Sky-high evaluation

Last weekend, after his Hilltoppers were leveled by Eastern Washington in the quarterfinals of the Division I-AA college football playoffs, Western Kentucky coach Jack Harbaugh suggested the Eagles might not know how good they are.

Enter Youngstown State’s Jim Tressel to help clear up any confusion.

“They’re just a great team,” Tressel said earlier this week while preparing his eighth-seeded Penguins (11-2) for this afternoon’s 12:30 semifinal showdown against third-seeded EWU (12-1) at Albi Stadium. “On offense they pose problems that no one else in the country poses.

“And on defense they’re just incredible with their quickness and ability to analyze. Their kids are like sixth-year pros, they’ve been there so long. They’re just darn good.”

The winner of today’s game will play for the I-AA national championship next Saturday in Chattanooga, Tenn., against the winner of today’s other semifinal matchup between sixth-seeded McNeese State (12-1) and fourth-seeded Delaware (12-1).

Tressel has seen good I-AA teams before. He’s coached some of the best, like those who won national championships for Youngstown in 1991, 1993 and 1994.

But he insists none has been as impressive as the Big Sky Conference champion Eagles, the highest-remaining seed in the playoffs.

“We’ve played a number of Big Sky teams over the years, but this one is head and shoulders the best,” Tressel said. “And the ones we’ve played have been good - Reno in 1991, Idaho in ‘93, Montana and Boise State in ‘94.

“But this (Eastern) team doesn’t even compare. They’re light years ahead. Big, strong, fast, quick - whatever adjectives you want to use, they’ve got it. And that’s why they’re here.”

Tressel’s wave of praise might puff the chests of some EWU followers, but it will probably do little to alter the mindset of an Eagles team that has been almost as humble this fall as it has been dominant.

Just in case, though, Mike Kramer is quick to point out that Youngstown whipped up on each of those other four Big Sky opponents on its way to a national title. And he doesn’t expect the Penguins to be in awe of his Eagles this afternoon, no matter how flattering Tressel has been.

“I don’t think they’re intimidated by anything,” Kramer said of the Penguins, who finished third behind Western Illinois and Northern Iowa in their first season as a member of the Gateway Conference.

“They’re going to come in here with an identity … and thought as to the fact that they are the heir to the national championship about every other year.

“I’d say we’re the decided underdogs, just in the mental approach to things.”

On paper, Eastern would seem to have a slight edge. The Eagles have methodically dismantled their first two playoff opponents, Northwestern State and Western Kentucky, by lopsided scores of 40-10 and 38-21.

Youngstown thumped Hampton 28-13 in its playoff opener and then sneaked past top-seeded and previously unbeaten Villanova 37-34 last week. But the Penguins have been living on turnovers.

Hampton turned the ball over six times in its opening-round loss and Villanova threw away a 21-0 second-quarter lead last weekend by coughing up the football four times. YSU’s Jauron Dailey returned one fumble for a touchdown, and teammate Willis Marshall returned a blocked punt for another TD.

The Penguins hold a 10-0 turnover margin in the playoffs, but will be up against the Eastern team that prides itself on taking care of the football.

The Eagles, who fumbled only 17 times during the regular season, have not put the ball on the ground in the playoffs. And quarterback Harry Leons, who threw just six interceptions during the year, has been picked off only once in the playoffs.

Leons, who seems to have recovered from the torn rib cartilage that hampered his throwing in last week’s win over WKU, could emerge as the key player in today’s game.

The 6-foot-2 senior, who was named the Big Sky’s offensive player of the year, has thrown for 2,911 yards and 23 touchdowns. And Youngstown has been susceptible to the pass, particularly last weekend when Villanova burned the Penguins secondary for 323 yards and four touchdowns.

Notes

Because of fog at Spokane International Airport Thursday evening, Youngstown State was forced to fly into Moses Lake and bus to Spokane for today’s game. … By playing third-seeded EWU, the Penguins become the only team in the country to face the top three teams in this year’s playoffs. They lost to second-seeded Western Illinois 24-21 during the regular season and beat No. 1-seeded Villanova last Saturday. … YSU’s streak of 10 consecutive playoff wins is the longest in I-AA history. … Starting running back Jake Andreadis has rushed for 966 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, and his backup, sophomore Adrian Brown, has gained 629 yards and scored 17 touchdowns on an equal number of carries.