Published: Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Little-known players will play a large role
Ferlando Williams and Jabari Scott must be scout team all-stars this week.
By PETE MOLLICA
YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State's Ferlando Williams and Jabari Scott haven't played a down for the Penguins football team this season, but both will play key roles this week as the team tries to stay alive in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Series.
The Penguins (11-2 and seeded No. 4) will take on defending national champion Appalachian State (12-1 and seeded No. 1) in the semifinals Saturday at 4 p.m. in Boone, N.C.
The contest will be televised live over ESPN and ESPN HD.
Williams, a 6-0, 185 pound transfer from Georgia Military Academy, and Scott, a 5-10 sophomore tailback from San Antonio, Texas, are both being redshirted this season with the Penguins.
But both possess blazing speed. It will be their jobs this week to impersonate the Mountaineers' two top offensive threats, quarterback Armanti Edwards and tailback Kevin Richardson.
"It is very hard to simulate their offensive speed in practice, but we are blessed to have Ferlando and Jabari, who will be as close to their speed as we can get," said YSU head coach Jon Heacock.
Background
The Penguins have beaten James Madison 35-31 and Illinois State 28-21 in their first to FCS playoff games, while Appalachian State has wins over Coastal Carolina 45-28 and Montana State 38-17.
This will be the first-ever meeting between the Penguins and Mountaineers, although both teams have played one similar opponent, James Madison.
The Mountaineers defeated the Dukes 21-10 back on Sept. 9, while the Penguins beat James Madison two weeks ago in the playoff opener.
Williams, a quarterback in both high school and Georgia Military, was recruited by the Penguins as an athlete, one who could play quarterback, running back, wide receiver or defense.
He'll try to reenact Edwards' speed at quarterback this week.
Scott, who played as a freshman, was redshirted this season because of the Penguins' depth at the tailback spot. He'll play the Mountaineers' tailback Kevin Richardson, who has rushed for nearly 1,400 yards and scored 25 touchdowns.
"They both can go like the wind and that's what we're going to see on Saturday," Heacock said.
Players of the week
The Penguins announced their players of the week for the Illinois State game.
Senior Pat Walker (6-5, 290) was named the Hill, Barth and King offensive player of the game.
The veteran tackle led a YSU offensive line that accounted for 345 total yards, including 199 on the ground.
The game's defensive player was senior linebacker Marty Hutchinson (6-4, 220), who led the team in tackles (7) and also had a pass interception and one tackle for loss.
The special teams' top player was sophomore Mike Barlak (6-2, 220), who handles the all the snaps from center on punts and kicks. Barlak, who also plays linebacker, had a perfect night against the Redbirds.
The Jim Zedlar Offensive Lineman award went to senior center Ryan Jewell (6-4, 285), while the Jermaine Hopkins Defensive Lineman award was won by junior defensive end Greg Jacobs (6-3, 270).
The Haines Family Player of the Game, selected by the YSU radio broadcast teams, was senior linebacker Jeff Koval (6-1, 220), who had six tackles, four of them for losses and one sack.
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