Rowan leads Red Team to victory in annual YSU game

By Pete Mollica

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State junior quarterback Todd Rowan is still undefeated in the spring.

The LaBrae High graduate led the Red Team to a 15-0 victory over the White on Friday night in the 36th annual Red and White spring football game at Stambaugh Stadium.

Rowan, who had much better statistics in his first two spring games, still got the job done as he tossed a first-half touchdown pass to freshman Josh Lee and finished the game completing 11 of 16 passes for 92 yards.

The crowd of about 1,200 included YSU Hall of Fame member Ron Jaworski, who spent 17 years in the National Football League and is an analyst on the ESPN Monday Night Football crew.

Jaworski addressed the team before the game and then took part in the pregame coin toss.

The Red team, which has now won six straight games in the series, but still trails the White in the overall record 20-16, held a 6-0 lead at halftime.

In the second half the Red added a 27-yard field goal from Boardman native Bob Gratz and then scored when wide receiver Dominique Barnes tossed a touchdown pass to junior Aaron Pitts.

YSU head coach Jon Heacock was pleased with the overall progress the team has made during the spring session.

“The kids had a lot of fun out there tonight, and there were some good solid plays on both sides,” Heacock said. “We took care of the football and we seem to have come out of the spring without any serious injuries. Now we must work hard all summer and get ready for the season.”