YSU FOOTBALL End of line for seniors against ISU

The team's 13 seniors will play their final home game on Saturday.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Saturday afternoon Youngstown State University will play its final home football game when the Penguins entertain Indiana State University in a 4 p.m. kickoff at Stambaugh Stadium.
It will be the final home game for 13 YSU seniors.
For nine of those seniors it will be the end to a four-year playing career at Stambaugh Stadium, while for the other four, who transferred to YSU from other schools, it will be the end to two or three season careers.
Those seniors who have played their entire careers here include defensive tackle Nate Baston, defensive back Mike Bracken, defensive tackle Matt Briggs, defensive back Herb Jones, offensive lineman Norris Kennedy, wide receiver Phil Larmon, punter Ryan Martino, tight end Mike Roberts and wide receiver Matt Rycraft.
The senior transfers include defensive end Justin Martin (2 years), defensive tackle Matt Porter (2 years), defensive back Steve Reynolds (3 years) and kicker Nick Terracina (2 years).
"This group has been together for a while, but there are some different facets included in there," said head coach Jon Heacock. "We got some transfers in there also, but the thing about this group is that they have been able to come together as a group."
"Football is no longer a game that is built from the ground up, it's a combination of things and transfers play a big role in it today," Heacock said.
"For a senior class to take all the lines out of the sand and build together as a group is so important today and this group has been able to do that," he added.
Unheralded senior
There will be a 14th senior honored on Saturday, one who has only played in one game this season, but is still a valuable asset to the program.
Senior Yancey Marcum, a two-year starter at linebacker and elected one of the two original co-captains to start the season, will be honored with the group.
Marcum suffered an injury in summer weight workouts. After a failed comeback attempt, he elected to give up his senior season.
Marcum is still present at every practice and every game, helping his teammates any way that he can.
"It's been very frustrating for me standing on the sidelines being able to do nothing during the games," Marcum said. "The only help I can give them is my support and whatever I can do to help them during the week in practice."
The Penguins (2-6, 0-4 Gateway) have struggled this season.
"Every week we go out feeling we are the best team out on the field," said Kennedy, who has started for the Penguins on both sides of the football over the past three seasons.
"Our offensive line has come a long way this year and we'll continue to improve over these last three games," he added.
The seniors will be honored along with their parents at a pre-game ceremony at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.