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YSU focuses on 2011, not 2010
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By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
Youngstown State coach Eric Wolford has a 24-hour rule about wins and losses. Celebrate or mourn, then move on.
So when asked about last year’s last-second (literally) loss to Illinois State, Wolford said he’s long since moved on.
That doesn’t mean he’s forgotten.
“Within that 24 hours last year, I mean, I was probably at the bottom,” he said. “I tried to jump out of the plane. Problem was, we didn’t take off yet.
“That was a difficult loss.”
Added senior defensive end Obinna Ekweremuba, “I pretty much don’t want to talk about that game.”
YSU entered last year’s game on a five-game losing streak and fell behind by 18 points, 35-17, with six minutes left in the third quarter before mounting its best comeback of the year.
With 27 seconds left, Penguin QB Kurt Hess scrambled for a 7-yard TD run that gave YSU a 39-35 lead.
The Redbirds returned the kick to the 31 and Daniel Stewart sacked QB Matt Brown on the first play. Then Brown hit Marvon Sanders on the right sideline for 33 yards to the YSU 40, threading the throw through three defenders.
After calling timeout with eight seconds left, Brown threw a deep pass to Tyrone Walker just in front of the end zone. Two YSU defenders jumped in front of the pass, the ball went over their hands and Walker leaped behind them, caught it, took two steps and fell onto his back in the end zone with 0.7 seconds left.
“It was very emotional,” Hess said. “It was very emotionally draining. But that’s how the games are going to be in the Missouri Valley.
“You’re going to see how tough you are and if you’re weak, you’re going to be exploited.”
Last year’s game was an offensive explosion, with YSU gaining 523 yards to ISU’s 488. The Redbirds have 10 offensive starters back — the lone newcomer is at right guard — and YSU’s young secondary may not face a bigger test all season.
“They’re a really good football team,” said Wolford.
The Penguins are 10-10 all-time against the Redbirds, with losses in three of their last four games. YSU has scored just nine more points in the series and 11 of the 20 games have been decided by a touchdown or less.
Last year’s game probably summed up the series as well as any, but Wolford wants his team to focus on 2011, not 2010.
“If we continue to live in the past, I don’t think you’re every going to move forward,” said Wolford, whose team is coming off a 77-13 win over Valparaiso. “What, are you going to hang on to Valparaiso? And feel [good or bad] this week because you did something good last week, or you did something bad?
“You’ve got to move on to the next play. That’s one of our fundamentals of success.”