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1231

YSU Penguin Athletics / Kenya Middlebrooks Named Horizon League Player of the Week

« on: December 20, 2011, 11:54:06 AM »

With her clutch performance in leading the Youngstown State women's basketball team to a comeback win at Akron, YSU senior guard Kenya Middlebrooks has been named the Horizon League Player of the Week.

Middlebrooks, a native of Toledo, Ohio, scored 13 of her career-high 27 points in the final four minutes as YSU rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit. Middlebrooks was 8-for-12 from the field, including 6-for-9 from beyond the arc, and 5-for-6 from the free-throw line in the win.

With the Penguins down 67-62 at the 3:55 mark, Middlebrooks made two free throws to cut the deficit to three. She hit another charity toss at the 3:31 mark to make the score 69-65 with 3:31 left, and she went on to score the Penguins' final 10 points. Her jumper with 2:41 left got YSU within one, and she hit a 3-pointer with 1:45 remaining that gave the Penguins their first lead of the second half. Another triple put YSU ahead 76-72 with 50 seconds left, and she hit two free throws with 6.6 seconds left for the final margin.

Defensively, Middlebrooks had a steal with fewer than 50 seconds left when Akron trailed by four. She also grabbed the defensive rebound off an Akron miss with 23 seconds remaining.

Middlebrooks' previous career high in scoring was 23 points in February against Valparaiso. She surpassed 20 points for the fourth time in her career and for the second time in 2011-12. The senior guard has made a Horizon League-leading 23 3-pointers.

Middlebrooks and the Penguins will be back in action on Dec. 27 at Stony Brook.

1232

YSU Penguin Athletics / Akron pulls away from Youngstown State 88-62

« on: December 20, 2011, 06:50:23 AM »

AKRON, Ohio (AP)—Demetrius Treadwell scored 15 points to lead five players in double figures and Akron dominated the inside game in an 88-62 win over Youngstown State on Monday night.

The Zips (6-5), who have won three in a row, outscored the Penguins 38-22 in the paint and had a 47-32 rebounding advantage.

Nikola Cvetinovic added 14 points for Akron. Chauncey Gilliam scored 12, including 10 after halftime, and Brian Walsh and Alex Abreu chipped in 10 apiece. Zeke Marshall had 11 rebounds and nine points.

Youngstown State (6-5) led 12-5 early, then the Zips went on a 10-0 run. Tied at 19 with 10:56 left in the first half, Akron broke the game open with a 17-3 spurt—highlighted by a Gilliam dunk—and led 41-30 at halftime.

Shawn Brooks scored 16 of his 20 points in the first half to lead the Penguins, who have lost three straight.


Youngstown St.
Name    Min    FG    3Pt    FT    Off    Reb    Ast    TO    Stl    Blk    PF    Pts
A. Ward    16    0-3    0-2    0-0    2    2    1    4    1    0    3    0
D. Eargle    33    3-9    0-0    2-4    4    9    0    3    1    6    2    8
K. Perry    32    4-11    0-5    0-1    0    2    5    2    2    0    1    8
B. Allen    18    2-6    1-5    1-2    0    4    2    1    0    0    4    6
D. Brooks    26    7-11    5-9    1-1    3    4    0    2    2    0    3    20
D. Reese    3    0-1    0-1    0-0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
C. Morgan    3    0-0    0-0    0-0    0    1    0    0    0    0    0    0
N. Perry    16    2-4    2-4    0-1    2    4    0    4    0    0    3    6
F. Larson    4    0-2    0-0    0-0    0    1    0    1    0    0    1    0
S. Amiker Jr.    18    2-4    0-0    1-2    0    2    2    1    0    0    4    5
D. Cole    16    2-3    0-0    0-1    0    1    1    3    1    0    1    4
C. Zuiker    9    1-4    1-3    0-0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    3
J. Chojnacki    3    1-1    0-0    0-0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    2
M. Podolsky    3    0-0    0-0    0-0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Totals       24-59    9-29    5-12    11    30    11    21    7    6    22    62
Percentages       .407    .310    .417       Team Rebounds: 2

Akron Zips Akron
Name    Min    FG    3Pt    FT    Off    Reb    Ast    TO    Stl    Blk    PF    Pts
N. Cvetinovic    25    6-11    1-2    1-1    3    7    3    1    2    0    3    14
Z. Marshall    27    4-11    0-0    1-3    6    11    2    2    1    1    1    9
B. Walsh    24    2-6    2-5    4-4    2    6    2    2    1    0    2    10
A. Abreu    23    3-4    2-2    2-2    0    0    3    1    2    0    2    10
C. Gilliam    19    5-7    2-3    0-0    0    1    0    1    3    0    2    12
M. Green    3    0-1    0-1    0-0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
A. Ibitayo    7    0-0    0-0    1-2    0    2    0    1    0    0    0    1
J. Egner    6    0-3    0-1    2-2    1    2    1    1    0    0    0    2
Q. Diggs    23    0-4    0-3    4-4    0    2    5    2    1    1    1    4
D. Treadwell    19    7-11    0-1    1-2    2    6    1    4    0    0    3    15
K. Petersen    1    0-1    0-0    0-0    2    2    0    0    0    0    0    0
B. McClanahan    20    3-7    2-5    1-2    1    6    0    0    1    0    1    9
C.J. Oldham    3    1-1    0-0    0-0    0    0    0    1    0    0    1    2
Totals       31-67    9-23    17-22    17    45    17    16    11    2    16    88
Percentages       .463    .391    .773       Team Rebounds: 2
Game Info

Technical Fouls:
    None

Arena:
    James A. Rhodes H&PE Building, Akron, OH

Attendance:
    2,408

Officials:
    Bo Boroski, Stephen Mcjunkins, John Yorkovich

1233

YSU Penguin Athletics / Middlebrooks' Late Heroics Caps YSU's Comeback vs. Akron

« on: December 18, 2011, 05:13:29 PM »

Akron, Ohio -- Kenya Middlebrooks scored 13 of her career-high 27 points in the final four minutes as the Youngstown State women's basketball team rallied to defeat Akron 78-72 on Sunday afternoon at James A. Rhodes Arena.

