Zetts takes control in the clutch

The QB engineered the comeback from a 31-21 deficit.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- If someone had told Youngstown State quarterback Tom Zetts before Saturday's playoff opener against James Madison that he would throw 40 passes, he probably would have laughed.
Youngstown State never throws the football that many times in a game, and if they have to, it usually is a game that they lose.
But Zetts had a feeling that the Penguins might have to do a little more throwing against the Dukes -- but not 40 passes more.
Zetts, wide receiver T.J. Peterson and a talented offensive line took the Penguins 88 yards in the final four minutes Saturday night, as YSU defeated James Madison, 35-31, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championships.
The 6-1, 210-pound Zetts, a Boardman native who watched the Penguins compete for national titles when he was younger, made the most of his first post-season opportunity.
He was 24-for 40 for 314 yards and one touchdown.
Plus, he didn't throw an interception and was not sacked the entire game.
"Tommy stepped up when we needed him," YSU coach Jon Heacock said.
"There were a lot of guys who stepped up in those final four minutes, but what he did was just tremendous."
Zetts responds
The Penguins fell behind 31-21 at the start of the fourth quarter before Zetts, who also played well during the first three quarters, took over the game.
The rally came after three straight offensive series during which they were forced to punt.
Defensive back Jason Perry helped set up the first score of the comeback when he returned a punt 24 yards to the YSU 48-yard line.
Zetts began quickly, hitting Peterson with a 22-yard pass on first down.
He then found junior tight end Louis Irizarry for 18 more to the Dukes' 9-yard line.
On second down from the 8-yard line, Zetts rolled out left, then found Peterson wide open in the end zone.
Defense delivers
Then the defense came through.
Battered most of the game by a potent James Madison offense that totaled 394 yards, the defense started slowly as the Dukes moved up-field quickly, sparked by a 43-yard run by Alvin Banks to the YSU 21.
There, the Penguins' defense stiffened as James Madison managed nine yards on its next three plays.
On fourth down from the 12, Dukes' quarterback Justin Rascati, who led the team in rushing with 98 yards, tried a keeper, but the Penguins were ready.
Junior linebacker Rashod Cotton and senior linebacker Marty Hutchinson were there to stop Rascati for no gain, and the Penguins took over.
Zetts didn't start the final drive well as he overthrew his first two passes.
Then the Penguins had a delay-of-game penalty, putting the ball back at their own 7.
But on third down, Zetts and Peterson connected for a clutch 30-yard pass play, and then things began to happen.
YSU got a break on a third-and-6 situation from the Dukes 48 when James Madision was called for pass interference on Peterson.
Mason takes over
Zetts completed three more passes and then turned things over to senior tailback Marcus Mason, who is among the leading rushers in all of Division I football.
Mason was held in check most of the night, but the standout carried on the final four plays, including a big 10-yard run that put the ball at the JMU 6.
Two plays later, he crashed over from a yard out and the Penguins had their first lead since the opening half.
Again, the defense came up with some clutch efforts.
When junior linebacker James Terry stopped Rascati two yards short of the first down marker on fourth down, the Penguins had their first playoff victory in seven years.
Saturday at 6 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium, the Penguins will play Illinois State, a team they defeated 27-13 in a Gateway Conference matchup earlier this year.
That victory game started the Penguins on their run to the Gateway Championship and the playoffs.
mollica@vindy.com