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YSU faces another tough task
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
YSU’s growing pains have become a growing pain.
Three weeks ago, the Penguins were in the midst of a three-game winning streak that included a victory over two-time defending Missouri Valley champion Southern Illinois.
Life was good.
Now, the Penguins have lost three straight, blowing double-digit leads in all three, and the focus has gone from winning the league to winning a game.
Life isn’t so good.
“Being the optimist, I think everyone who watches us play realizes we’re probably four plays away from being 6-1 and who would have ever thought that?” said YSU coach Eric Wolford. “We knew this wasn’t going to be an overnight process, but I think if we take care of business here the last four games, I think there might be a little light at the end of the tunnel.”
YSU (3-4, 1-3 MVFC) looks to earn their first road victory at South Dakota State today. The Penguins have lost two straight to the Jackrabbits (2-4, 2-2), who have rebounded from an 0-4 start with impressive wins over Western Illinois (the Leathernecks’ only league loss) and Southern Illinois.
The last time YSU played in Brookings, S.D., the Penguins lost 40-7. They’ve scored just 10 points against the Jackrabbits in two years but SDSU coach John Stiegelmeier said he’s sensed a different attitude with this year’s Penguins.
“They play with a different bounce, a different spirit,” he said. “I’m not saying anything bad about anybody else, they just seem to [have] the players burning again.
“We’re going to have our hands full.”
YSU quarterback Kurt Hess admitted earlier in the week that it’s getting tougher to rebound from each successive loss but said the team is sticking together.
“We’re gonna win together, we’re gonna lose together,” he said. “We can still make a mess of this conference. You never know what’s going to happen.”
A loss today would mean YSU would have to win its last three games just to match last year’s mark. Wolford said things have been tougher than he expected the past few weeks but insists good things are ahead.
“One thing, if you’re a Penguin fan, you know we’ll keep you on the edge of your seat,” Wolford said. “We’re looking for one of those where we can celebrate at the end of the night, instead of celebrating through the third and fourth quarter.”