Penguins play three of last four on road

Youngstown State takes its 2-5 record to Illinois State Saturday.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- One thing about being on the road for three of the final four games of the season, Youngstown State coach Jon Heacock won't have to face the declining attendance at Stambaugh Stadium.
Last week, as the Penguins dropped a heartbreaker to Northern Iowa, fewer than 10,000 people were in the stands at the start, and only a couple of thousand remained when the Penguins made their fourth quarter comeback.
That comeback, from a 19-7 deficit to a a 20-19 lead over a six minute span, was some of the first real life the Penguins have shown in its last three games, all losses in the Gateway Conference.
Saturday the Penguins will be in Normal, Ill., where they will take on the Illinois State Redbirds at 3:30 p.m. at Hancock Stadium.
Kids deserve better
Concerning the crowd, Heacock said that he felt bad for the kids. "They deserve better".
"The people who were there Saturday are the people who wanted to be there and we certainly appreciate those people," he added.
The Penguins (2-5, 0-3 Gateway), lost after time expired on a 31-yard field goal by Northern Iowa's Brian Wingert, who got a second chance after the Penguins were called for roughing the kicker on the game's final timed play, as Wingert missed a 44-yard field goal attempt.
The Penguins will again be without sophomore tailback Monqantae Gibson, who injured his other shoulder last week in the first offensive series.
Junior Josh Cayson will take over at tailback and sophomore Regis Edgerson will back him up.
Chenault questionable
Also doubtful is redshirt freshman free safety Dorian Chenault, who went down with a knee injury against the Panthers. His status is still day-to-day, but it's unlikely he'll be ready for Saturday.
Heacock says that the Redbirds are a dangerous team, especially an offense that averages over 400 yards a game.
"They are another team built with lots of transfers, and is a team that comes up with the big play when it needs it," said Heacock.
The Redbirds defense is also led by senior linebacker Boomer Grigsby, the two-time defensive player of the year in the Gateway.
The Redbirds (3-3, 1-2) had one game, against Florida Atlantic, postponed because of a hurricane threat. That game, which was supposed to have been played Sept. 25, will be made up on Nov. 20.
Rushing leader
Gibson, who has played less than two quarters in the last three games, still leads the team in rushing with 493 yards on 89 carries. Cayson has 307 yards on 75 tries.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Tom Zetts has passed for 1,111 yards this year, completing 100-of-160 passes for eight touchdowns with five interceptions.
Zetts has spread out his passes with five different receivers having 12 of more catches, led by senior Matt Rycraft with 27 for 277 yards and three touchdowns, and junior Kyle Smith with 18 for 288 yards and two scores.
Defensively, senior strong safety Mike Bracken leads the team with 52 tackles, followed by sophomore linebackers Jeremiah Wright and Marty Hutchinson with 51 and 50, respectively.
Last Saturday was only the second game this season the Penguins did not have a turnover. The only other game was the season-opening win against Slippery Rock.