The Penguins scored 51 points and shot 60 percent after halftime and overcame a 13-point second-half deficit to improve to 6-4 on the season. They've now matched their win total from last season and have won five straight road games for the first time since 1997-98. Akron dropped to 5-6.

Youngstown State trailed 60-47 with nine minutes remaining and by eight with five minutes left. Melissa Thompson hit a 3-pointer at the 4:35 mark to start the rally, and Middlebrooks made two free throws after the media timeout to make the score 67-64. Akron upped its lead to 71-65 after two Taylor Ruper free throws at the 3:30 mark, but Youngstown State closed out the game by outscoring the Zips 13-1.

Brandi Brown's 3-pointer cut the deficit in half, and Middlebrooks scored the next five points to give the Penguins a 73-71 lead with 1:45 left. Ti'eshia Stubbs made 1-of-2 from the free-throw line to make the score 73-72 with just over a minute left, but Middlebrooks hit her sixth 3-pointer of the game to push the lead to 76-72 with 50 seconds remaining.

Middlebrooks had a steal on Akron's next possession, and she rebounded Akron's miss with just over 20 seconds remaining. She made two free throws with 6.6 seconds left for the final margin.

Brown finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds, including 10 of each in the second half. Thompson added a career-high 12 points after having 11 points total in the first nine games.

Hanna Luburgh had 20 points to lead three players in double figures for Akron.

The Penguins outshot the Zips 43.5 percent to 35.7 percent and held the rebounding edge 44-40. Youngstown State made 13 3-pointers, which was two off of the school record. Ten of those triples came on 16 attempts in the second half. Macey Nortey and Kelsea Fickiesen combined for 11 of YSU's 19 assists.

Youngstown State battled through a sloppy first half to only trail by four at halftime. The Penguins scored 10 straight points early in the period but trailed by as many as nine before closing the gap late.

Akron hit a triple on the first possession of the game, but the Penguins scored the next 10 points to take a 10-3 lead on a Middlebrooks trey with 17:15 remaining.

After the fast start, YSU got out of sync offensively and committed eight turnovers in the first nine minutes. Akron used that to its advantage and went on a 12-1 run to go up 15-11 with 8:04 left.

Monica Touvelle's trey ended a field-goal drought of nearly 10 minutes to cut the margin to 15-14, but Akron eventually built a 29-20 lead with 2:19 remaining.

The Penguins closed the half on a 7-2 run, which included four points in the final minute by Brown.

YSU had 11 turnovers in the opening period and shot 28 percent. The defense forced Akron into 10 turnovers and held the Zips to 33 percent shooting.

Youngstown State's next game will be at Stony Brook on Dec. 27 at 7 p.m.

FINAL    1    2    T
Youngstown State (6-4)    27    51    78
Akron (5-6)    31    41    72
Akron, Ohio -- Rhodes Arena

Youngstown State   Akron
Pts: Kenya Middlebrooks - 27    Pts: LUBURGH, Hanna - 20
Reb: Brandi Brown - 14    Reb: TEAM - 11
Ast: Macey Nortey - 6    Ast: CASSELL, Kacie - 6

Team Statistics   Youngstown State   Akron
Field Goal %    43.5% (27-62 )    35.7% (25-70 )
Rebounds    44    40
Assists    19    12
Turnovers    21    17
Pts off Turnovers    19    17
2nd Chance Pts    12    14
Pts in the Paint    22    28
Fastbreak Pts    2    10
Bench Pts    28    27

1234

YSU Penguin Athletics / Buckley leads Toledo past Youngstown State 86-77

« on: December 17, 2011, 10:25:55 PM »

TOLEDO, Ohio. (AP)—Dominique Buckley scored 21 points and Reese Holiday recorded a career-high 14 rebounds as Toledo beat Youngstown State 88-77 on Saturday night, snapping a two-game losing streak for the Rockets.

Toledo (7-3) grabbed its seventh win of the season, three more than in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 campaigns when the Rockets posted identical 4-28 records.

Toledo trailed 8-5 early in the first half before Buckley knocked down a 3-pointer, sparking the Rockets on a 26-8 run to take a 31-16 lead with 4:14 left in the first half.

Youngstown State (6-4) narrowed the lead to one, 56-55, in the second half but Toledo used another run, this time 20-9, to seal the victory.

Julius Brown scored 15 points, DeLino Dear added 13 and Rian Pearson chipped in with 12 for the Rockets.

Blake Allen led Youngstown State with 21 points and Kendrick Perry added 19.

