YSU-Central State renew rivalry after 29 seasons

By Pete Mollica

Marauders head coach Al West played against the Penguins back in the ‘70s.

YOUNGSTOWN — Central State and Youngstown State are both struggling football teams early in the season, but Saturday one of them is going to come away a winner for the first time this year.

The Marauders (0-2) are undoubtedly facing the biggest obstacle since they have never defeated the Penguins in eight previous meetings, but then the teams haven’t met since 1979.

The Marauders, a Division II team from the Great Lakes Football Conference, will trek to Stambaugh Stadium for a 4 p.m. kickoff. It will be the home opener for the Penguins, who have dropped two straight on the road this year.

Central State’s third-year coach, Al West, played for the Marauders from 1973-76 and played against the Penguins three times.

West has compiled a 7-14 record in his two previous seasons, including a 5-5 record a year ago.

“What I remember most about Youngstown State was how well coached they were and how disciplined they were and the way they just ran the football right at you on almost every play,” West said.

“We’re both 0-2, but we haven’t played anybody near as tough as Ohio State or South Dakota State,” West added.

The Marauders have been beaten by Dayton (31-12) and West Virginia State (47-12) and West said that he’s still waiting for the team to play up to its potential.

Central State had 12 starters returning from last season and 22 lettermen, but the one position they are inexperienced at is quarterback where freshman Jeff Brooks (5-foot-11, 200 pounds) is handling the offense.

In two games Brooks has connected on 18-of-36 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns and has not been intercepted.

“He’s young and is still making some young mistakes, but he hasn’t turned the ball over and he’s getting better each week,” West said.

Brooks has also scored the Marauders’ only rushing touchdown this season, although the overall running game has been limited, averaging just 61 yards a game, or 1.5 yards per carry on 79 tries.

Freshman Keyonte Hicks (5-9, 170) and sophomore Keenan Hampton (5-8, 175) are the team’s top rushers, but have only 92 yards between them in two games.

Brooks’ top receivers are sophomore Roosevelt Williams (6-2, 205) and junior Daniel Stover (6-1, 205) with six receptions apiece. Stover has caught two touchdown passes.

Defensively the Marauders are giving up 409 yards and 39 points per game. They’ve allowed 125 yards rushing and 284 passing, they’ve committed just one turnover, while causing four.

The leader on defense has been 5-7, 185 senior safety Jeff Franklin, who was named Great Lakes Conference defensive player of the week after the opening loss to Dayton. Franklin leads the team in tackles with 14, three of them for losses, and has two of the team’s three pass interceptions.

Senior linebacker Jonathan Foster (6-4, 247) and senior tackle Pernell Phillips (6-1, 314) are two other defenders with NFL potential.

The last time the Marauders came to Youngstown was in 1979 when the two teams met at Austintown Fitch Falcon Stadium in a game won by the Penguins, 17-6. This will be Central State’s first appearance at Stambaugh Stadium.

mollica@vindy.com