Sunday, September 28, 2008
YSU’s late rally was overcome by the Flames’ last-second field goal by Matt Blevins.
YOUNGSTOWN — After last week’s stunning win over North Dakota State, Youngstown State University coach Jon Heacock said there was often magic in the air when playing at Stambaugh Stadium.
That magic nearly came through again for the Penguins Saturday night when YSU rallied from a 14-point fourth quarter deficit.
But it dissipated quickly when a last-second field goal by Liberty’s Matt Blevins gave the Flames a 31-28 win.
“We set out for this to be a statement game for our program,” Liberty coach Danny Rocco. said. “This was to validate our program and to validate the progress we’ve made.
“This win just doesn’t get any better than this for us.”
Rocco said Liberty (4-0) has been aiming his team for the YSU game for more than two weeks and that some bulletin board material and a dose of the Penguins’ own style of play was the key to the win.
“Our practices have been pretty intense the last two weeks getting the team ready for this game,” Rocco said. “YSU is a great program and this is a hard place to come into and get a win.”
The Flames played a physical game that matched the style of play the Penguins had executed so well the last two weeks.
YSU had been successful at running the football in wins over Central State and North Dakota State, and Rocco said he challenged his team to shut that aspect of the Penguins offense down.
Liberty’s defense held YSU runners to just 93 yards after the Penguins had accumulated 340 yards last week against the Bisons.
The Flames also used a dominating running game of their own to wear down a injury-riddled YSU defense.
Liberty’s Rashad Jennings rushed for 220 yards, enabling the Flames to control the football. The Flames also were impressive on third down by converting on 8 of 12 in the game, including several key ones on the game-winning drive.
“I had some bulletin board material this week to be quite honest and I used it,” said Rocco, who wouldn’t elaborate but hinted that it had something to do with how strong the Penguins run the football.
“We’re a physical football team and we pride ourselves on that on both sides of the football,” Rocco said. “I was impressed with [YSU’s] offensive line on film but I thought we could match up with them.”
Rocco said he also preached poise, confidence and unity to his team and coaching staff leading up to the game.
“That really paid off in our last drive to win the game,” Rocco said. “I wouldn’t let the coaches get excited or lose their poise and the players responded to that.
“Their was no quit when YSU tied the game and I told the team that we only needed a field goal in the final 1:29 to win the game.”
Rocco, however, was more impressed with the team’s poise when the Flames got down by 14 points early in the game to the Penguins.
“I wasn’t that concerned at that point,” Rocco said. “I knew what we are capable of as a team and I felt like we could get back in the ballgame.”