Youngstown State Penguins
Name    Min    FG    3Pt    FT    Off    Reb    Ast    TO    Stl    Blk    PF    Pts
A. Ward    32    0-8    0-3    1-2    0    2    2    1    1    0    2    1
D. Eargle    27    4-9    0-0    5-8    3    9    1    2    1    5    3    13
K. Perry    34    7-17    2-7    3-3    1    3    5    0    1    0    1    19
D. Brooks    22    1-6    0-2    0-0    1    7    1    4    0    1    5    2
B. Allen    37    8-13    4-9    2-2    3    5    4    1    4    0    2    22
C. Zuiker    3    0-1    0-1    0-0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
D. Cole    1    0-1    0-0    0-0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
N. Perry    13    3-4    2-3    2-3    0    2    0    1    0    0    2    10
F. Larson    13    2-3    0-0    0-0    0    1    1    1    0    1    3    4
M. Podolsky    1    0-0    0-0    0-0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
J. Chojnacki    8    0-1    0-0    2-2    1    1    0    1    0    0    3    2
S. Amiker Jr.    9    2-3    0-0    0-0    0    0    0    0    0    0    2    4
Totals       27-66    8-25    15-20    9    30    14    11    7    7    23    77
Percentages       .409    .320    .750       Team Rebounds: 3

Toledo Rockets
Name    Min    FG    3Pt    FT    Off    Reb    Ast    TO    Stl    Blk    PF    Pts
D. Buckley    29    5-9    3-4    8-9    0    4    0    2    0    0    2    21
M. Smith    16    1-7    1-1    2-2    0    2    0    1    0    1    5    5
J. Brown    29    4-10    0-0    7-8    2    5    7    2    1    1    1    15
R. Holliday    26    2-6    1-2    3-4    3    14    3    0    1    0    4    8
R. Pearson    30    6-12    0-1    0-0    1    5    2    4    1    1    2    12
R. Majerle    20    1-3    1-2    0-0    2    3    0    1    0    1    3    3
D. Dear    23    6-7    0-0    1-2    3    4    0    2    0    0    0    13
C. Dennis    27    3-9    1-5    2-2    2    6    5    1    3    0    2    9
Totals       28-63    7-15    23-27    13    43    17    15    6    4    19    86
Percentages       .444    .467    .852       Team Rebounds: 3
Game Info

Technical Fouls:
    Youngstown St. - D. Brooks 1

Arena:
    Savage Hall, Toledo, OH

Attendance:
    4,661

Officials:
    Kevin O'Connell, Dave Cronin, Todd Williams

1235

YSU Penguin Athletics / Scalzo: YSU faces tough road

« on: December 15, 2011, 06:34:46 AM »

YOUNGSTOWN

If you want to be happy in a million ways, for the holidays you can’t beat home sweet home.

And if you want to be unhappy? Play YSU’s men’s basketball schedule.

After breaking for finals week, the Penguins (6-3) will continue what seventh-year Jerry Slocum calls the “toughest stretch since I’ve been here” when they play back-to-back road games on Saturday against Toledo and Monday against Akron.

“It’s a challenge for us,” said Slocum, whose team plays just two of its December games at home. “Our kids are excited about it, though.”

The Penguins have played three home games so far, which is tied with Cleveland State (three of 11) for the second-fewest in the Horizon League. (Just two of Loyola’s first nine games have been at home).

The Penguins’ lone remaining home game this month is against Robert Morris, “which may be the best team out of the [next] three,” Slocum said.

“We’re growing and we’re getting better,” said Slocum. “It’s a tough road.”

YSU is coming off an 80-72 loss to Buffalo in which it tied the school record with 14 3-pointers but was overmatched inside by the Bulls’ Javon McCrea (29 points, 13 rebounds) and Mitchell Watt (20 points, 10 rebounds).

“To be honest, I think Buffalo is the best of all the teams I’ve seen from the MAC [Mid-American Conference],” said Slocum. “Buffalo has a couple of very special big kids. Nobody in our league has guys like that.

“I thought our guys for the most part battled pretty hard. We didn’t play a bad basketball game; we just didn’t guard very well.”

The Penguins rank last in the Horizon League in defensive field goal percentage (43., although they’re fifth in the 10-team conference in points given up per game (62.2). YSU ranks third in the Horizon League with 67.4 points per game and is first in the league in 3-point percentage at 39.3 — five points better than second-place UIC (34.2).

Most of those points have come from YSU’s starters, as the bench is combining to average just nine points per game. Although the Penguins got just six points off the bench against Buffalo — on two 3-pointers from sophomore guard Nate Perry — Slocum said he’s seen improvement in that unit over the past few games, particularly from Perry, redshirt freshman forward Fletcher Larson and redshirt freshman guard Shawn Amiker.

But Slocum wants more from sophomore forward Josh Chojnacki, who is the team’s biggest player (6-foot-9, 220 pounds) and also the reserve who averages the most minutes (12.2). But Chojnacki is averaging just 1.4 points per game and 1.3 rebounds per game.

“He’s been inconsistent at best,” said Slocum. “He’s a big body for us. He’s one of those guys that we have that can kind of bang a little bit and can kind of give us a little lift with his size.

“He needs to keep on working at it and getting better.”

1236

YSU Penguin Athletics / Memory Lane: 2006 James Madison Play-off Game

« on: December 13, 2011, 12:39:17 PM »

I thought since it is finals week, we could start posts I will call "memory lane".  Thanks for the name Penny. This time it is the 2006 play-off game vs. JMU. Has to go down as our greatest postseason game ever ...or at least non-final play-off game.

My best memory was watching the TV broadcast afterwards and the announcer saying "someone please cover that guy". He was so involved in the game, and not a Penguin fan. Also, I thought we had a VERY bad spot on that fourth-down spot, but it was still enough. Then to see Heacock jump and the defense running off the field before the marker even hit the ground.  Then the huge roar as the injured Mason came out to the huddle. You just knew this thing was ours.

