Penguins faced with winning them all

The season didn't end for the Youngstown State football team Saturday, although many fans feel it has and it could end very shortly if things don't get turned around.
Not many people outside the Penguins' locker room thought that YSU was going to beat Western Illinois, but I don't think anybody though the Penguins would get blown away, 54-20, by the Leathernecks.
Five lost fumbles had a lot to do with the outcome.
Turnovers have been costly to the Penguins this season and played a huge role in all three of their defeats.
No way to start
The Penguins have had 16 turnovers in the first seven games, but the four lost fumbles in the first quarter Saturday was the worst start anyone can ever remember for the Penguins.
When you are down 24-0 in the first minute of the second quarter to the No. 2 ranked team, the chances of pulling out a victory are slim and none.
Yet, behind the play of junior quarterback Matt Rycraft the Penguins did mount a comeback and, if it wasn't for the fifth and final lost fumble, there's no telling what might have happened on Saturday.
Sophomore Aaron Marshall, who lost two fumbles in his first three series, was 2-of-10 passing for a minus-2 yards and had 5 yards on six rushing attempts, has been the starter in all seven games.
Rycraft, who has seen limited action until Saturday, is a gutsy player, who loves to run the ball and is good at it as his 152 yards on 21 carries and two-touchdown performance Saturday showed.
He also completed 6-of-10 passes for another 85 yards and a touchdown.
Marshall is a talented athlete, but so is Rycraft and next week, when the Penguins go on the road for their first Gateway road contest at Indiana State, it might just be the right time for Rycraft to take over the offense.
Assertive
While Marshall was tentative in his play against the Leathernecks, Rycraft was not. He hurled his body for the Penguins' final touchdown in the fourth quarter, diving the final 3 yards.
Rycraft wants to play and he doesn't even care where, but after Saturday, quarterback is the most likely spot for him.
Western Illinois All-American linebacker Lee Russell had high praise for Rycraft after the game.
"He's a heck of a runner and I can't believe how fast he is," Russell said. "He drove us nuts out there."
The Penguins are expected to win at Indiana State this Saturday and they had better do it in convincing style, or the attendance could drop even farther than it did this week.
A crowd of 14,218 was more than disappointing against the Leathernecks. It was disgraceful.
It was a marquee game in the Gateway and the Leathernecks were the No. 2 rated team in the country.
Take away the four early fumbles and who knows what might have happened.
Marshall appeared intimidated by the Leathernecks early and that could have been a reason for his fumbles.
The sophomore has been adequate this season, but has been so inconsistent and hasn't really been the one to make the Penguins' offense go.
The challenge
The Penguins have five games remaining and, if they have any intentions of battling for the Gateway title or making the playoffs, they have to win them all.
A 9-3 record would mean a playoff berth, anything less as Jim Tressel would say "and you can start your Christmas shopping early."
XPete Mollica covers YSU athletics for The Vindicator. Write to him at mollica@vindy.com.