Area standouts helping Capital

Springfield's Adam Persing and Wilson's Anthony Floyd are starters.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
COLUMBUS -- Two Youngstown area players will be trying to help No. 4-ranked Capital University get past North Central Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Adam Persing, a junior offensive left tackle from Springfield High, and Anthony Floyd, a senior defensive end from Woodrow Wilson, both are starters for Capital (10-1), which will face North Central College (Naperville, Ill.) (9-2) Saturday at noon in Bernlohr Stadium.
It will be a rematch of last year's first-round playoff game won by the Crusaders, 21-19, in Naperville, Illinois.
If Capital wins, the Crusaders may get another shot at the only team to beat them this season, undefeated Mount Union. The Purple Raiders (11-0), who beat Capital back on Oct. 28, 38-12, in Alliance also are in a second-round game Saturday at home to Wheaton (Ill.) (10-1).
Capital is coming off a 32-14 win over Wittenberg last week in the first round, while North Central advanced with a 35-6 win over Concordia (Wis.)
Floyd is two-year starter
Persing, in his first year as a starter, and Floyd, in his second year as a starter after transferring from Muskingum College, both have been standouts this season, and were honored for their play by being named to the All-Ohio Athletic Conference team.
Also on the Capital roster is another Springfield High product, Bill Giblin, a freshman offensive lineman.
Persing was a first-team pick while Floyd made the honorable mention list.
Persing has been an anchor in Capital's offensive line that has helped the Crusaders' offense to rank No. 11 in the nation.
Floyd, who had to miss a year of football after transferring from Muskingum according to OAC rules, registered 36 tackles this year, including 12 for losses and five quarterback sacks.
Collins, Pentello honored
Capital also took two of the top OAC awards. Coach Jim Collins was named OAC Coach of the Year for the third time, while senior quarterback Rocky Pentello was selected as the Mike Gregory Outstanding Offensive Back.
Collins, in his 10th season, led the Crusaders to a school-record 10 wins and a sixth straight winning season.
Pentello has passed for 2,971 yards and an OAC-best 29 touchdown passes which also are a school record.
In fact, Pentello is the most prolific passer in OAC history with 11,915 career passing yards which also rank No. 4 in NCAA Division III history.
SIU's Upthegrove in playoffs
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Jay Upthegrove (Boardman High) is a senior wide receiver on the Southern Illinois University football team, which has advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.
Upthegrove, whose career has been hampered by injuries, is a reserve for the Salukis (8-3), who will be home to Tennessee-Martin (9-2) Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in a first-round playoff game.
Upthegrove has played in five games this season, including last Saturday's 59-0 win over Southern Utah.
Last year, he played in all but one game, mainly on special teams, and made his first career pass catch against Union College.
Upthegrove played in one game in 2004, was red-shirted in 2003 and appeared in eight games in 2002 and made 14 tackles.
kovach@vindy.com