1237

YSU Penguin Athletics / 2011 Football Awards: Hess Named MVP, Top O Player; Johnson Earns Defensive POY

« on: December 12, 2011, 09:54:10 PM »

Youngstown State sophomore quarterback Kurt Hess was selected as the team's John Delserone Most Valuable Player and Outstanding Offensive Player while senior defensive tackle Andrew Johnson was tabbed the team's Outstanding Defensive Player for the 2011 season.

Hess (Dayton, Ohio) was a first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection becoming the first quarterback in school history and just the second sophomore in league history to earn the honor. For the season he set the school record for single-season touchdown passes (26), completion percentage (64.5), 200-yard games (eight), touchdown passes in consecutive games (11) and touchdown passes in a game (five vs. Missouri State). Hess had a career-high 187 completions for a career-best 2,468 yards during the campaign.

He is the first Penguin since Brandon Summers in 2008 to earn top offensive player and team MVP in the same season.

Johnson (Detroit, Mich.) was a second-team All-MVFC selection in 2011 and was named the team's Outstanding Defensive Player and Jermaine Hopkins Defensive Lineman of the Year. led the team with 6.5 sacks and 11.0 tackles for loss. It was the most sacks registered in a regular season since Harry Deligianis had seven in 1997. He finished the year with 39 total tackles, including 27 solo stops. It marks the second straight year that a senior defensive tackle (Torrance Nicholson in 2010) has received both honors.

Junior center Mark Pratt (Tooele, Utah) was a second-team All-MVFC selection in 2011 and was tabbed the team's Jim Zdelar Offensive Lineman of the Year. Pratt started all 11 games at center in his first year with the program. He was the leader of an offensive line that helped the Guins average a school-record 36.2 points per game and a school-best 458.6 total offensive yards per game.

Sophomore punter Nick Liste (Niles, Ohio) was named the Jeff Wilkins/Paul McFadden Specialist of the Year. Liste averaged 39.8 yards per punt on 53 attempts. Of his 53 attempts, 16 were placed inside the opposition's 20-yard line while eight went for 50 yards or more.

Senior quarterback Marc Kanetsky (Hubbard, Ohio) was named the recipient of the Dr. Pat Spurgeon Torch Bearer Award and the Four Square Academic Award. Kanetsky was a four-year special teams standout as the team's holder on placement kicks. He also served as a reserve quarterback and threw touchdown passes as a sophomore and a senior.

Sophomore Torrian Pace (Chantilly, Va.) was selected to receive the Dr. Neal R. Frost Outreach Man of the Year Award. Pace was a reserve tailback and member on special teams for the Penguins in 2011. He has been active on campus as a member of the YSU SAAC the past three years.

Senior tight end David Rogers (Kent, Ohio) was named the Ron Stoops Most Inspirational Player. A fifth-year senior, Rogers wore No. 13 during the season to honor a friend who was killed in Afghanistan. Rogers also returned to be a key contributor following a severe injury in the 2009 season finale at North Dakota State.

Freshman wide receiver Christian Bryan (Irwin, Pa.) was selected as the program's Newcomer of the Year. Bryan, an honorable-mention All-MVFC pick and member of the conference's all-newcomer team, led all of FCS freshman with 719 receiving yards in 2011. He was one of 20 finalists for the Jerry Rice Award, which is given to the nation's top FCS freshman.

Also, for their efforts in the 56-14 Homecoming victory over Western Illinois, the starting offensive line of Andrew Radakovich, Lamar Mady, Pratt, Chris Elkins and Eric Franklin were the recipients of the YSU Football Alumni Group's Difference Maker Award.

John Delserone Most Valuable Player – Kurt Hess
Outstanding Offensive Player - Kurt Hess
Outstanding Defensive Player – Andrew Johnson
Jim Zdelar Offensive Lineman of the Year – Mark Pratt
Jermaine Hopkins Defensive Lineman of the Year - Andrew Johnson
McFadden/Wilkins Specialist of the Year – Nick Liste
Dr. Neal R. Frost Outreach Man of the Year Award – Torrian Pace
Dr. Pat Spurgeon Torch Bearer Award – Marc Kanetsky
Ron Stoops Most Inspirational Player – David Rogers
Newcomer of the Year – Christian Bryan
Football Alumni Award Difference Makers (vs. Western Illinois) -- Starting Offensive Line
Four Square Academic Award -- Marc Kanetsky

1238

YSU Penguin Athletics / Good props for Brandi Brown

« on: December 12, 2011, 09:50:50 PM »

http://collegechalktalk.com/conferencenotebooks/women/2011-12/12.11.11rodecker

1239

YSU Penguin Athletics / 2011 AFCA FCS Coaches' All-America Team Announced

« on: December 08, 2011, 07:26:28 AM »

Eastern Washington quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell and Stony Brook runningback Brock Jackolski headline the 2011 AFCA Football Championship Subdivision Coaches’ All-America Team announced today by the American Football Coaches Association.

The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.

Mitchell led the nation in total offense, at 364 yards per game, and points responsible for, with 220 total points. He is a finalist for the Payton Award. Jackolski finished third in the nation in all-purpose running, averaging 187.77 yards per game. He rushed for 1,418 yards, had 114 yards receiving, 55 punt return yards, 854 kickoff return yards and scored 20 touchdowns.

