Youngstown St. prevails 30-24 in OT at Indiana St.
Josh Cayson scored the game-winning TD, after Nick Terracina's field goal tied it in regulation.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- For nearly 40 minutes, Youngstown State struggled, but the Penguins came alive at the end and pulled out a 30-24 overtime victory over Indiana State Saturday.
Junior Nick Terracina kicked a 42-yard field goal with 33 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game, and then in overtime, junior defensive lineman Matt Briggs stripped the ball from Indiana's State quarterback Jake Schiff to set up sophomore tailback Josh Cayson's game-winning score moments later on a 15-yard run.
"They just showed so much heart out there at the end," said YSU coach Jon Heacock. "They played hard all day long, but it seemed every time we did something good, we followed it up by doing something bad.
"At the end it was a great defensive play by Matt Briggs and then the offense went out and just punched it over with typical Youngstown State offense," he added.
Marshall rallies YSU
The Penguins (5-3, 2-1 Gateway Conference) trailed 24-14 with 7:31 remaining in the game, when sophomore quarterback Aaron Marshall came off the bench to relieve junior Matt Rycraft, who made his first career start, and rallied the Penguins.
Marshall completed three straight passes, the final one for 31 yards and a touchdown to junior wide receiver Phil Larmon, who made a terrific catch in the end zone.
YSU's defense then stopped the Sycamores and the Penguins got the ball back at their 34 with 2:16 remaining.
Marshall made a couple of nice runs and with the help of a 15-yard penalty against the Sycamores, YSU got the ball to the ISU 25-yard.
Terracina ties score
On fourth down and with time running out Terracina was perfect into the wind to tie the score.
Indiana State managed to get back to field goal range before the regulation ended, but Kyle Hooper wasn't close on a 42-yard attempt.
ISU got the ball first in overtime and on first down Schiff dropped back to pass, then took off running. He got to the 3-yard line where he was hit from behind by Briggs, who stripped the football and then recovered it.
"I hustled down and somebody hit him and I came in from behind and knocked the ball loose," said Briggs. "It fell right down below me and I fell on it."
The Penguins then got the ball and on the first play, Cayson, who led the Penguins with 81 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns, raced 10 yards off-tackle.
On the second play Cayson slanted out, then cut up the middle and found daylight and raced the final 15 yards for the winning score.
Martin, Briggs deliver
The Penguins, who trailed 10-7 at halftime, took the lead early in the third quarter after junior linebacker Justin Martin intercepted Schiff at the ISU 14. Again it was Briggs who forced the errant pass.
After a 5-yard penalty against Indiana State, Cayson raced the final 9 yards untouched to the end zone.
The Sycamores regained the lead 17-14 on an 83-yard drive with Sydney Montfort scoring on a 2-yard run.
They put more pressure on the Penguins when they went up 24-14 on a 29-yard pass from Schiff to Steve Daniel.
The Penguins, who had 97 total yards through three quarters, finished with 225 total yards (93 rushing and 132 passing).
Heacock said Rycraft was hurting after the first quarter.
"He really couldn't run," Heacock said.
Other team's mistakes
All of the first half scoring came by virtue of the other team's mistakes.
YSU took the opening kickoff but couldn't move on three tries and Joe Bishop punted to the Indiana State 25 where Brandon Hooks signaled for a fair catch, but dropped the ball. Mike Bracken recovered for the Penguins at the 27.
YSU was hit with a personal foul penalty on the play and took over at the ISU 42. Following a penalty against the Sycamores, the Penguins had a first down at the ISU 18.
Cayson ran twice to the 3 and after losing 3 yards on the next play, Rycraft rolled left and raced for the end zone, diving the final yard for the score.
The Sycamores missed a scoring opportunity early in the second quarter when Kyle Hooper missed a 30-yard field goal attempt, but got two points a couple minutes later when Terrence Miles raced in and blocked a Bishop punt at the 10-yard line and the ball rolled through the end zone for a safety.
Penalty
The Sycamores got the ball back and started deep in their own territory. They had second down at their own 28 when Jake Schiff's pass was intercepted by Bracken at the ISU 28, but the Penguins were called for roughing the passer and the Sycamores got a first down at their own 43.
They took their first lead four plays later when Schiff laid a perfect pass over the defense to tight end Ryan King for a 29-yard touchdown pass.
Indiana State had another scoring opportunity in the closing seconds of the half as Schiff drove them to the YSU 9 with just seconds remaining. But Schiff was hit by Nate Baston and fumbled with Jeremiah Wright recovering and the Penguins then ran out the clock.
mollica@vindy.com