YSU FOOTBALL Bracken: Defense improving

Mike Bracken, YSU's strong safety, said the Penguins' defense showed improvement in last week's 24-17 win over SMS.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mike Bracken is typical of the players who compose Youngstown State's defensive football team.
The 6-foot, 208-pound strong safety is happy the way the defense is playing, but at the same time he knows they can do better.
Bracken and his defensive teammates felt much better about their last outing, a 24-17 victory over Southwest Missouri State on Saturday.
Both of the SMS touchdowns came by virtue of YSU's offensive mistakes, and the defense allowed just a field goal in four quarters.
"We haven't been a good defensive team the first three games this season," Bracken said. "We got better last week, but now we want to show that we can be a great defense."
Five turnovers
The YSU defense forced five turnovers against the Bears last week, which were two more than it had produced in the first three games.
"Turnovers is what it's all about on defense, and we are working hard every day so that we can produce more of them," Bracken added.
The Penguins (2-2, 1-1 Gateway Conference) will return home this Saturday after two weeks on the road. They will face Indiana State (2-3, 0-0) in a 7 p.m. kickoff at Stambaugh Stadium.
Bracken, a native of Imperial, Pa., says that he's felt good about the Penguins' defense since spring practice.
"You could just see it coming together back then, and we felt with a lot of hard work that we could be a pretty good unit," he added.
Visit sealed decision
"Coach [Pete] Rekstis came down to see one of our games when we played over at Ellwood City," Bracken said. "I came up to one of their games later and when I saw what went on here, I just knew that this is where I wanted to play my college football."
Bracken said that the defense isn't at all concerned about having to play a big role in this season's success.
"We knew coming into the season that we were the veteran unit, and that we would have to lead the way," he said. "That doesn't bother us in the least bit, and we know that the offense is starting to come around now."
Bracken says that he's always been impressed with freshman red-shirt quarterback Aaron Marshall, who has taken over the No. 1 quarterback role for the Penguins.
"I can remember back in spring practice chasing him all over the field," he added. "He's a good one and I really like what he's doing for the offense."
First two years
Bracken, who played his high school football at West Allegheny High, was a red-shirt his freshman season in 2000. Last year he played in all 11 games and had 16 tackles, including 10 solo stops, including four tackles each in the season's final two games against Elon and Marshall. He also had a sack against Western Illinois and a tackle for a loss against Southwest Missouri State.
This year, he's tied for fifth on the team in tackles with 19, and last week against Southwest Missouri State came up with his first career interception. He also had a pass deflection in that contest.
Imperial is just outside of Pittsburgh, near the Pittsburgh Airport.
"We are just one exit down from the airport off Route 60," Bracken said.
mollica@vindy.com