2011 AFCA Football Championship Subdivision Coaches’ All-America Team

Offense
Pos.    Name    Ht.    Wt.    Cl.    School    Coach    Hometown (High School)
WR    Ryan Spadola    6-3    205    Jr.    Lehigh    Andy Coen    Howell, N.J. (Freehold Township)
WR    Brian Quick    6-5    220    Sr.    Appalachian St.    Jerry Moore    Columbia, S.C. (Ridge View)
WR    Nicholas Edwards    6-3    200    Jr.    Eastern Washington    Beau Baldwin    Tacoma, Wash. (Foss)
OL    Gino Gradkowski    6-4    295    Sr.    Delaware    K.C. Keeler    Pittsburgh, Pa. (Seton-LaSalle)
OL    Brett Moore    6-3    255    Sr.    Georgia Southern    Jeff Monken    Warner Robins, Ga. (Northside)
C    Bryan Boemer    6-2    317    Sr.    Southern Illinois    Dale Lennon    St. Louis, Mo. (St. John Vianney)
OL    Paul Cornick    6-6    309    Sr.    North Dakota St.    Craig Bohl    Orono, Minn. (Orono)
OL    J.C. Oram    6-4    300    Sr.    Weber St.    Ron McBride    Marriott-Slaterville, Utah (Fremont)
QB    Bo Levi Mitchell    6-2    210    Sr.    Eastern Washington    Beau Baldwin    Katy, Texas (Katy)
RB    Shakir Bell    5-8    185    So.    Indiana St.    Trent Miles    Indianapolis, Ind. (Warren Central)
RB    Tim Flanders    5-9    210    So.    Sam Houston St.    Willie Fritz    Midwest City, Okla. (Midwest City)


Defense
Pos.    Name    Ht.    Wt.    Cl.    School    Coach    Hometown (High School)
DL    Ronnie Cameron    6-2    295    Sr.    Old Dominion    Bobby Wilder    Westbury, N.Y. (Holy Trinity)
DL    Andrew Schaetzke    6-4    245    Sr.    Georgetown    Kevin Kelly    Toledo, Ohio (St. John’s Jesuit)
DL    Ben Boothby    6-0    280    Sr.    Northern Iowa    Mark Farley    Clinton, Iowa (Clinton)
DL    Zack Nash    6-4    260    Sr.    Sacramento St.    Marshall Sperbeck    Vacaville, Calif. (Vacaville)
LB    Tyler Holmes*    6-0    224    Sr.    Massachusetts    Kevin Morris    Blacksburg, Va. (Blacksburg)
LB    Kadarron Anderson    6-1    234    Sr.    Furman    Bruce Fowler    Greenwood, S.C. (Emerald)
LB    Caleb McSurdy    6-1    242    Sr.    Montana    Robin Pflugrad    Boise, Idaho (Borah)
DB    Josh Norman    6-2    190    Sr.    Coastal Carolina    David Bennett    Greenwood, S.C. (Greenwood)
DB    Ryan Steed    5-11    188    Sr.    Furman    Bruce Fowler    Mt. Pleasant, S.C. (Pinewood Prep)
DB    Darnell Taylor    6-0    195    Jr.    Sam Houston St.    Willie Fritz    Mesquite, Texas (Mesquite)
DB    Trumaine Johnson*    6-3    210    Sr.    Montana    Robin Pflugrad    Stockton, Calif. (Edison)


Specialists
Pos.    Name    Ht.    Wt.    Cl.    School    Coach    Hometown (High School)
P    David Harrington    6-2    185    Sr.    Idaho St.    Mike Kramer    Marina, Calif. (Marina)
PK    Zach Brown    6-1    200    Jr.    Portland St.    Nigel Burton    Keizer, Ore. (McNary)
AP    Brock Jackolski    5-10    198    Sr.    Stony Brook    Chuck Priore    Shirley, N.Y. (William Floyd)


*-2010 All-American

Team Background: The AFCA has selected an All-America team every year since 1945. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.
The five teams now chosen for each AFCA division evolved from a single 11-player squad in 1945. From 1945 until 1967, only one team was chosen. From 1967 through 1971, two teams, University Division and College Division, were selected. In 1972, the College Division was split into College I and College II. In 1979, the University Division was split into two teams — Division I-A and Division I-AA. In 1996, the College I and College II teams were renamed Division II and Division III, respectively. In 2006, the Division I-A and Division I-AA teams were renamed Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), respectively. In 2006, the AFCA started selecting an NAIA-only team.

From 1965-81, a 22-player (11 offensive, 11 defensive) team was chosen. In 1982, a punter and placekicker were added to the team. In 1997, a return specialist was added, giving us the current 25-player team. The return specialist position was replaced by an all-purpose player in 2006.

Top Teams: Eastern Kentucky has been represented a total of 23 times by 21 players on the AFCA FCS Coaches’ All-America Team since 1979. The Colonels are followed by Appalachian State (23/17), Montana (21/20), Delaware (20/17), Furman (18/17), Northern Iowa (17/14), Georgia Southern (17/13), Eastern Washington (16/15), Lehigh (15/15), Grambling State (14/13), Stephen F. Austin (14/13), Portland State (13/13), Jackson State (13/12), Massachusetts (13/12), Weber State (13/12), Youngstown State (13/12), New Hampshire (13/11), Holy Cross (12/11), Western Illinois (12/11) and McNeese State (12/10) among current FCS schools.

Top Conference: The Colonial Athletic Association (formerly Atlantic 10) (117 appearances/107 players) is tops among all FCS conferences on the AFCA FCS Coaches All-America Team since 1979. Following the CAA is the Southern (104 appearances/91 players), Missouri Valley Football (formerly Gateway) (79/73), Big Sky (78/76), Ohio Valley (61/57), Southland (60/56), Southwestern Athletic (50/48), Patriot (46/45), Mid-Eastern Athletic (30/28), Ivy League (28/28), Northeast (15/13), Pioneer (13/13), Great West (10/9), Big South (8/8) and Metro Atlantic Athletic (5/4). These totals reflect FCS selections only from current conference members. Several schools had additional players chosen when they played in divisions other than FCS.

