Penguins drove the ball 69 yards in eight plays.  The drive was capped by a great pass from Hess to Christian Bryan for a 26-yard score.  The touchdown put the Penguins ahead 42-35 with 1:50 left in the game.

For the Penguins, Hess was 20-28 for 290 yards and four touchdowns.  Shaw hauled in five of the Hess balls for 95 yards and a touchdown.  Cook carried the ball 32 times for 147 yards and a touchdown.

Northern Iowa got a great game from Kollmorgen who rallied his team back almost every time they fell behind.  He finished the game 23-38 for 333 yards and three touchdowns.

Johnson gave the YSU defense fits with 6 catches for 76 yards and 17 carries for 87 yards and a total of four touchdowns.

Perhaps the biggest hero of the game was Donald D’Alesio.  D’Alesio sat out most of last year with injuries, but has been a solid performer since he returned.  He had in a hand in five pass breakups in this game including the final threat.

“There is no doubt that it felt good to contribute”, said D’Alesio.  “I owed these guys that much.”

As the minutes count down to Saturday’s 7:00 p.m. game against Northern Iowa, the Youngstown State University Ticket Department is running out of supply to fill the demand.  In what will be the biggest football game to be played at Stambaugh Stadium since 2000, the house will be packed, despite a poor weather forecast.

Showers was the word nobody wanted to hear, but the only word being said during the weather segments on the radio and television stations.  Tickets, however, remain scarce as the Penguins will try to end an 11-game losing streak to Northern Iowa to open Missouri Valley Conference play.

“We want to fill the place up”, said Eric Wolford.

Jamaine Cook, YSU’s senior tailback may have said it even better.  “We want Ron Strollo to have to build another section of stands.”

With the crowd expected to be large and loud, the tailgate lots also needed expansion. The atmosphere will be festive and the football game should mark the official, ‘we are really good’ mantra from the fence-sitters.

“Third down is a huge down”, said Wolford.  “We want the crowd to be very loud on third down to make it hard for them to hear and concentrate.  This place should be rocking.”

Wolford says that the UNI game is not a ‘must-win’ for his Penguins.  Earlier in the week on the MVFC conference call, UNI Coach, Mark Farley, declared that this is a must win game for his 1-2 Panthers.

With losses to Wisconsin and Iowa, Farley may be dramatizing a week-one conference matchup, but this guy marches to his own arrogant beat anyway.  Usually in this pregame article, there are quotes from a player of the opposing team.  Farley has a policy that forbids opposing media to speak with his players the week of the game.

Hmmmm..  Pitt bent over backwards to make sure I could get someone to get quotes from.  So did Michigan State last season.  I guess those teams aren’t as big as Northern Iowa in their coaches eyes.

All week long, Eric Wolford said his YSU Penguins would not look past Albany.  The Penguins were focused enough to pull out a 31-24 win.  The Penguins jumped to 3-0 and like Aronde Stanton said at the postgame press conference, any win is a good win.

“Albany did a good job coming in to play hard, they are well-coached “, said Wolford.  “You can see why the coach has been there for 40 years.  I was encouraged that we found a way to come away with a win in the fourth quarter.  In any championship run, there is always a game like this.”

YSU started the game with the ball.  After picking up two quick first downs, Kurt Hess found Will Shaw for a 20-yard completion, but Shaw was blindsided and coughed up the pigskin.  Albany capitalized on a flea-flicker that saw Cole King haul in a 44-yard scoring toss from Will Fiacchi.

Trailing 7-0, the Penguins offense responded quickly.  Jamaine Cook (above) scored the first of three first half rushing touchdowns.  This one would come from two yards out and capped a 10-play, 87 yard drive.

Albany would respond quickly to tie the game at 14 when Omar Osbourne rattled off a nice 32-yard touchdown run.

YSU started their next drive with nine minutes left in the half.  The Penguins offense would cover 7 yards in 11 plays to reclaim the lead on a Cook 7-yard tally.

Albany would score with nine seconds left in the half to tie the game at 21.  Drew Smith caught a Fiacchi pass in the left flats and got into the end zone almost untouched for the Great Danes.

After both teams failed to convert their initial second half drives, Kyle Sirl sacked Fiacchi on third down to halt the next Great Danes possession.

“I started the season as a two and knew that everyone had to contribute”, said Sirl.  “It was great to contribute, and it was a lot of fun.”

YSU (3-0) would build off of that momentum and take a 24-21 lead with 2:15 left in the third quarter.  Extra point specialist David Brown got to kick a field goal, from 25 yards to pull the Guins in front.  The field goal capped a 12-play 70 yard drive that chewed up 6:48.

With Albany on the move again, Sirl came up big for the second time in the half with another third down sack to stop a drive.  On the next drive, Sirl would have a hurry in what was turning into his best game ever.

“We needed to play tougher and hit them”, said Sirl.  “That was the big adjustment at half. ”

“Kyle [Sirl] is a guy that has been in the program.  He isn’t the flashiest guy, he is an overachiever”, said Wolford.  “He deserves all of the accolades for his hard work.”

Ali Cheaib blocked a punt for the second consecutive week.  The blocked punt would set YSU up at the Albany 29 with just over five minutes left in the game.  With 2:48 left in the game, YSU would ice the contest when Torrian Pace went off of left tackle for a one-yarder to make it 31-21.

Albany would kick a field goal to make it 31-24, but Dale Peterman fielded the onside kick attempt with :56 left in the game to seal the win for the Penguins.

Cook had his best game of the year for the Penguins.  The senior tailback had 33 carries for 161 yards and three touchdowns.

