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Penguins lose the luxury of surprising their victims
2010 YSU 31 - Southern Illinois 28
Gallery
By JOE SCALZO
YOUNGSTOWN
You can bet the YSU football team won’t take anyone else by surprise this fall.
“We became the hunted now,” said senior cornerback Brandian Ross following Saturday’s 31-28 win over the two-time defending Missouri Valley Football Conference champs. “We beat the top dog.”
For all the positive vibes coming out of YSU this fall, the Penguins hadn’t accomplished anything eye-opening through their first three weeks.
They got credit for being competitive against Penn State, then looked good against two teams they were supposed to look good against: Butler and Central Connecticut State.
Beating Southern Illinois was different, not just because of the Salukis’ pedigree — they entered as the preseason conference favorites and had made the playoffs every year since 2003 — but because it took a furious last-minute rally by SIU just to make the score respectable.
“It’s unfortunate that it looks like a closer game than it really was,” YSU coach Eric Wolford said.
Now the Penguins (3-1, 1-0 Missouri Valley) will get ready for their first road game since the opener at Penn State, traveling to Missouri State on Saturday. The Bears are coming off a 44-41 double overtime loss to Illinois State, their second straight loss.
“We’ve been out hunting people and now we’ve officially become the hunted and that’s fine,” Wolford said. “Put a big ol’ bulls-eye on our chest.
“You’ve got to be able to handle that. We’re going to prepare for that and hopefully they respond.”
YSU’s success is a little unexpected considering it hasn’t made the playoffs since 2007 and was picked to finish seventh in the preseason conference poll. But when asked if the turnaround has come quicker than expected, Wolford said, “I don’t know.”
“The thing is, you can say it’s coming quicker but if you go out the next game and lay an egg, is it really coming quick or not?” Wolford said.
Final thoughts
YSU held SIU to just 65 rushing yards, a good sign after giving up 174 to CCSU and 94 to Butler.
“Coming in, I know they said they wanted to pound the ball,” said YSU linebacker Deonta Tate. “Our front seven stepped up and showed them it’s gonna take more than just talk to run the ball on us.”
Wolford wasn’t surprised, saying he always felt YSU could stop the run.
“It’s when they start zinging it around and formationing us” that I get worried,” he said.
The Penguins were surprised SIU didn’t switch to sophomore QB Paul McIntosh during the game, especially when starter Chris Dieker struggled.
YSU has shown some vulnerabilities against running quarterbacks the past two weeks and that’s McIntosh’s strength.
“All week, we were thinking they’d play both of them,” said Ross.
Sunday, Ross was named the MVFC defensive player of the week after making five tackles, breaking up two passes and picking off a pass.
YSU offensive coordinator Shane Montgomery likes to go for big plays after sudden change.
The best example came after Ross’ interception late in the second quarter, when Montgomery called for Jamaine Cook to throw a halfback pass, which drew a 15-yard pass interference penalty. Montgomery also called for passes after a fumble and a blocked punt and showed he likes to take a shot when he thinks the opponent is down.
That approach jives with Wolford’s.
“I have a lot of confidence in my football team,” he said. “I don’t always talk like that or act like that but I believe in them.
“That’s most important thing you can tell people sometimes, that you believe in them.”