2011 Conference-by-Conference Breakdown: Big Sky – 8; Missouri Valley Football – 4; Southern – 4; Colonial Athletic – 3; Big South – 2; Patriot – 2; Southland – 2.

Consecutive Years: Eastern Kentucky leads all schools, having had at least one player named to the AFCA FCS Coaches’ All-America Team in each of the first 15 years a FCS team was chosen (1979-93).

Double-Five: In 2010, five schools had two representatives each on the FCS Coaches’ All-America team, which was a first since the AFCA began selecting an FCS Coaches’ All-Ameirca Team in 1979. Those All-American’s where Appalachian State’s Jabari Fletcher (DL) and Mark LeGree (DB), Eastern Washington’s J.C. Sherritt (LB) and Taiwan Jones (RB), Montana State’s Mike Person (OL) and Jason Cunningham (PK), Richmond’s Martin Parker (DL) and Eric McBride (LB) and Stephen F Austin’s Jeremy Moses (QB) and Kenneth Charles (DL).

This year, four schools had two representatives each on the squad. Eastern Washington’s Nicholas Edwards (WR) and Bo Levi Mitchell (QB), Sam Houston State’s Tim Flanders (RB) and Darnell Taylor (DB), Furman’s Kadarron Anderson (LB) and Ryan Steed (DB) and Montana’s Caleb McSurdy (LB) and Trumaine Johnson (DB) were all named to the 2011 FCS All-America Team.

Repeat After Me: Massachusetts’ Tyler Holmes and Montana’s Trumaine Johnson have been elected to the AFCA All-American team for the second consecutive year.
Linebackers Gary Reasons of Northwestern State (La.) (1981-83) and Dexter Coakley of Appalachian State (1994-96) are the only three-time AFCA All-Americans in the FCS.

Yearly Leaders: Grambling (1979-DL Joe Gordon, LB Aldrich Allen and DB Robert Salters) and Jackson State (1996-QB Grailyn Pratt, LB Otha Evans and DB Sean Woodson) are the only schools to have more than two players named to the AFCA FCS Coaches’ All-America Team in one year.

One Player, Two Schools: Punter Mark Bounds is the only player to earn Coaches’ All-America honors at two different schools. He was named to the AFCA College Division I team in 1990 while playing for West Texas A&M. He transferred to Texas Tech after West Texas dropped football and earned FBS All-America honors as a Red Raider in 1991.

Class Distinction: This year’s AFCA FCS Coaches’ All-America Team is made up of 19 seniors, four juniors and two sophomores.

1240

YSU Penguin Athletics / Balanced YSU Routs Freedonia

« on: December 07, 2011, 09:42:51 AM »

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP)—Blake Allen scored 14 points and Youngstown State routed Fredonia State 69-35 on Tuesday night, allowing the fewest points by an opponent in 41 years.

DuShawn Brooks added 13 points and Kendrick Perry had 12 for Youngstown State (6-2), which had its best defensive effort since Hiram scored 35 on Dec. 22, 1970.

The Penguins, who won their 10th straight nonconference game at home, led 31-12 at halftime, then outscored the Division III Blue Devils 38-23 in the second half.

Youngstown State held Fredonia State (6-2) to 31.9-percent shooting from the field (15 of 47) and just 3 of 16 from beyond the arc.

Youngstown State shot 50.9 percent (29 of 57) and 9 of 24 from long range. Neither team spent much time at the free-throw line, with both going 2 of 7.

Julius Bryant led the Blue Devils, who are 0-20 against Division I programs, with 13 points.

Final
Team     1     2     Total
Fredonia St.     12     23     35
Youngstown St.     31     38     69

Youngstown State Penguins
5-2 (Won last 1)

Fredonia State Blue Devils
Name     Min     FG     3Pt     FT     Off     Reb     Ast     TO     Stl     Blk     PF     Pts
J. Bryant     30     6-9     0-0     1-2     1     6     0     2     0     1     2     13
L. Smith     27     2-6     1-2     0-0     1     2     2     4     1     0     1     5
D. Kashmer     26     2-7     0-2     0-0     0     3     2     2     0     0     1     4
D. Case     13     1-4     0-0     0-0     0     1     0     0     0     0     2     2
J. Herrera     27     0-2     0-2     0-0     0     5     4     5     0     0     2     0
M. Williams     14     0-2     0-0     1-4     0     1     2     2     0     0     1     1
N. DeWaters     1     0-0     0-0     0-0     1     2     0     0     0     0     0     0
D. Goodwin     13     0-3     0-3     0-0     1     4     0     0     0     0     1     0
A. Billups     14     1-6     1-4     0-0     0     0     0     0     0     0     0     3
K. Mitchell     21     3-8     1-3     0-1     0     2     0     4     0     1     3     7
D. Jackson     14     0-0     0-0     0-0     0     0     0     0     0     0     0     0
Totals         15-47     3-16     2-7     4     26     10     21     1     2     13     35
Percentages         .319     .188     .286         Team Rebounds: 8

