PRESERVING A VICTORY

By Pete Mollica

Defensive back Wilson stepped up for teammate

1On the next play. Wilson was right in the middle of the action, intercepting a pass in the end zone that preserved the victory for the Penguins (2-2, 1-1 Missouri Valley Football Conference).

“It was difficult watching Jarvis go down and seeing that his injury appeared to be a serious one,” Wilson said Tuesday. “We’ve been very close the past year and a half and it was just like watching a member of your family go down.

“I knew that I had to step up for him and the team, and I was just fortunate to be in the right place at the right time and made the play,” he said.

A week ago, Wilson was named the MVFC special teams players of the game after returning four punts for 95 yards, including a 39-yard return for a touchdown.

Last Saturday, the 5-foot-10, 195-pound senior cornerback led the team with two interceptions, including the one that clinched the victory.

He also blocked a field goal and had a pass breakup, and was named the MVFC’s defensive player of the week. He also was named the Penguins’ Hill, Barth and King defensive player of the game by the YSU coaching staff.

Richards’ knee injury is serious and undoubtedly will keep him out of the lineup for the remainder of the season.

“Yes, there will be more pressure,” Wilson said. “Not having Jarvis in there will put additional pressure on the entire defense. But my job will be to step in there and try and be the same type of leader that Jarvis was out there.

“The key to our season now from here on out is just believing in ourselves,” Wilson said. “We keep believing and do the things that we have to do, and we’ll be all right.”

Redshirt freshman Kamryn Keys was named the offensive player of the game.

Keys (5-11, 185) had a career-high 146 yards rushing on 21 carries and one touchdown behind an offensive line that helped produce 340 rushing yards and 441 total yards.

“Kamryn is a young guy who we’ve moved around quite a bit, first on defense and then wide receiver before injuries made us move him to tailback,” YSU coach Jon Heacock said. “We got him academically straightened out and he had a great fall camp for us.”

Sophomore free safety Brandian Ross was the special teams player of the game. The 6-0, 185-pounder from Richmond, Va., had nine tackles including one for a loss, and also had an interception.

The Jim Zdelar offensive lineman of the game was senior tight end Derrick Bush, who only caught one pass, but was the lead blocker for many of the big running plays that were so successful.

Junior transfer Crispin Fernandez, a defensive tackle, was awarded the Jermaine Hopkins defensive lineman of the game award. Former Austintown Fitch High standout junior Brian Mellott was picked for the Wash On Wheels/Derek Pixley hit of the week.

Senior guard Nhemie Theodore earned the Haines Family player of the game honor selected by the YSU radio broadcast team and senior tackle Tyler Booth earned the Wachovia leadership award.

mollica@vindy.com