Penguins return to I-AA Top 25 ranking

Youngstown State made its first appearance since 2002 at No. 22.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- For the first time in three seasons Youngstown State football team is in the Sports Network I-AA top 25.
The Penguins, who improved to 4-1 with a 20-17 victory over Illinois State Saturday in its Gateway Conference opener, were ranked 22nd in this week's poll released Monday.
YSU's ranking gives the Gateway four teams in the I-AA top 25, as Southern Illinois (2nd), Western Kentucky (3rd) and Northern Iowa (7th) have been ranked all season long.
The Penguins were last in the top 25 on Oct. 21, 2002 when they were ranked 18th in the ESPN/USA Today poll and 23rd in the Sports Network poll.
The following week YSU lost to Western Illinois 19-0 and despite finishing the season with three wins and a 7-4 record were not in the Top 25 again.
Smith tops on offense
Wide receiver Kyle Smith, who has caught a pass in the last 26 games he has played in for the Penguins, headlined this week's Hill, Barth and King players of the week.
The 6-foot, 170-pounder senior from San Diego, Calif., was the offensive player of the game after pulling down seven passes for 97 yards and a touchdown.
His longest was the 21-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Tom Zetts.
Smith is only two games short of the Penguins consecutive game streak record which stands at 28 by Jeff Patterson from 1980-82.
The defensive player of the game was junior cornerback Jason Perry.
The 5-8, 160 pounder from Warrensville Heights finished with nine tackles, including one for a loss, and also had a pass breakup as the YSU defenders picked off four passes in the contest, three in the final eight minutes which enabled redshirt freshman Brian Palmer to kick two field goals that provided the winning margin.
Special teams honors went to junior tailback Justin Reams of Miami, Fla.
The 5-11, 190-pound Reams was outstanding on both the kickoff and punt teams, coming up with several key stops against the Redbirds.
Jewell, Juby top linemen
The Jim Zdelar Offensive Lineman of the game was junior center Ryan Jewell of Warren.
The 6-4, 290-pounder who played at Warren Harding High, anchored the offensive line which accounted for over 300 yards of offense.
The Jermaine Hopkins Defensive Lineman of the game was senior defensive end Joe Juby of Garfield Heights.
The 6-0, 270-pounder came up with four tackles along with a key interception that snuffed out Illinois State's final drive in the closing minute of play at the YSU 35-yard line.
Terry gets double honor
Sophomore linebacker James Terry of Stafford, Va., was a double award winner this week.
The 6-2, 220-pounder led the Penguins with 13 tackles on the night and any one of them could have qualified for the Wash-on-Wheels Derrick Pixley Hit of the week.
He was also selected as the Haines Family Player of the Game by the YSU radio broadcast team.
mollica@vindy.com