YOUNGSTOWN STATE Linebacker Hutchinson excelled
The Penguins defenders created three turnovers that led to touchdowns.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown State football team played well enough defensively to win Saturday's game at McNeese State.
The difference in the Penguins' 24-20 loss was the seven turnovers committed by the offense.
Linebacker Marty Hutchinson (Newton Falls) led the Penguins' defense.
Hutchinson, who was named the Hill, Barth and King Defensive Player of the Game, led Youngstown State with 11 total tackles, including two for losses, and recovered a fumble and forced a fumble.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound sophomore sparked a defense which allowed three touchdowns, all set up by YSU turnovers, but turned back several other scoring opportunities.
"They just played their tails off," YSU co-defensive coordinator Mike Kolakowski said.
The contest was played in weather that reached nearly 90 degrees, but Kolakowski said that wasn't really a factor.
"We used 19 players on defense in the game and almost everybody got a breather out there," he said.
Scholes stood out
Another defensive standout was defensive end Justin Scholes, a 6-1, 235 pound sophomore from Mentor. He had eight total tackles, including one for a loss, to earn the Jermaine Hopkins Defensive Lineman of the Game award.
A pair of linemen won offensive honors.
Sophomore center Ryan Jewell (6-4, 295) from Warren Harding High was the Hill, Barth and King Offensive Player of the Game.
Sophomore tackle Pat Walker (6-5, 300), of Bedford, was the Jim Zdelar Offensive Lineman of the Game.
The Penguins had 265 yards of offense, but were hampered most of the contest with poor field position.
Costly giveaways
Five times ,the Penguins began drives inside their own 10-yard line and on three of those occasions gave the ball away on turnovers, leading to all three McNeese State touchdowns.
The Penguins used just six offensive linemen during the contest, with Jewell and Walker playing the entire game, along with junior guard Tony Limongi and junior tackle John Bartos.
It was the second straight week Jewell has been honored as he was the Zdelar winner a week ago in the loss to Florida International.
This week's Special Teams award winner was senior placekicker Nick Terracina, who converted field goals measuring 32 and 41 yards and also made both of his extra point attempts.
Terracina, a native of Lake Charles, La., and playing for the first time before his family and friends, also had a successful onside kickoff following YSU's first touchdown.
He hit the kick perfectly and almost recovered it himself, but at the last minute he knocked it away before teammate Bob Perez recovered.
The Wash-on-Wheels Derrick Pixley Hit of the Week was recorded by freshman offensive guard Josh Tanner, (6-3, 300), from Orlando, Fla.
Scholes was also selected as the Haines Family Player of the Game by the YSU radio broadcast team.
This week, the Penguins (1-2) will play host to Liberty University (1-2) at Stambaugh Stadium. Kickoff is 6 p.m. on Saturday.
mollica@vindy.com