CURBSTONERS Marshallis QB for YSU's season

Coach Jon Heacock was presented a $2,500 contribution from the Curbstone Coaches.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Coach Jon Heacock told the Curbstone Coaches Monday night that his Youngstown State football team finally has resolved its quarterback dilemma.
Heacock, guest speaker at the Curbstone's opening session of the 2002-03 year at the Lockwood House, said that redshirt freshman Aaron Marshall, who directed the Penguins' 24-17 win at Southwest Missouri State last Saturday in his first start, will be the starting quarterback for the rest of the season.
"We will go with Aaron Marshall this week [against Indiana State] and go with him the entire season," said Heacock.
"I really felt that Colby Street [or] Justin Green would be the quarterback, but that didn't pan out."
The YSU staff had a tough time trying to select the right quarterback for the team, said Heacock, but finally settled on Marshall, who threw a touchdown pass against SMS.
Heacock said Marshall has the background of a winner and can run the option well, which will give the Penguins an additional weapon.
"Aaron played in the Catholic League in [Detroit] and led his team [Mt. Carmel High] to the state championship," said Heacock, who noted that he recruited Aaron's brother, Willis Marshall, to YSU. Willis Marshall played with the Penguins from 1994-97.
Is option quarterback
"At the start of the season, he was not ready to be the starting quarterback," said Heacock, who described Marshall as "more of a natural option quarterback, more in the fold of Ray Isaac, a perimeter player, not a drop-back quarterback."
Heacock said Marshall had been playing wide receiver, which the coach believes will help him to be a better quarterback because he has had to learn the offense well.
"That forced him to learn the entire offense, and he has a handle on [it]," said Heacock, who believes the Penguins learned a lesson against SMS -- that they can overcome adversity.
"When bad things happen, we still can have success," he said the team learned.
"No. 1, [we] keep working, sticking together and getting better and better," said Heacock.
Heacock was presented a $2,500 contribution to the YSU Athletic Scholarship Fund from Curbstone president Joe Maxin on behalf of the Curbstone Coaches.
The money was raised from the Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame Banquet.
The Curbstone Coaches will meet again next Monday at 6 p.m. at the Lockwood House to hear guest speaker Pat Saunders of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
kovach@vindy.com