19 play in final contest for YSU

The Penguins hope to end season on a winning note against Western Illinois.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — In its last nine games, Youngstown State has held the lead in every game. But the Penguins have blown double-digit leads in three of those contests and gone on to lose.

Today, the Penguins (6-4, 2-3 Gateway) will close out the season with a home contest against Western Illinois (6-4, 3-2) in a 1 p.m. kickoff at Stambaugh Stadium.

Already this season the Penguins have held a 13-0 lead at Northern Iowa, which they lost 14-13; they led both Southern Illinois and Illinois State 10-0 only to fall 24-17 and 27-22, respectively, costing them any chance at a berth in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

Today’s game will feature 19 seniors on the YSU roster who will be playing their final contest for the Penguins. They will be introduced in a pre-game ceremony.

One of those seniors is captain Tom Zetts, a four-year starter at quarterback from Boardman, who will start the game as the holder of six school records with a seventh in reach.

Zetts is the school career leader in pass completions (631), attempts (1,062), percentage (59.4) and passing yards (7,345).

He threw for 245 yards against Northern Iowa, which was his 12th game of 200 or more, tying him for the school record with Ron Jaworski. Zetts will make his 47th career start at quarterback today, also a school record.

Zetts is one touchdown pass shy of Jeff Ryan’s career record of 50.

“Tom Zetts is just a special guy who works harder than anybody I’ve ever seen and is never satisfied with what he’s done,” said YSU coach Jon Heacock. “He is an outstanding student and works just as hard in the classroom as he does on the football field.”

Elsewhere around the Gateway, Northern Iowa (9-0, 5-0), ranked No. 1 in the FCS poll, will try to wrap up its 13th conference Championship against winless Indiana State (0-10, 0-5) in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

No. 5 Southern Illinois (8-1, 4-1) plays host to Illinois State (4-6, 2-3) and Missouri State (5-5, 2-4) wraps up its season when it plays host to Southeast Missouri State.

Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois are the only two conference teams with games remaining. The Panthers play host to Southern Utah and the Salukis will travel to Hampton Nov. 17.

mollica@vindy.com