Youngstown State Penguins Youngstown St.
Name     Min     FG     3Pt     FT     Off     Reb     Ast     TO     Stl     Blk     PF     Pts
A. Ward     22     1-6     0-3     0-0     0     3     3     2     1     1     2     2
D. Eargle     17     4-6     0-1     0-1     1     3     1     2     1     4     2     8
K. Perry     25     5-9     1-2     1-2     1     5     1     1     3     0     1     12
B. Allen     25     5-7     4-6     0-0     0     2     2     0     1     0     0     14
D. Brooks     24     5-9     3-6     0-0     0     3     3     0     0     1     0     13
D. Reese     4     0-0     0-0     0-0     0     0     0     0     0     0     0     0
C. Morgan     4     1-1     0-0     0-0     0     0     0     0     0     0     1     2
N. Perry     11     1-6     0-3     0-0     1     2     0     0     1     0     0     2
F. Larson     15     3-3     0-0     0-0     2     5     2     0     0     0     1     6
S. Amiker Jr.     16     1-4     0-0     1-2     1     4     0     1     0     1     0     3
D. Cole     15     2-2     0-0     0-0     0     1     4     1     0     0     1     4
C. Zuiker     9     0-1     0-1     0-0     0     0     0     1     1     0     1     0
J. Chojnacki     7     1-2     1-1     0-0     0     1     0     0     0     1     1     3
M. Podolsky     8     0-1     0-1     0-2     0     0     0     0     0     0     0     0
Totals         29-57     9-24     2-7     6     29     16     8     8     8     10     69
Percentages         .509     .375     .286         Team Rebounds: 2
Game Info

Technical Fouls:
    None

Arena:
    Beeghly Physical Education Center, Youngstown, OH

Attendance:
    1,198

Officials:
    Chris Beaver, Bret Smith, Larry Martin


 

1241

YSU Penguin Athletics / Bowling Green Pulls Away Late for 73-61 Win Over YSU

« on: December 07, 2011, 09:41:04 AM »

Youngstown -- Bowling Green outscored the Youngstown State women's basketball team 13-2 over the final five-and-a-half minutes to win 73-61 and overshadow an overall encouraging Penguins performance.

The Penguins, who lost by 46 to the MAC East favorite Falcons last year and had lost by an average of 35.6 in the past three seasons, battled through 12 lead changes and five ties before falling short late.

Youngstown State was outscored 24-11 off turnovers and 42-24 in the paint, and the Penguins committed a season-high 21 turnovers. YSU had outscored its previous seven opponents off turnovers and had won the battle in the paint in six straight contests.

Brandi Brown scored 13 of her 15 points with four fouls, and Kenya Middlebrooks added 15.

Sophomore Alexis Rogers, a Duke transfer, had 23 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 9-for-14 from the field. Chrissy Steffen added 21 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four of Bowling Green's 12 steals.

Bowling Green won its fifth straight contest to improve to 5-2 while Youngstown State dropped to 4-4.

Bowling Green went on an 11-3 run in the first half to take a 32-27 lead at the intermission, and the Falcons led for the first seven minutes of the second half. A 3-pointer by Devan Matkin capped a seven-point run that gave the Penguins a 45-43 lead.

The lead changed hands three times, and a Brown triple gave the Penguins their final lead at 55-54 with 9:17 remaining. YSU didn't score again until Brown's bucket with 6:52 left, but it still trailed by just one at that point. Two free throws by Brown cut the deficit 60-59 with 5:45 to play.

Bowling Green scored on five of its next six possessions, and Steffen had eight of the Falcons' next 10 points as they took a 70-61 lead with 3:05 left. A Brown bucket at the 3:46 mark accounted for YSU's final points of the contest. Bowling Green made three free throws in the final 1:18 for the final margin.

Brown, who was recognized for scoring her 1,000th point in a pre-game ceremony, scored the Penguins' final nine points and was YSU's only palyer to score in the final nine-and-a-half minutes.

Bowling Green slightly outshot the Penguins 40.3 percent to 40 percent, but the Falcons outscored YSU 20-5 at the free-throw line. YSU was just 5-for-12 from the stripe in the contest. The Guins were 8-for-28 from 3-point range while the Falcons were 3-for-18.

The first half featured four ties and six lead changes, but Bowling Green's 11-3 run over the last 3:19 of the first half gave the Falcons a 32-27 advantage at the intermission. YSU needed a step-back 3-pointer from Middlebrooks in the final 10 seconds to stop the 13-point run.

The Guins had built a five-point edge, 24-19, after a Tieara Jones layup, a jumper by Middlebrooks and a driving layup by Kelsea Fickiesen.

The Falcons scored the first seven points of the game before the Guins scored nine of the next 10 points to take a 9-8 lead with 12:31 left before the half. The Guins again overcame a three-point deficit, 12-9, using a a 7-2 run keyed by 3-pointers from Matkin and Middlebrooks to take a 16-14 lead at the 8:54 mark.

Youngstown State will head back on the road to play at Ohio on Friday at 7:05 p.m.

FINAL     1     2     T
Bowling Green (5-2)     32     41     73
Youngstown State (4-4)     27     34     61
Youngstown, Ohio - Beeghly Center

Bowling Green    Youngstown State
Pts: ROGERS, Alexis - 23     Pts: 2 Players (#05, #42 - 15)
Reb: ROGERS, Alexis - 11     Reb: Brandi Brown - 9
Ast: STEFFEN, Chrissy - 5     Ast: Tieara Jones - 4

Team Statistics
Bowling Green    Youngstown State
Field Goal %     40.3% (25-62 )     40.0% (24-60 )
Rebounds     40     39
Assists     9     11
Turnovers     14     21
Pts off Turnovers     24     11
2nd Chance Pts     10     12
Pts in the Paint     42     24
Fastbreak Pts     9     0
Bench Pts     9     23

 

1242

YSU Penguin Athletics / DuShawn Brooks Named HL Player of the Week

« on: December 05, 2011, 08:20:00 PM »

INDIANAPOLIS -- Shooting 64 percent from three-point range, Youngstown State senior forward DuShawn Brooks (Chicago, Ill./Thornton) has been named the Horizon League Men's Basketball Player of the Week, for the week of Nov. 29-Dec. 4. The accolade is the first of Brooks' career, while the senior is the first player from Youngstown State to collect the honors since Jan. 11, 2010.

