Dayton Flyers Will Test YSU Football Penguins
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- When the Penguins open their season Thursday against the University of Dayton Flyers at Stambaugh Stadium, fans should learn a lot about the character of this year’s squad.
Youngstown State has never beaten its Football Championship Subdivision rivals in nine tries dating to 1939 and Dayton wants to ruin the Penguins’ 2013 debut and prevent them from recording their 150th victory at Dwight “Dike” Beede Field.
“People and opponents know we have a good team. Our team chemistry is at an all-time high and we’ve become a very tight-knit group,” says head coach Eric Wolford.
“We’ve become more of a team than a group of individuals,” he adds, “And this group has worked hard in the off-season.”
A photo that hangs on the east wall of Wolford’s office shows him leading his players out of the tunnel to the field for a game. Above that photo are eight words:
Intensity, Passion, Pride, Loyalty, Accountability, Commitment, Toughness, Relentless.
They capture his work ethic, the ethic he has instilled in his staff and that he’s tried to instill in every man who’s played for him.
“We know what needs to be done and right now we control our own destiny, Wolford tells a reporter in his office. “We feel we have all of the components in place, but we must take a one-game-at-a-time approach. You can always use a little luck as well along the way.”
Wolford remembers the euphoria last season after the first four games.
“Beating Pitt and Northern Iowa doesn’t guarantee a conference title or national championship,” he says. “We just have to play one down at a time and be ready for anything along the way.”
Last season was one of three streaks as the Penguins won their first four games, dropped the next four and ended by winning the last three.
Ending on that high note wasn’t enough to be extended an invitation to the playoffs. With the playoffs expanding to 24 teams from 16, seven or eight wins this year might suffice for a return to the post-season, which would be the Penguins’ first since the 2006 campaign when they finished 11-3 overall, advancing to the semi-finals. They lost to the eventual national champions, Appalachian State.
On offense, the Penguins will ride the arm of record-setting quarterback Kurt Hess. Last season they racked up 4,247 total yards (2,187 through the air) and achieved an average of 5.4 yards every time the ball was snapped.
Hess, who has started 33 games behind center, owns the YSU record for most career touchdown passes (53), passing yards per game (202.9), passer rating (141.78) and 200-yard passing games (18).
He’s second in career passing yards (6,697) and completion percentage (62.3) and third in completions and total offense yards. With a full season of eligibility before him, he’s all but sure to add to those stellar statistics.
Hess’ targets are Andre Stubbs, Christian Bryan and Jelani Berassa at wide receiver and tight end Nate Adams.
Berassa, who has 41 career catches, returns after missing all of last year’s campaign because of a knee injury.
Adaris Bellamy is the frontrunner at tailback while pre-season All-America pick Chris Elkins returns at center, anchoring a line that also feature three other seniors – Andrew Sinko at right tackle, Fred Herdman at left guard and Kyle Bryant at left tackle – and a red-shirt freshman, Brock Eisenhuth, as the core of the unit.
On defense, seven starters return at linebacker and in the backfield fans will see an entirely new front line. Last year’s defense held opponents to 309.1 yards of total offense per fray.
Tevin Williams, Dom Rich and Travis Williams have drawn starting assignments at linebacker while an experienced secondary boasts cornerbacks DeVon McKoy and Julius Childs, Donald D’Alesio at strong safety and Jameel Smith at free safety.
The four new front men are D.J. Moss at nose tackle and Emmanuel Kromah at tackle with Kyle Sirl and Terrell Williams as defensive ends.
Special teams always play a crucial role and senior punter Nick Liste, a three-year starter, returns looking to improve upon his career average of 40-plus yards.
Joey Ceduno is slated as the opening day place-kicker, Liste to handle kickoffs while Dante Nania is the holder and Nathan Gibbs the long snapper.
Bryan will handle all punt returns while Michael Wheary takes care of all kick returns.
With seven of their 12 games at home, the Penguins should feel good about their chances in 2013.
They must remember, however, that the road to the FCS title still goes through Fargo, N.D., home of North Dakota State, a team they beat in 2011 (27-24) but blew them out last season, 48-7.
In a Missouri Valley Conference scheduling quirk, both games were played in Fargo, N.D.
This time, they meet the Bison at the Ice Castle, a venue more than one opponent has called “Death Valley.”
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story appears in our September 2013 print edition, published today.
Copyright 2013 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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