Penguins looking for an edge in home finale
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
YSU Falls into Winter Sports
Eric Wolford wants to see you at today’s football game.
Youngstown State is hoping you’ll come early and stay late.
In what could be a de facto playoff game, the Penguin football team plays Indiana State in the home finale at 2 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.
It’s part of a tripleheader that includes YSU’s women’s basketball opener against Niagara at 11 a.m. and the men’s basketball opener at 7 p.m. against Kent State. For $10, fans can get a voucher for all three events. Those who attend all three will get a $10 voucher to all Rulli Brothers stores at the men’s basketball game.
“It was a happy accident,” YSU athletic director Ron Strollo said of having all three on the same day. “Obviously, it’s a busy weekend for us but we knew it was going to be a special day.”
Today is also senior day for the football team, which needs to win at least one of its last two games to be eligible for its first playoff berth since 2006. Considering the finale is on the road against three-time national champion North Dakota State, the Penguins (7-3, 4-2 Missouri Valley) would prefer to take care of business against the Sycamores (6-4, 3-3).
“Senior day, obviously, is a big day for our kids,” Wolford said. “This group of seniors has done good things. They’ve won football games, they’ve been through tough times, they’ve been through some good times, been through some big wins in our program. They deserve to be acknowledged for some of the accomplishments they’ve had.”
On paper, YSU ranks fifth in the 10-team Missouri Valley in attendance at 12,504 per game. But that figure applies to tickets distributed, not actual fans in the seats. YSU’s last home game, against South Dakota on Nov. 1, drew an announced crowd of 8,274 but only about 1,000 fans were in the stands in the second half.
“It’s always good to have a home crowd,” Wolford said. “Whether you’re playing at South Dakota State or Fargo or even South Dakota, those guys all have pretty good crowds. They’re loud and they get on you and try to distract you and create crowd noise. [Home games are] supposed to be a home-team advantage as far as having a rowdy crowd.”
Senior center Stephen Page, a Newton Falls High graduate, is one of 11 seniors who will play their last regular-season home game today.
“Being a hometown guy, it [the last home game] means a lot to me,” Page said. “I really hope the fans come to see us because it would really mean a lot to me and make a special memory to be able to finish my regular-season career at Stambaugh Stadium on a high note.”
Senior day
In addition to Page, here are the seniors playing their last home game today: TE Nate Adams, WR Jelani Berassa (who is in his sixth year with the program and is the only player left from the Jon Heacock era), DT Octavius Brown, WR Christian Bryan, K Joey Cejudo, CB Julius Childs, S Donald D’Alesio (Cardinal Mooney), LS Nathan Gibbs, LB Desmond Williams and LB Travis Williams.
YSU has won seven of its last 10 home finales, falling to South Dakota State in last year’s game, 42-13.
Surprising Sycamores
Indiana State has traditionally been the league’s worst program, but the Sycamores have played better over the last five seasons and have been the league’s biggest surprise this fall.
After going 1-11 last year, the Sycamores were picked to finish ninth in the MVFC’s preseason poll. Instead, they have wins over Mid-American Conference member Ball State and MVFC power Northern Iowa.
Counting today’s game against No. 16 YSU, Indiana State has played seven ranked FCS opponents in its last eight games. If the Sycamores win one of their last two, they’ll reach seven wins for just the third time in the last 29 years (1995 and 2012).
“This isn’t the Indiana State of 10 years ago,” Wolford said. “Times have changed. This a good football team. Everyone we play [in the MVFC] is [good] and we need to have a home-field advantage.”