Red-White lineups set for Friday game

The teams were drafted Tuesday for the 35th annual contest.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- The teams are set for the 35th annual Youngstown State Spring Red and White game which will be played Friday night at Stambaugh Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
The coaches and seniors held their annual draft Tuesday at the DeBartolo Stadium Club. This year's No. 1 pick in the draft was junior wide receiver Ferlando Williams, who was selected by the Red team.
Doing the selecting for the Red team were seniors Vince Gliatta, James Terry and Josh Tanner. Making the picks for the White team were Tom Zetts, Bobby Perez and Dorian Chenault.
Could become a scrimmage
YSU head coach Jon Heacock is uncertain whether the team will hold a game or revert to another jersey scrimmage between the offense and defense.
"We'll make the final decision [today], but right now it looks like we will have the game as scheduled," Heacock said.
Heacock's concern is injuries the team has suffered thus far in the spring. Eight players will not take part in the contest, including three offensive linemen, three defensive players and a fullback.
"We're pretty thin at several positions," Heacock said. "But right now it looks like we will go ahead as planned. We want to play it for the seniors since this is their last spring and their last Red and White game and it means a lot to them."
Zetts leads White team
Zetts, the fourth year starter at quarterback, will command the White team and he'll have his favorite receiver, senior wide receiver Rory Berry.
What he won't have is the veteran offensive line in front of him as only starter Matt Kishman at tackle and junior tight end Derrick Bush are on his squad.
The White's top running back will be junior Brandon Nicholson while the defense will include starting safeties Chenault and Perez along with starting linebacker Rashod Cotton and defensive linemen Mychal Savage and Blake Halverson.
The Red team will feature four offensive line starters in Tanner, Brad Samsa, Brian Mellott and Bobby Coates along with senior tight end Luis Irizarry.
Senior Tim Dewberry along with sophomore Jabari Scott and redshirt freshmen Jordan Edwards and Gerald Price will man the tailback spot. Redshirt freshman Kyle Banna is the fullback.
Rowan QB for Red team
Sophomore Todd Rowan is the Red quarterback, who last year threw for four touchdowns and more than 200 yards in the spring game.
The Red defense is led by Terry at one linebacker along with Gliatta and Tony Lawrence at the safeties.
Junior kicker Brian Palmer will handle the duties for the Red team and redshirt freshman Stephen Blose will kick for the White squad.
The eight players who will not participate in the contest include senior tackle Tyler Booth, senior linebacker Jeremiah Wright, redshirt freshman Tyler Figueroa and redshirt freshman tackle Jesse Smedi for the Red.
The White team's injury list includes senior defensive tackle Greg Jacob, junior fullback Ben Lane, senior defensive end Maurice Smith-Davis and redshirt freshman offensive tackle Yianni Karvounidis.
The Penguins held a workout Tuesday afternoon and are scheduled to practice today and Thursday.
Since they canceled practice on Monday and they had 35 days to get in their limit of 15 practices, Heacock said that the team may hold a couple of workouts next week after the spring game.
mollica@vindy.com