Spring game set tonight

The 34th annual Red and White game will begin at 7:30 at Stambaugh.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State football coach Jon Heacock is sorry to see spring football practice come to an end with tonight's Red and White spring game at 7:30 at Stambaugh Stadium.
"Like any coach, you always wish that you had 10 or 15 more practices," Heacock said. "But overall we've been pretty pleased with the progress this group has made.
"I'm hoping that the kids will have a lot of fun tonight in the game."
After last season when the Penguins shared the Gateway Conference championships with Northern Iowa and Southern Illinios, Heacock knows that the Penguins are not going to be sleepers to the other teams in the conference.
"We're not going to hide from the fact that we have a very good group of returning players," Heacock said. "We know that you don't win championships during spring practice, but you can lose it there.
"We haven't lost it this spring," Heacock said. "We have worked extremely hard this spring and prepared very hard and the competitive level has been very high.
Wants players to have fun
Heacock's goal for the spring game is a simple one.
"I want these guys to enjoy themselves, have fun, but to come out healthy," he said.
Tonight's games will consist of two 30-minute (continuous clock) halves. TV timeouts will be at the 15-minute mark of each half and there will be a five-minute halftime.
The final two minutes of the game will follow normal clock procedures. The clock also will stop when the officials deem necessary for injuries or timeouts. The 25-second clock also will be in effect.
All special teams units will be utilized and gameplans will be handed out to each team at 6 p.m.
The Red Team will wear red jerseys and black pants while the White Team will wear white jerseys and red pants.
Red won last three games
This is the 34th annual Red and White Spring Game and the White Team holds a 20-13 advantage. However, the Red Team has won the last three meetings, including a 26-21 victory a year ago.
The contest will be broadcast live on the radio over WBBG-FM (106.1) beginning at 7:15 p.m. with Bob Hannon and Dick Hartzell calling the action.
The contest also will be shown on Fox 17/62 on a tape delay at 11 tonight.
mollica@vindy.com