Pelini challenges fans after rain-soaked opener

YSU NOTEBOOK

Foul-weather fans: After getting terrific weather for most of the last month, Youngstown State’s home opener was hampered by steady rain in the first half and a consistent drizzle the rest of the way. YSU distributed 16,622 tickets but the crowd was probably closer to 5,000 at kickoff. “I want to thank the fans who braved through the rain,” Penguins coach Bo Pelini said. “I don’t think we had a drop of rain in a month-and-a-half. I guess that’s the Bo factor. It’s too bad that happened.” Still, the game kicked off a few minutes after Ohio State’s game ended and marked Pelini’s home debut. He felt the crowd should have been bigger. “I’m going to challenge the rest of the fans,” he said. “If you want to be a fan, be a fan. That was a heck of a football game. The people that didn’t stay and watch, that’s their loss. If you want to have a winner, you better support this team and get people in the seats. Like I said, I’m going to continue to work to put a football team on the field that they can be proud of.”

Special teams struggles: After going 3-for-3 in his college debut last week, YSU freshman kicker Zak Kennedy (Cardinal Mooney) missed his two field goal attempts on Saturday, both from 40 yards. Also, freshman punter Nick Sheely (Austintown Fitch) had a so-so night, averaging 35.5 yards on six attempts. “We need to punt better,” Pelini said afterward. Sheely did save his best for last, hitting a 45-yarder that Kintrell Disher caught at the 5 on RMU’s final possession of regulation, forcing the Colonials to run out the clock despite having three timeouts.

Local connection: Robert Morris has two Valley natives and both saw action on Saturday. Junior defensive end Austin Trgovcich, a Cardinal Mooney graduate who redshirted the 2012 season with the Penguins, made three tackles. Freshman linebacker Adam Wollet, a Poland High graduate, played but did not record any statistics.

This and that: YSU junior safety LeRoy Alexander, a Nebraska transfer, made his third interception of the season and had eight tackles, including a sack. ... Linebacker Dubem Nwadiogbu led YSU with 10 tackles, including one for loss, after missing last week’s game with a groin injury. He led the Penguins in tackles last season. ... Derek Rivers had 4.5 tackles for loss and nine tackles. ... YSU improved to 51-22-2 in home openers dating back to 1938. The Penguins are 23-1-1 in home openers since 1989, with the lone loss coming to Stephen F. Austin in 1995.

— Joe Scalzo, The VIndicator