The next three weeks will determine whether the Penguins are contenders or pretenders.
Youngstown State (4-2, 2-1 Missouri Valley Football Conference) will face SIU, Northern Iowa and South Dakota State — the top three teams in the conference — over the next three weeks.
But head coach Jon Heacock said his team’s focus is squarely on the Salukis as it heads to McAndrew Stadium for a 3 p.m. kickoff.
“They play like a veteran squad, and that’s credit to (head coach) Dale Lennon and his squad. They just don’t make mistakes,” Heacock said. “We’ll need to keep our focus on the game on Saturday and worry about the rest of the season afterwards.”
Youngstown State will come into Saturday’s game at No. 3 SIU (5-1, 4-0 MVFC) well rested after last week’s bye, which may give an advantage to the Penguins — who have won their last six games after a bye.
The Penguins will also enter Saturday’s game with revenge on their mind after last season’s 33-0 defeat against SIU last season in Youngstown, Ohio.
‘’Last year was embarrassing,’’ right guard Brian Mellott said. ‘’It was humiliating for this town. As a local, Youngstown native, it was the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to me at Youngstown State.’’
Brandon Summers is capable of dishing out the payback.
The senior quarterback did not play in last year’s blowout because of a sprained knee, but Summers will look to beat the Salukis with his arm and his legs.
He has 159 net-gain yards on the ground, including a 73-yard run. Summers is only the second Youngstown State quarterback since 1990 to rush for three touchdowns in a season.
“We just got to keep pressure on a quarterback that can run like that,” SIU senior linebacker Brandin Jordan said. “You stop him from running, and you make him beat you with the pass.”
Summers’ passing may prove to be the best offense for the Salukis as he has struggled with interceptions.
Summers has completed 100 of 160 pass attempts for 1,083 yards, 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions on the season. SIU leads the MVFC with 12 interceptions on the year.
But Summers is not alone in the Penguins’ offensive assault.
Donald Jones and Dominique Barnes are two of the top receivers in the conference, both averaging more than 60 yards receiving per game. Jones and Barnes both have four touchdown receptions on the year.
Behind Summers are running backs Kevin Smith and Jabari Scott, who both have passed the 1,000-yard mark in their careers. Smith has plowed ahead for 526 yards on the season and is tied with Summers with three rushing touchdowns.
On the defensive side, two preseason all-conference defensive tackles will look to do what no team has done yet this season — slow down the nation’s leading rusher Deji Karim.
‘’We have a lot to stop, but I believe as we prepare this week that we can do it,’’ cornerback Brandian Ross said.
Ross is part of one of the best secondaries in the nation as the Penguins rank No. 1 in the conference in pass defense.
Even as Youngstown State faces down the toughest stretch of its season, Heacock said he is prepared for the challenge.
‘’It’s exciting. This is what you come here for,” Heacock said. “This is the whole deal. You go play the best teams and see where you are. If you’re still standing at the end, then you play in the playoffs.’’
Ryan Voylescan be reached at 536-3311 ext. 256