Helping Youngstown State (5-2 1-1 Horizon) open with a road split in the first weekend of Horizon League play, Brooks averaged 20.5 points per game, knocking down 9-of-14 three-point attempts as the Penguins knocked off Detroit, 64-61, before suffering a 63-62 defeat at Wright State on Saturday.

In the conference-opening victory at Detroit, Brooks carried Youngstown State down the stretch, scoring 11 straight points to turn a five-point deficit into a late lead. In the spurt, Brooks knocked down three attempts from long distance, finishing the game 6-of-9 from three-point range. Brooks' 24 points in the win were a career high.

The senior followed up the effort by going 3-for-5 from three-point range en route to 17 points on Saturday. On the week, Brooks went 16-for-26 from the field.

Through the first month of the season, Brooks is part of a YSU offense that is leading the Horizon League in three-point shooting, attempting 23.6 threes per game. The Penguins are knocking down a League-best 39.4 percent of those attempts.

Returning to non-conference play, the Guins welcome Fredonia State to the Beeghly Center on Tuesday, Dec. 6 for a 7:45 p.m. ET tip. The game will be carried live on the Horizon League Network. On Saturday, the Penguins travel to Buffalo, N.Y., for a 7 p.m. ET game against the MAC's Buffalo.

1243

YSU Penguin Athletics / Basketball at WSU

« on: December 03, 2011, 03:44:02 PM »

We are trying to give this one away late in the fist half. We were up by 15 points & now it is 2. Perry has 1 point.

1244

YSU Penguin Athletics / Football Highlights from the 2011 Season

« on: December 03, 2011, 11:00:42 AM »

This is From YSU. Some bad music choices, but great video. Or maybe I am getting too old? 

1245

YSU Penguin Athletics / Penguin Track Invite First Event Held at WATTS Begins Today

« on: December 02, 2011, 03:21:42 PM »

Youngstown State University's men's and women's track teams will open the 2011-2012 indoor season hosting the very first indoor track meet at the WATTS on Friday afternoon. Seven schools will compete in the YSU Invitational, as the throwing events start at 3 p.m. and the running events begin a half hour later.

Buffalo State, Clarion, Duquesne, John Carroll, Robert Morris, and Slippery Rock will be in attendance. For a complete list of events and heat sheets please click here.

YSU returns several letterwinners and top competitors from last season.

In the men's track events, Martin Solomon will compete in the 60m hurdles, the 200m dash, and the 400m dash. Solomon finished fourth in the 60m hurdles and eighth in the 400m at the Horizon League Indoor Championships last season and won the titles in the 110m hurdles and the 400m hurdles at the Horizon League Outdoor Championships. Clay Febus, who also placed in the top five in both of the hurdles events at the outdoor championships last season, will run the 60m hurdles and the 400m dash.

Coming off of a solid cross country season, Brandon Pasvanis, Ryan Pavlicko, and Aron Koir will each run in the 800m and one mile events while freshmen Austin McLean and Nick Gliha compete in the 5,000m run.

On the women's side, sprinters Ciara Jarrett, Kenya Garner, Symona Gregory, Nicole Pachol, and Taylor Entzi are back from a successful 2010-2011 campaign. Jarrett (won the title in the 200m and took third in the 60m at the indoor championships; won both titles in the 100m and the 200m at the outdoor championships), Garner (third in the 200m and sixth in the 60m at the indoor championships; eighth in the 100m at the outdoor championships), and Gregory (ninth in both the 60m and the 200m; third in the 100m and 200m at the outdoor championships) will all run in the 60m and 200m events on Friday.

Jarrett will also run in the 400m along with Pachol (fourth in the 400m and seventh in the 60m hurdles at the indoor championships; third in the 400m hurdles at the outdoor championships) and Entzi (ninth in the 400m in the indoor championships; fourth at the outdoor championships). Pachol and Entzi will also run in the 200m dash.

Brittany Stockmaster and Samantha Atwood, who are also coming off of a strong cross country season, will run the 3,000m.

In the men's field events, Johnny Copley (sixth in the pole vault in the indoor championships; third at the outdoor championships) is set to pole vault on Friday. Bobby Grace (won both the indoor and outdoor titles in the shot put; fourth in the weight throw at the indoor championships; second in the discus and hammer throw at the outdoor championships), Caleb Schwan (third in the weight throw and seventh in the shot put at the indoor championships), and George Thomas (second in the weight throw at the indoor championships; fifth in the discus and the hammer at the outdoor championships) will compete in the shot put and the weight throw.

Competing in the women's field events will be Kendall Homan (eighth in the long jump at the indoor championships and sixth at the outdoor championships in the long jump), Katrina Rettburg (won the high jump at both the indoor and outdoor championships in the high jump), and KaiCee Kubicina (sixth in the shot put at the indoor championships; third in the discus and fourth in the shot put at the outdoor championships) and Alison Roth (second in the shot put at the indoor championships; won the discus and was second in the shot put at the outdoor championships) in the shot put.