MONQUANTAE GIBSON First trip to end zone just the beginning

The tailback has managed to deal with complications from an youth injury.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Monquantae Gibson is happy with his new surroundings at Youngstown State University.
Last spring, the 6-0, 205-pound sophomore tailback, a Louisville, Ky. native, transferred to YSU from the University of Kentucky.
He's made an immediate impact on the YSU offense and has had two straight 100-plus yards rushing efforts in the Penguins' last two games.
Gibson missed the season opener with Slippery Rock because of a shoulder injury.
"I hurt my shoulder on the final day of two-a-day practices this fall and it set me back a little and I missed the opener. But I'm healthy now and feeling good," Gibson said.
Against Florida International, he rushed for 122 yards on 22 carries and added 168 yards on 23 tries last Saturday against McNeese State.
Top rusher
Gibson has taken over the team lead in rushing with 290 yards on 45 carries and one touchdown.
That one TD came Saturday on a 67-yard run against McNeese, which Gibson said was special.
Watching him run for the touchdown, it appeared as if he was dragging his left leg once he broke into the clear.
"I hurt my leg while playing little league football years ago," Gibson said.
"Over the years, there has been so much calcium built up on it that doctors said there's nothing they can really do. I've learned to live with it and I knew when I broke open that I'd still be able to make to the end zone."
Gibson, who made his first start of the season against the Cowboys, will be back in the starting lineup Saturday when the Penguins (1-2) play host to Liberty University (1-2) at 6 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.
Gibson said that he was always aware of the football that Youngstown State played and new of their reputation for being a great running team.
When Kentucky switched head football coaches after his freshman season, Gibson felt that he needed to make a change.
"One of my teammates was from Cleveland and he was a teammate of YSU's Jamal Lee," Gibson said. "Jamal told him that YSU was losing two good running backs and was looking for another one.
Good fit
"That was all I needed to hear and as it turned out it was a good move for me," Gibson said.
"I love this place, and my teammates. We have a great offensive line and outstanding quarterbacks and it's exciting to play with them every week.
"I expect a lot of myself, but a running back is only as good as his offensive line and we have a good one here at Youngstown," Gibson said. "We made way too many mistakes last week and we've got to get better and we will get better.
"We've got one more game before the Gateway season begins and that's what is going to count for us -- making the playoffs or not," Gibson said.
"We've lost to two very good football teams, but we still should have won both games."
mollica@vindy.com