Penguin Football Schedule Aug. 29 vs. Dayton Sept. 7 vs. Morehead State Sept. 14 at Michigan State Sept. 21 vs. Duquesne Sept. 28 at Southern Illinois Oct. 5 at Indiana State Oct. 12 vs. Illinois State Oct. 19 vs. Western Illinois Nov. 2 at South Dakota Nov. 9 at UNI Nov. 16 vs. North Dakota State Nov. 23 vs. South Dakota State (Home games are listed in bold.)
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The YSU Penguins return to the gridiron this season with a talented offense led by a veteran quarterback, an up-and-coming defense and a revamped special-teams unit, hoping to pave the way to a postseason for the team. The Penguins won more games than the previous season in both the 2012 and 2011 campaigns, finishing last year with a 7-4 record. Now the team is looking to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Senior quarterback Kurt Hess is the headliner. Hess has started 33 games as the Penguins’ QB and ranks first in school history for career touchdown passes (53), passing yards per game (202.9), passer rating (141.78) and 200-yard passing games (18). A strong group of receivers will help Hess make a run at holding every career passing record in school history. Leading the receiver corps are junior Christian Bryan, senior Kevin Watts, senior Jelani Berassa and sophomore Andrew Williams. The offensive line will be led by returning first-team all-conference performer senior Chris Elkins. Elkins has started 26 straight games on the line. The only other starter returning is senior tackle Kyle Bryant. Bryant started the final six contests in 2012. YSU allowed a school-record low eight sacks in 2012. On defense, three of the four starters in the secondary are back along with all three starters at linebacker. In the secondary, YSU returns cornerbacks Dale Peterman and Julius Childs along with safety Donald D’Alesio. At linebacker, Teven Williams, Travis Williams and Dom Rich combined to start 27 games last season. The Williams’s combined for 124 tackles last year, ranking one and two on the team; Childs was third with 51 tackles while Peterman was fourth with 50. D’Alesio was sixth with 38 and has 113 tackles throughout his career. The defensive front will feature four new starters in 2013. Senior punter Nick Liste has been a three-year starter and owns a career average of 40 yards per kick. Junior placekicker Joey Cejudo had a tremendous spring and is expected to be an asset for the Guins this fall. For just the second time in school history the Penguins will play seven regular-season home games at Stambaugh Stadium. YSU opens the season Aug. 29 against Dayton. For season tickets contact the YSU athletic ticket office at 330-941-1978.
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Veteran Quarterback to Lead Penguins’ 2013 Campaign
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For more information on joining the YSU Penguin Club contact Tom Morella, 330-941-2351 or tmorella@ysu.edu; or Jim Morrison, 330-941-3720 or jwmorrison@ysu.edu.
Hall of Fame Event Set Nov. 16 Four-time FCS National Championship winning coach Jim Tressel will headline the class of seven inductees to be recognized at the 2013 YSU Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony, set for Nov. 16. Tressel guided the Penguin football program to four national titles – 1991, 1993, 1994 and 1997. A four-time National Coach of the Year, he also served as the director of Intercollegiate Athletics during his tenure. Other Hall of Fame honorees will include: All-America defensive back LeVar Greene (1998-2001); Major League Baseball draft pick Mark Thomas (1997-99); the best women’s tennis player in school history, Santi Nalluri (Nallapaneni) (1993-96); two standout football players, Darnell Clark (1990-93) and Tom Harder (1977-79); and men’s basketball 1,000-point scorer Anthony Hunt (1995-98). The Hall of Fame event is scheduled the morning of the Penguins’ contest against two-time defending national champion North Dakota State. For information on tickets, contact Emily Wollet in YSU Athletics, eewollet@ysu.edu.
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Major League Baseball draft pick Mark Thomas, who was selected in 1999 by the Montreal Expos, is one of seven to be inducted to the YSU Athletics Hall of Fame in November.