Penguins ready for new season

By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- It will be a new season for both Illinois State and Youngstown State when the two teams clash Saturday at Stambaugh Stadium.
The Redbirds and Penguins will meet in the Gateway Conference opener at 6 p.m.
Illinois State has won three straight after dropping its season opener against Division I-A Iowa State.
YSU, on the other hand, opened with three straight wins and then lost to Division I-A Pitt last week.
After losing to the Cyclones 32-21, the Redbirds have posted one-sided victories over Drake (56-19), Eastern Illinois (27-6) and Murray State (42-0).
Redbirds coach Denver Johnson is in his sixth season with a 28-32 record at ISU and a 49-44 overall head coaching record.
Swept conference honors
Last week the Redbirds did something that hasn't been done in the Gateway Conference since 2002. They swept all three player of the week awards for their efforts against Murray State.
Junior running back Pierre Rembert (6-0, 210) was named the offensive player of the week after rushing for 139 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns.
Senior defensive end Brent Hawkins (6-3, 244) was the defensive player of the week. He forced three fumbles, one of which was recovered in the Murray State end zone for a Redbirds touchdown. He recovered another one himself while making eight tackles, four for losses and two sacks.
Senior punter Ryan Hoffman (6-2, 192), only the second I-AA punter nominated for the Ray Guy Award watch, was the special teams player of the week. He averaged 51 yards on four punts including a 67-yarder that was downed on the Murray State 6-yard line.
"I was very pleased with the way we played last week," said Johnson. "We beat a big, physical Murray State team and we did it soundly."
Toughest challenge
His team will face a bigger challenge this week, Johnson said.
"We don't expect to see the same team that lost to Pitt last week," he said. "We know they'll be ready and waiting for us on Saturday."
Rembert was actually filling in for injured starting running back Brian Thompson. The Michigan transfer will start this week again against the Penguins, while Thompson is expected to be ready if needed.
While Rembert and Thompson has led the Redbirds running attack, it has been sophomore quarterback Luke Drone (6-2, 199) that has made the offense click.
In four games he has completed 60 of 114 passes for 893 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions.
His top receiver is junior wide receiver Laurent Robinson (6-2, 193), who has 20 receptions for 394 yards and five touchdowns.
Hawkins is the defensive leader with 4 1/2 sacks, while middle linebacker Cameron Siskowic (6-2, 226, Jr.) leads the team in total tackles with 45.
First major injury
The Redbirds suffered their first major injury of the season last week when sophomore defensive tackle Jarek Thomas (6-2, 290) suffered a season-ending dislocated wrist injury that will require surgery.
While Hoffman handles the punting duties, freshman Kevin Mazur is the placekicker and is 2-for-4 this season on field goals. Both his kicks were from 34 yards and both came against Drake.
The Redbirds have won the last two meetings against YSU, including a 35-25 victory two years ago at Stambaugh Stadium. The Redbirds are 3-3 overall at Stambaugh.