YSU FOOTBALL Time to push for playoffs is now

The Penguins can't afford another loss.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- It's only the mid-point of the 2004 season, but time is running out for the Youngstown State football team.
The Penguins (2-3, 0-1 Gateway Conference) can't afford another loss if they have any hopes of making the I-AA playoffs, which they haven't done since 2000.
To make matters worse for the Penguins, Saturday's game at Stambaugh Stadium is against Southern Illinois, which is the No. 1 ranked team in I-AA football. Kickoff is 6 p.m.
Latest loss
The Penguins are coming off a disappointing 44-19 loss at Western Kentucky in their Gateway opener last Saturday.
They committed four turnovers, a trend that has hampered the team most of this season.
Against the Salukis (4-1, 1-0) the Penguins will be going into the game not at full strength for the second straight week.
Two starters, sophomore fullback Demetrius Ison and sophomore center Ryan Jewell, will miss their second straight game.
Both have made rapid recovery from shoulder injuries, but are not scheduled to return until next week.
Five other regulars are banged up, but will probably play against the Salukis.
Sophomore tailback Monquantae Gibson, who played only sparingly last week, is still hobbling around, but is expected to play, while sophomore cornerback Jason Perry, the team leader in interceptions, suffered a slightly sprained ankle last week and was still questionable at mid-week.
Redshirt freshman linebacker James Terry has some bruised ribs, while defensive tackle Nate Baston is banged up, but both probably will play Saturday.
Turnover troubles
If that isn't enough of a problem for coach Jon Heacock, there are always the turnovers which have been popping up regularly with the offense (11 of them in two losses against McNeese State and Western Kentucky) and a defense that has allowed over 850 yards the past two games.
"We've got to make some decisions and quickly," said Heacock. "This is a great challenge for our football team."
Southern Illinois does not run a complicated offense.
"They'll run the same plays over and over against you and make you try to stop them," Heacock said.
"The same for their defense, they just line up and play and they play very well."
Heacock has not given up on his team this year.
"I believe in these guys," he said. "I believe in my staff and I believe in me. I still have faith in them, they are a tough bunch of guys and we all believe in what we're doing."
Heacock said that just once he'd like to see his team do all the things they are capable of.
"I'd like to see us play when we take care of the football, while being able to run the football and not giving up the big plays on defense," he said.
History
Southern Illinois is one of the few Gateway contenders that Heacock has fared well against. YSU is 2-1 against the Salukis in his three seasons.
Last year, as the Salukis were rolling to 10 straight wins and a share of the Gateway title, the Penguins gave them a battle before losing 24-17 in Carbondale, Ill.
mollica@vindy.com