Rowan grown into QB

By Pete Mollica

His first start will be against No. 2-ranked Ohio State

1111The Braceville native and LaBrae High standout wasn’t about to be choosy about his first game as a starter, but beginning his career against the No. 2 ranked team in the country would be a lot for any veteran to handle, let alone a first timer.

But Rowan isn’t exactly a rookie with the Penguins. Counting his redshirt freshman season, this is his fourth year with the team, although he just hasn’t seen much action at the quarterback spot.

Rowan will make his long-awaited start Saturday afternoon at Ohio Stadium against the Ohio State Buckeyes, a team that has won two straight Big Ten Championships, played in two straight BCS National Championship games and have 19 of 22 returning starters.

Just how does the 6-foot-3, 215-pound junior feel about that?

“Hey, I’m ready to make my start, so it may just as well be against them as anybody else,” Rowan said.

“I’m sure when I get down there on Saturday before the game I’ll be looking around a little bit, but once the game starts all that will be gone,” Rowan said.

Rowan was in Columbus with the Penguins last year, serving as the holder for place kicker Brian Palmer.

For most of the last two seasons, that’s about all that Rowan has done with the Penguins.

He had a stress fracture to his shin as a redshirt freshman and missed a lot of practice time. Then as a sophomore, he hurt the other leg and again was limited to just holding for kicks.

He took snaps at quarterback in just four games and threw only two passes, completing one for eight yards.

He took a total of 31 offensive snaps, 18 of them came against Division II Lock Haven.

He said that being in Columbus last year will be a help to him.

“I know what to expect and I know what the venue is like down there,” Rowan said.

Rowan has missed some practice with a hamstring injury, which he says is fine now.

“Even with the injury, I was able to keep up with all the drills so my timing wasn’t a problem, it’s just adjusting to game situations now,” Rowan said.

The Penguins are employing a new offense, the spread that includes no huddle.

“I really like the no huddle,” Rowan said. “It gives us a full 40 seconds to check out the defense and call our play.

He also is excited about the veteran offensive line in front of him.

“I really feel comfortable with this group in from of me,” he said. “I love having those big guys up there.

Rowan says he doesn’t know what’s going to happen on Saturday.

“I know we’re going to go down there and give it everything we’ve got,” he said. “We are expecting to win, we’re going down there to win and we’re going to do everything we can to win it.”

If for any reason Rowan isn’t ready to make the start against the Buckeyes, junior transfer Brandon Summers is ready and able.

Summers, 6-0, 205 pounder from Southfield, Mich., transferred to the Penguins this spring from the University of Toledo, where he has spent three seasons including a redshirt year in 2005.

Summers played in five games at quarterback his redshirt freshman season, starting games against McNeese State and Pittsburgh. In those games, he was 14-of-23 for 121 yards and a touchdown. He also did some punting for the Rockets and averaged 43.5 yards on two kicks.

Summers said he feels that he’s picked up a lot of the Penguins offense, but he still learning.

“It helped being here for spring practice,” he said. “I’ve got the plays down, now its getting the defensive schemes down, or basically know what the defense is doing.”

He said he feels the Penguins’ new offense is made for his running ability.

“It’s something that I’ve been doing all my life, my feet are my strength,” Summers said.

Summers said that he almost went to Southern Illinois after leaving Toledo.

“But right then they were going through a coaching change and my friend Dominique Barnes, who is a receiver here, told me about Youngstown and said I should come her,” Summers said.

“I really like Youngstown, it’s laid back like me,” he said.

“I know there are still things that I need to learn in this offense, but I also feel that I deserve to see some playing time with the way I’ve worked this camp.”

mollica@vindy.com