Penguins show they can move

Youngstown State University's young football team might just have come of age Saturday in Terre Haute, Ind., following its 45-0 rout of Indiana State.
The contest was one the Penguins were supposed to win, but the way they won was even more impressive than expected.
The Penguins went into the contest expecting to be able to move the football against the Sycamores, but it was the shutout performance by the defense that made the win that much more impressive.
Yes, this was the same Indiana State team that scored 28 points two Saturdays ago against Western Kentucky, the No. 3 ranked team in the I-AA national poll.
The was the same Indiana State team which was averaging nearly 400 yards a game in offense, but the Penguins totally dominated on defense which led to the rout.
The Sycamores are not a good team, which makes their performance against Western Kentucky even more suspect as to just how good the Hilltoppers really are.
Northern Iowa's loss at home to Missouri State now means that the Penguins won't have any easy time against the Bears, when they clash on Oct. 23 in the Penguins' annual homecoming contest.
YSU home next two weeks
The Penguins have two straight home contests coming up, first on Saturday against Western Illinois and then against Missouri State, before going up against the Gateway Conference's supposedly "Big 3" -- Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky -- in the final three games.
Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois will be on the road and only the Western Kentucky game will be at Stambaugh in the regular season final.
The Penguins offensive performance against the Sycamores was impressive, but watching the contest you could almost feel that if could have been even better.
YSU totaled 567 yards, their best offensive effort of the season as was their 379 rushing yards. They also held onto the football for nearly 15 more minutes than the Sycamores -- that's practically one whole quarter of the game.
The YSU offensive line was outstanding, especially opening holes for running backs Marcus Mason, Monquantae Gibson, Justin Reams and Jabbari Scott.
It was also good to see the Penguins' two veteran offensive lineman Pat Walker and Josh Tanner get their first taste of game experience this year. Walker and Tanner, both starters a year ago, have missed the team's first five games recuperating from injuries sustained a year ago. They give much needed depth to the line, which has played very well in spite of their absence, but can only get better now that they are back.
The Penguins may be which of senior wide receiver Kyle Smith this week as he aggravated an arm injury that had bothered him early this season. Smith still managed to extend his consecutive game streak where he has caught at least one pass for the last 27 games he has played.
In fact, the Penguins wasted little time in helping him extend that streak as sophomore quarterback Tom Zetts hit the senior standout on the Penguins' first offensive play for an 11-yard gain.
Zetts better than average
Zetts, by the way, had a little better than average day against the Sycamores, for the little time that he played.
Once the Penguins jumped out to a 35-0 halftime lead, there was little need to take any chances with their standout, who finished 13-for-16 for 129 yards while getting sacked once. Backup quarterback Vince Gliatta got some extended game time and delivered two touchdown passes.
But it was still the defense which shined on Saturday, holding the Sycamores to just 59 total rushing yards. It's true that Indiana State is not a rushing team, but the fact that the Penguins held them to 56 total offensive plays and 10 punts was outstanding.
Sophomore linebacker James Terry had perhaps one of his best games, playing all over the field, recording two sacks and some tackles that were heard all over the stadium.
With five games remaining the Penguins are right where they expected to be at 5-1, 2-0 Gateway.
But the real test lies ahead, beginning Saturday with Western Illinois.
XPete Mollica covers YSU athletics for The Vindicator. Write him at mollica@vindy.com.