The Penguins breezed to their second straight victory of the season, 45-12.

The Penguins breezed to their second straight victory of the season, 45-12.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State unleashed a tremendous offensive attack and easily rolled to its second straight victory Saturday night, beating up on Division II Slippery Rock 45-12 before 17,803 at Stambaugh Stadium.
The Penguins rolled up over 500 yards of total offense, rolling to a 35-12 halftime score and then getting another score and a field goal in the second half.
Senior Aaron Marshall and junior Matt Rycraft took turns leading the Penguins to scores as Marshall hit on 6 of 11 passes for 87 yards and three touchdowns, while Rycraft added a perfect 6-for-6 for 77 yards and one TD. He also ran for a touchdown.
Bending defense
While the offense rolled, the defense again allowed a lot of yardage by the visitors as Slippery Rock totaled 280 yards, 144 rushing and 136 passing, but scored only one touchdown.
YSU finished with 333 yards rushing, led again by sophomore Josh Cayson, who had 115 yards on 14 carries, while senior Mike Burns checked in with 79 yards on 11 attempts.
Senior fullback Chris DiMauro scored his first career touchdown on a 1-yard run in the final period, while junior kicker Nick Terracina added his first YSU field goal with a 40-yarder in the third quarter.
Next week the Penguins will be on the road against Kent State University in a 6 p.m. kickoff at Dix Stadium.
The Penguins' offense was almost unstoppable in the first half as it scored on five of its seven possessions and stopped itself on the other two with turnovers.
YSU amassed 349 total yards in the half, 195 on the ground and 154 through the air.
Dual attack
Both Marshall and Rycraft led the team as they completed 10-of-14 passes and four touchdowns. Marshall, who was 6-of-10 for 87 yards, threw three TD passes and Rycraft was 4-for-4 for 67 yards and one TD and also ran 33 yards for another score.
The Penguins took the opening kickoff and scored on just five plays. Sophomore Damian Wright raced 22 yards on an end-around on the first play to set the drive in motion.
Four plays later Marshall hit DiMauro with a 6-yard scoring pass.
Slippery Rock got on the board on its first series as it drove from the YSU 32 after a kickoff return by Kevin Johnston and a 15-yard penalty against the Penguins. The drive stalled at the YSU 10, but John Katsaouni booted a 27-yard field goal.
Short-lived lead
The Rock actually took the lead as the Penguins coughed up the ball on their second series. Marshall was sacked by Mike Copper and fumbled at his own 15 with Louis Jamison recovering for Slippery Rock.
It took five plays, but redshirt freshman Luke McCaffrey finally scored on a 5-yard quarterback keeper as The Rock went ahead 9-7.
That lead lasted exactly two minutes as YSU came right back with Rycraft leading the way on a five-play drive in which he carried the ball the last four times, the final one a sneak play that he broke loose for a 33-yard scoring run.
The next time the Penguins got the ball, they drove 74 yards in nine plays as Marshall hit on 4-of-5 passes, the final three in a row and the last one to 6-7 sophomore tight end Shawn Carlson for the score from 5 yards out.
The Penguins made it 28-9 on their next series as Marshall connected with a wide open Kyle Smith for a 45-yard scoring play.
After The Rock added another field goal by Katsaouni, this one 39 yards, the Penguins rolled again on offense.
They drove 67 yards in eight plays behind Rycraft, who completed all four passes in the drive, the final one to Carlson in the end zone that covered 31 yards.
The Penguins had the football one more time and were driving when Marshall was intercepted by Asaad Allen at The Rock's 22-yard line.
mollica@vindy.com