Heacock reminded of '90s

YOUNGSTOWN -- Walking up to Youngstown State head football coach Jon Heacock after the game Saturday night, the first thing you noticed was the big smile that was still on his face.
"Kind of reminds you of old times tonight," Heacock said in reference to the Penguins' playoff runs back in the 1990s when they won four national championships and played for two others.
There might be just a little big of magic for the Penguins once they get into the post-season.
And since it hasn't happened since 2000, that first win was a big one and just might be the one they need to get back into the national championship run.
In 1997 and 1999, the Penguins pulled out game after game in the post-season, many times (just like Saturday night) when the outcome looked dismal.
In 1999, the Penguins rallied past Florida A & amp;M in the final minute to pull out a 27-24 win that put them in the national title game. They also had a 30-27 win at Montana in their opening playoff game.
Villanova upsetled to 4th ring
Back in 1997 it was an incredible 37-34 comeback victory over then-No. 1 ranked Villanova that got the Penguins rolling toward their fourth national championship.
The Penguins played well offensively against the Dukes on Saturday before more than 11,000 fans and an ESPN2 national audience, but the defense struggled throughout most of the game.
"That was a very good football team we played tonight," Heacock said.
"You don't know how good they were, we saw then on film and we knew it was going to be a tough struggle."
Heacock and his coaching staff knew that the Penguins might have trouble running the football against the Dukes, and came in ready to throw the football more if necessary.
But 40 passes? (Actually 41 since senior tailback Monquantae Gibson threw one, a 3-yard touchdown pass to Rory Berry).
That pass by the tailback was the first touchdown pass thrown by someone other than the quarterback since the 1979 season when Robby Robson turned the trick.
Zetts real sparklerin Madison dismissal
But Zetts was incredible on Saturday.
He started out quickly hitting his first four passes and six of his first seven.
He was 7-for 10 in the first quarter and 13-of-20 at halftime for 189 yards, which was more than he was averaging on the season.
The Dukes managed to bottle up the YSU running game as Heacock expected. Still Mason scored a pair of touchdowns and came through with some big gains when they needed them at the end.
The victory means that the Penguins will have another home game this Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championships.
Their opponent will be Illinois State, which battled with the Penguins all season for the Gateway Championship.
On Oct. 28, the Penguins posted a 27-13 victory in Normal, Ill. It was probably the best overall game the Penguins played this season.
The defense was unbelievable against the Redbirds, holding them to just 161 total yards and just 18 rushing.
But as Heacock and his staff noted after Saturday's game, it is never easy playing a team for the second time in the same season.
Gateway opponentsalready familiar
Preparation-wise, the game will be an easy one for both teams since they know each other well.
But it is going to take another outstanding effort on both sides of the football if the Penguins want to keep playing.
Defending national champion Appalachian State won its opener easily 45-28 over Coastal Carolina and will host Montana State in the second round.
The winner of the YSU-Illinois State game will play the winner of that game in the semifinals on Dec. 9.
The Penguins still were enjoying their victory Sunday, but then that win will be put on the backburner and preparations begin for the Redbirds today.
It was a good start, but the Penguins feel they are far from finished.
Pete Mollica covers YSU athletics for The Vindicator. Write him at mollica@vindy.com.