YSU FOOTBALL A look back at the year that was

Despite a 5-7 record, the Penguins did have some highlights this season.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown State football team finished the season with some good points and some bad points.
The Penguins, who finished with a 5-7 overall record and a 2-5 mark in the Gateway Conference, just completed a final week of extended practice in preparation for the 2004 season.
A look at some of the highs and lows of the year follows:
The good:
UJoe Bishop became just the second YSU punter since 1985 to average 40 yards per punt by averaging exactly 40.0 yards. In 1999, Anthony Rozzo averaged 40.5 per kick while in 1985, Nick Xides averaged 41.8.
UJosh Cayson averaged 26.8 yards on 16 kickoff returns -- the most since Randy Smith averaged 33.1 in 1994. Cayson's average was the third highest in school history.
UKyle Smith and Mike Roberts each caught 29 passes, the most by two players in the same season since 1997 -- Willis Marshall (40) and Renauld Ray (38).
UEntering the final Saturday of regular-season play, the Penguins played the second-toughest I-AA schedule this season, trailing only Princeton. Princeton played 4-5 Dartmouth on Saturday so there was a strong possibility YSU played the toughest I-AA regular-season schedule this year.
UYSU was 5-0 when scoring 30 or more points. In the five wins, YSU outscored opponents 178-57. In the seven defeats, YSU was outscored 226-103.
The not-so-good:
UYSU did not win the turnover margin (-1) for the first time since 1989 and for just the second time in the last 18 seasons.
UThe defense allowed an average of 391.9 yards per game, the most in a regular season since 411 per game in 1986.
UYSU lost the time of possession battle 32:29 to 27:28 and in only two games did the Penguins have more time of possession than an opponent (Liberty, SMS).
UThe Penguins lost their final four games of the season for the first time since 1983. YSU lost four straight games for the first time since 1986.
UYSU finished with a losing record for the first time since 1995 and had a losing record in the Gateway for the first time since joining the league in 1997.
UThe YSU defense allowed 62 points in the first six games (10.3 average), but allowed 221 in the final six contests (36.8 average). In total yardage for those games, first six (2,102-1,841) final six (1,730-2,862 -- average 288.3-477).
UIn the last five games, YSU was outrushed 1,582-555.
The Penguins redshirted 17 players during the 2003 season. They were WR T.J. Peterson, TB Justin Reams, QB Tom Zetts, SS Bob Perez, CB Anton Rush, SS Tim Dewberry, LB Dorian Chenault, FS Tony Lawrence, LB Seth Job, G Bryant Wilson, LB Peter Berthold, OT Matt Kishman, DT DeVaughn Wilkins, WR Rory Berry, WR Dustin Helle, NT Leon Edwards, LB Blake Halverson.