Hess finished the contest 15-22 for 183 yards.  He showed maturity and poise more than once on third down plays in the second half.  Hess also had five rushes for 26 yards.

“It  was a fight.  Jermaine and I saw that from the beginning”, said Hess.  “We responded and got a win.  It is going to help us.  They were a very disciplined football team.”

Fiacchi was 23-35 for 28 yards and two touchdowns.  Cole King caught seven passes for 115 yards.

The Penguins open Missouri Valley Conference play next week when Northern Iowa comes to town.  Northern Iowa lost to Iowa this week.

In the Winter of 2008, I had to have a hip replacement.  The down time I had to endure meant a lot of sitting around with nothing to do except watch reruns of Two And A Half Men and a bunch of game shows.

A friend of mine, Ethan Jaynes, who operated a blog called NESW sports, asked me to write a couple of posts.  When those stories did well, Jaynes hooked me up with the knowledge I would need to run my own site, Paneech.com.

In the time since, I have made a bunch of good friends and probably a few enemies too.

Fast forward to September of 2012.  I am working a 40-hour-a-week job, and still trying to keep up with this website.  Sometimes the posts seem scant, but that is because of the time constraints I have to deal with.

On of the biggest events I was lucky enough to cover was the dedication of Dave Grohl Boulevard in Warren.  I was interviewing Jen Campbell, the organizer of the event, in a side building as warm-up bands were wailing away outside.

Suddenly, on the third question of the interview, the door opens, and it is Dave Grohl.  He looks at us, the only two people in the room, and asks, “Am I early?”

Campbell had to run and gather some folks which left me solo with Grohl, who offered me a Budweiser.  We talked about everything from the steel industry to Wedgewood Pizza, to Kurt Cobain, to how often he sneaks back to this area to visit family.

It was the biggest, ‘right place at the right time’, moment in my life.

I have caught some good breaks to gain access.  My first real coverage was of the Youngstown Thunder Arena Football team.  Those games were a lot of fun and I was able to develop my first player profile interviews while I was there.  Thanks to Anthony Farris for a chance.

The next break to fall into my lap was the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.  Marc Means and Dave Smith, the GM at the time, were instrumental in getting me the trial year of credentials.  The Scrappers, now functioning on the watch of Jordan Taylor, are fun because of the themes, the wrestling, the fireworks, and the personalities you meet who deal with baseball as a way of life every day.

Youngstown State University is something I never thought I would want to cover.  Too much stuff going on.  I wanted to give football a shot, so for the 2009 season, Jon Heacocks’s last,  Trevor Parks gave me that chance.  Call it good timing because nobody but WFMJ and Pete Mollica cared about the football program which seemed to be spiraling negatively.

I took a real liking to the way that the YSU people do things.  There were not too many media people who bet Jerry Slocum would still be around.  I got to know Slocum a little better than some and am glad he has found his niche here.

Covering Cindy Martin was tough because when a team goes 0-30, it is hard to ask many questions with positive answers.  Bob Boldon and his staff have picked up the slack in a big way and made that program fun.

When Ron Strollo hired Eric Wolford for the 2010 season, he made the best possible choice for the university to rekindle a program known for its strong tradition.  Strollo has been fantastic and has seemed to make all of the right moves in the past couple of years.

Wolford is destined for bigger things.  I do not know how long he will be here, hopefully until he retires, but he makes no bones about being an SEC guy and by getting all of the good experience as a head coach here, Wolford will make a jump to a D-I school within the next few years.

Kelly Pavlik was getting recognition for beating Jermain Taylor a couple of times when I got to sit with him and chat.  Still active and back on the rise, The Ghost has provided some huge moments for this site.  Everything from title defenses to a bitter separation with Jack Loew, and no mention of foul play or substance abuse here.  No reason to.

Jake Giuriceo seems to be the next thing to emerge as a televised boxer from Youngstown.  This kid is so laid back, so spiritual, and so focused, that anyone who talks with him would be hard-pressed not to root for him.

As the website continues to progress, I remain focused on trying to be entertaining and informative without the demise factor.  There is enough positive in the Youngstown area to avoid all of the negative.

So to Larry Holmes, the Youngstown Phantoms, 38 Special, Ron Stevens, and Pete Rose.  Thanks for the roles you have played here at Paneech.com!

When the YSU Penguins take the field for their Saturday contest against Albany, they will be attempting to go to 3-0 for the first time in seven years.  Albany is coming to Youngstown, also undefeated, at 2-0, and has similar aspirations of winning.  The Great Danes were a playoff team last season and are the preseason pick to win the Northeast Conference.

“They have had the same coach for a very long time”, said Eric Wolford.  “They are a fundamentally sound football team that is very good at running the football, I think they are averaging 250 yards a game.  We cannot, and will not, look past them.  They are a playoff team, they are coming here undefeated, and they must be doing something right to have all of that success.”

Albany, which has posted wins over Colgate (40-23) and Robert Morris (35-10) believe they have a punchers chance in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

Drew Smith, a senior running back, is one of the main components of the Great Danes offense and has tasted the fruits of hard work over the past couple of seasons.

“We can win this game”, said Smith via telephone.  “Youngstown State is a very good team, but we are better than Pitt and Valpo.  We have to execute, come out early, and hit them in the mouth, let them know we are here to play football.”

Smith was very complimentary of Youngstown State and cited all of the tradition but says his team is looking at this chance as their Super Bowl.

“For us, it is one of the biggest games in our history.  These are the big boys on our schedule.  We are trying to gain respect.  YSU is a great program with a good history and four National Championships.  We do have a chip on our shoulders to prove we are a good team and want to win.”