Penguins set for first big test

YOUNGSTOWN -- The undefeated Youngstown State football team is heading toward its first major obstacle of the season.
The Penguins (3-0) rolled past Liberty University on Saturday (42-0), but now must play the winless University of Pittsburgh at Heinz Field. The Panthers are 0-3, but they're still a major Division I-A program.
YSU has beaten three teams they were expected to beat and they beat them handily -- like a good football team is expected to do.
But Pitt is another matter. The Panthers are a much stronger football program and will undoubtedly be a double-digit favorite on Saturday.
The Panthers have 25 more scholarship players than the Penguins. They haven't played well this season, but their talent level is way above that of YSU's.
The Panthers also lost to a couple of good Division I-A programs in Notre Dame and Nebraska. They would have defeated the Cornhuskers on Saturday but collapsed in the final seven seconds.
A win over Pittis asking a lot
The Penguins are confident, but asking them to beat Pitt in the first meeting between the teams is asking a lot.
Before the season started, Pitt was ranked in the Top 25 and many felt if YSU could stay within 20 points of the Panthers it would be a good effort.
That spread has probably dropped some, but not a lot. But because of Pitt's slow start, the Penguins might be in a position to make a game of it.
Last Saturday the Penguins played a Liberty team determined to stop the YSU running game, which had demolished its first two opponents.
The Flames came out with eight- and nine-man fronts against the Penguins and stopped the run.
But the Penguins quickly realized the passing game would be open and took advantage.
Sophomore quarterback Tom Zetts was near-perfect, completing 10 of 12 passes for 205 yards and four touchdowns.
YSU's defense allowed more than 70 yards rushing in the first half, but settled down and finished with its third straight game of holding the opposition under 100 yards rushing.
Liberty finished with 53 yards on 33 attempts. YSU had seven tackles for losses and three quarterback sacks, which played a big role in that total.
Other highlightsfrom Saturday's win
Senior wide receiver Kyle Smith caught two passes in the first half to run his consecutive game streak to 25, three short of the school record. Smith suffered a mild concussion near the end of the half and didn't play in the second half.
The shutout was the Penguins' first since blanking Clarion in 2001. It was the first road shutout since 1997 when they blanked Indiana State 31-0.
It was also the sixth straight game the Penguins have scored at least 28 points. The school record is seven, set in 1989.
Senior linebacker Mike Andrews led the defense with 11 tackles and had an interception, while senior defensive end Brandon Brown had seven tackles, including two for losses and two quarterback sacks.
Zetts' four touchdown passes in a game tied the school record, which is also shared by eight other quarterbacks, most recently Jeff Ryan in 2000.
Senior wide receiver Jameson Evans and junior wideout T.J. Peterson each caught their first touchdown pass as a Penguin.
YSU Athletic Director Ron Strollo said this weekend that the Penguins will play Ohio State within the next three seasons, but it won't be next year.
"They will officially announce it soon," Strollo said.
He also said he has talked with every school in the Big Ten about future games and most are interested.
"We could play a lot of teams from all parts of the country, but why fly all the way to the West Coast when we could bus to many of the Big Ten schools?" Strollo said.
Strollo is still working on a big-time money game for next season.
XPete Mollica is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write him at mollica@vindy.com.