43
YSU closes scrimmage tweaking W. Illinois meltdown
Special to the Vindicator
Photo
Youngstown State senior wideout Pat White (84) breaks the tackle of Matt Romeo during the Penguins' second spring scrimmage Saturday at YSU's Stambaugh Stadium. White, a Warren Harding graduate, caught 10 passes for 206 yards and hauled in five touchdowns for the offense, which dominated the defense.
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
At the end of Saturday’s scrimmage, YSU coach Eric Wolford recreated the situation his team faced against Western Illinois last fall.
The Penguins led by four in that game, 38-34, and had the ball with just under four minutes left at their own 25. Anyone who was there remembers what happened next: YSU got just one first down, punted away with more than two minutes left and gave up a game-winning TD with one minute left.
“Cook asked me before the drive [Saturday], ‘If I break one, should I take a knee?’” Wolford said. “I said, ‘No, we got the lead. Go ahead and put 10 on them.’”
Sure enough, Cook broke free for a 76-yard touchdown, cruising the last 40 yards untouched, although senior DE Daniel Stewart nearly caught him from behind in the last 10 yards.
“No, man, I slowed up,” Cook said, grinning. “After I broke it, I was just relaxing.”
It was a good way to close out the team’s second spring scrimmage, particularly since the Penguins were unable to close out games last fall. But the biggest bright spot came outside the tackles, as senior wideout Pat White became the first receiver to break out in spring camp, catching 10 passes for 206 yards and five TDs.
“I didn’t realize it was five until y’all told me,” said White, a Warren Harding High graduate. “I’m just trying to make the plays I’m supposed to make.”
White caught TD passes of 70, 49, 21 and 20 yards, but he saved his best for the shortest, one-handing an 8-yarder from Najee Tyler in the back of the end zone. White (6-6, 225) has the size and speed to be a major weapon in YSU’s offense this fall but, like his teammates, has struggled with drops and inconsistency this spring.
“We’re a work in progress,” White said of the receivers. “Our biggest thing is trying to be consistent.
“Everyone is talking about how we’re the weakest link and today we stepped up a little bit. Coach Wolford said we took a step forward today and it was pretty good to hear him say that.”
YSU’s offense dominated the scrimmage — no surprise considering the Penguins are better on that side of the ball and were missing several defensive players, including linebackers John Sasson (hamstring) and Will Shaw (hamstring) and defensive lineman Andrew Johnson (neck).
Stewart, however, wreaked havoc at defensive end with four sacks.
“I wanted to make a statement for the defense,” Stewart said. “The D-line, we did good. We still made a couple mistakes but we’ll try to pick it up.”
Cook led all rushers with 17 carries for 170 yards and four TDs, while backup QB Marc Kanetsky went 15 of 17 for 241 yards and four TDs. Kanetsky completed his first 14 passes.
“I’m happy with the way we’re progressing,” Wolford said. “We’re a more physical football team [this spring].
“This is a very physical league and we have to raise our level.”