YSU NOTEBOOK From Stambaugh Stadium

Not over yet: Despite the loss, the Penguins are still alive in the Gateway Conference standings. At 2-2 the Penguins are only a game out of first place after Southern Illinois was beaten Saturday. The Penguins still have to play Western Illinois and Southern Illinois, who both have only one league loss. "I told the kids after the game that going into today's game we were in control of our own destiny, but now we are not," said coach Jon Heacock. "Now we'll have to see just how much they want to play in the next three weeks."
Airs it out: YSU redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Marshall had thrown just 19 passes in his first three games as a starter. Saturday he was 10 of 23 for 137 yards and one touchdown. He was sacked twice, but also had 25 yards in losses.
Can't blame Kosta: YSU senior punter Kosta Karapetsas had his best game for the Penguins. The former Warren Harding standout punted nine times for a 40.7-yard average, including a long kick of 49 yards. However, Karapetsas' punt coverage team didn't do quite as well as Northern Iowa's Ben Sanderson returned eight of Karapetsas' punts for 95 yards, including a long of 21 yards. Sanderson also returned two kickoffs for 58 yards. One came right after the Penguins' touchdown, for 46 yards to midfield.
Hot kicker: Northern Iowa placekicker Mackenzie Hoambrecker is having a great season. In seven games Hoambrecker has booted 15 of 18 field goals, and for the second time this year he had five field goals in a game. Saturday's game was not quite as dramatic as his last five field-goal game, which came against Cal Poly when he kicked a 57-yard game-winner in overtime. The senior has also made 13 of 14 extra-point attempts.
Defensive stats: Sophomore defensive back Mike Bracken led the Penguins with 11 total tackles, including seven solo hits. He had 2.5 tackles for losses of 10 yards, including one sack, and he forced both of UNI's fumbles. Senior linebacker Jon Tekac finished second with 6.5 tackles, while senior defensive end Martin Stachowicz had the other YSU sack. Seniors Guy Mazard and Wendell Parish had fumble recoveries for the Penguins.
Up next: The Penguins will travel to Macomb, Ill., next Saturday to take on the Western Illinois Leathernecks in a 2:05 p.m. kickoff. Western Illinois defeated Indiana State 52-21 Saturday to improve to 6-1 on the season and 3-1 in the Gateway.
-- Pete Mollica