Seniors' finale has much at stake

The Penguins need to beat Western Kentucky to keep their playoff hopes alive.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Saturday is senior day at Stambaugh Stadium , where 19 YSU players will compete in their final home football game.
The Penguins (7-3, 4-2 Gateway) face a crucial battle with Western Kentucky (6-3, 4-2) in a must-win game for both teams.
The winner probably will advance to the Division I-AA national playoffs while the loser will be out of contention.
Both teams have lost two consecutive games, both to the same teams. The Penguins are coming off losses to Northern Iowa, 21-7, and Southern Illinois, 31-17, while the Hilltoppers lost to Southern Illinois, 31-20, and Northern Iowa, 23-20, in two overtimes.
YSU coach Jon Heacock knows the importance of Saturday's game, and he's happy to be at home since the Penguins' last two losses came on the road.
"This is definitely a pressure game, but I love pressure," Heacock said. "That's what this game is all about and we have to go into it playing at the highest level we can.
"This is a big time game and you've got to compete on every single snap out there," Heacock said.
Dominant at home
YSU is 5-0 in Stambaugh Stadium this season, but they are going against a team they haven't defeated since 1990.
"It's good to be back at home," Heacock said. "I have a special feeling about playing at home. I have a special feeling about this place."
The 19 seniors who will be playing their final home game also are very special to Heacock since they represent his first recruiting class at YSU.
Of the 19, nine are fifth-year seniors while two of them, tailback Josh Cayson and offensive lineman Jamal Lee, could return next season if they meet NCAA degree requirements.
The other seniors are linebacker Mike Andrews, offensive lineman John Bartos, defensive end Brandon Brown, tight end Shawn Carlson, long snapper Tanner Dunlap, wide receiver Jameson Evans, fullback Nick Forro, defensive back Herb Jones, defensive end Joe Juby, offensive lineman Tony Limongi, tight end Aaron Marshall, tight end Brian Radakovich, defensive back Aaron Scales, defensive end Justin Scholes, wide receiver Kyle Smith, defensive back Brian Wisecarver and wide receiver Damian Wright.
"This group is a little more special to me, because it was our first recruiting class," Heacock said. "It's a diverse group coming from all areas, high school, junior college and Division I-A transfers."
Running woes
Heacock said the Penguins must correct the mistakes they've made the past two games.
"We have to find a way to move the football," he said. "We're playing against the league's best defense and we're going to have to be able to run the football.
"I thought our defense played extremely well last week, much improved over the Northern Iowa game," Heacock said. "But it's going to come down to us being able to run the ball and our defense being able to stop the run."
The Penguins are banged up on both sides of the football, but more so on offense.
Offensive linemen Pat Walker, Ryan Jewell and Josh Tanner have all been injured, but only Jewell appears out of Saturday's game.
"This is the home finale and anybody that's able to walk is going to say he's ready to play on Saturday," Heacock said.
Sophomore quarterback Tom Zetts is nursing a hamstring pull but is expected to play. Zetts is coming off a career-best 291-yard passing effort against Southern Illinois with two touchdown passes.
YSU hasn't been to the I-AA playoffs since 2000, Jim Tressel's last season as coach. A win Saturday would give the Penguins a chance to return to the playoffs.
mollica@vindy.com