YSU FOOTBALL Sean Guerriero's duties not limited to offense

He was named special teams award winner for the Indiana State game.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- If anybody knows the importance of special teams play to a football team it's Youngstown State senior Sean Guerriero.
Guerriero, who is also a starting wide receiver, is on almost all of the Penguins' special units and his play there last Saturday in a 35-21 win over Indiana State earned him the MVR Club's special teams player of the game award.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound graduate of Poland High enjoys participating on special teams.
"Special teams play is entirely different from playing on offense," Guerriero said. "On offense there is a lot more thinking involved, while on special teams it is mostly just attack."
Guerriero's play has helped the Penguins to a 4-1 record, including 2-1 in the Gateway Conference, and YSU plays host to Southwest Missouri State Saturday.
Special teams have been important this season, as the Penguins have returned one kickoff for a touchdown and blocked two punts, and one of those was returned for a score.
Guerriero said that the play of the special teams was better early in the season.
"We came out real strong at the beginning of the year and we were making some big plays, but that sort of came to a halt and we've got to get after it again," he said.
"Coach [Jon] Heacock said that we've got to get back to fundamentals, working on coming out of our stance and finding our man and things like that," he continued.
The Penguins are ranked fourth in I-AA in kickoff returns, but just three weeks ago they were the No. 1.
Guerriero is tied for the team lead in pass receptions with junior Jerald Burley with 11 catches. He has 118 yards, averaging 10.7 yards per reception.
Penguin family: Guerriero, whose older brothers Pat (1979-82) and Greg (1986) also played at Youngstown State, was redshirted in 1997. The following season he caught six passes and in 1999 he had five receptions. Last season Guerriero was tied for second-best on the team with 15 catches, including two touchdowns. He caught a 58-yard pass against Richmond in a playoff game.
"Offensively we've just got to keep taking steps forward," he said. "Again, we have to go back and work hard on fundamentals, making sure we take the right steps and run the right routes and if we do that I think we'll be all right."
Guerriero believed last weekend's 35-point performance at Indiana State was a step in the right direction.
"After coming off a disappointing performance against Northern Iowa we wanted to come out and put points on the board early," he added. "Our offensive line has performed very well and that has really helped us get the job done."