Heacock bids farewell to 18 seniors

By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Saturday afternoon, when Youngstown State football coach Jon Heacock bids farewell to 18 senior players, he expects it to be a difficult time.
Heacock and the Penguins will wind up the 2002 season with a 1 p.m. kickoff against Samford University at Stambaugh Stadium.
The Penguins (6-4) have not fulfilled their expectations for this season and are out of contention for the I-AA playoffs for the second straight season.
But Heacock isn't disappointed with the effort he has received from his seniors, especially these final three games when they knew they were playing only for pride and tradition.
"It would have been easy for them to have give up and just play out the year, but they are not that way," Heacock said. "They have been working just as hard these last three weeks as they have from the beginning of the year."
The 18 seniors will be introduced prior to the start of Saturday's contest along with their parents.
Playing their final game
This year's seniors were free safety Anthony Barone, wide receiver Jerald Burley, linebacker Brandon Byers, linebacker Justin Dellarose, offensive tackle Andy DeNiro, tight end Dennis Dlugosz, defensive end Tim Frost, quarterback Justin Green, punter Kosta Karapetsas, tailback P.J. Mays, defensive tackle Guy Mazard, defensive tackle Matt Mechling, defensive lineman Wendell Parrish, tight end John Schumacher, defensive end Martin Stachowicz, linebacker Colby Street, linebacker Russell Stuvaints and linebacker Jon Tekac.
"These guys are really what this program is all about," Heacock said.
And all 18 seniors have contributed to this year's success, some more than others, but all have helped.
Mays, the tailback from Youngstown, probably has been the most noticeable since he's led the Penguins in rushing and scoring with 1,147 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The former East High standout, who transferred to YSU from Cincinnati, is in his third season as the starting tailback. He needs just two touchdowns to become the all-time career leader in the Gateway Conference.
Tekac, a middle linebacker, has been the standout on the defensive side of the football. The former Wilmington Area High star, has been a starter for three seasons and this year has made 100 tackles, including 17 of them for losses and six quarterback sacks, all team highs.
Tekac has had plenty of help on defense, also from seniors, led by the entire front defensive line of Mazard, Mechling and Stachowicz, and his two outside linebackers in Dellarose and Stuvaints.
The Penguins have eight senior starters on defense and just three on offense.
Expects tough game
Heacock doesn't expect to have an easy time Saturday against the Bulldogs (4-6), who are explosive team on offense.
"They are going to throw the football 95 percent of the time on Saturday and they have some outstanding skill people to do that," Heacock said. "Our defense is going to be tested again."
"They are going to come out and try to outscore us, we've got to be able to slow them down," he added.
Even though the playoff possibilities are gone for this season, Heacock said that what's important Saturday is have his seniors finish on a strong note.
"They have the opportunity to win their last three games and finish 7-4 and that will be a tribute to this outstanding group, who have worked so hard all season long," he said.
mollica@vindy.com