Penguins' struggles continue in loss to Florida Atlantic

Youngstown State's offensive production was limited to just 277 yards.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- For the second straight week Youngstown State struggled on offense and committed another crucial turnover and the results were the same -- another Penguin defeat.
The Penguins were held without a touchdown as they suffered a 13-6 loss to Florida Atlantic University Saturday night before 16,891 at Stambaugh Stadium and dropped to 2-2 on the season.
The offense could only muster 277 total yards, 158 rushing and 119 passing, and while the defense played better, they still allowed nearly 300 total yards, including 245 through the air.
"That's a good football team, I don't care what anybody says, they played very good tonight," said YSU coach Jon Heacock of Florida Atlantic.
"I don't know just what they were doing on defense and I probably won't until we see the films, but we couldn't block them all night," he added.
Too many mistakes
Once again the Penguins made too many mistakes. They had another key fumble in the red zone and had a couple of dropped passes and some crucial penalties.
"You have to do the right things to win," said Heacock. "We haven't the past two weeks.
All the Penguins offense came from the right leg of junior kicker Nick Terracina who kicked a pair of field goals, from 41 and 37 yards out.
Sophomore quarterback Aaron Marshall struggled, completing just 8 of 18 passes for 82 yards. He ran for just 21 yards on 14 carries.
Heacock went to junior Matt Rycraft in the second half and he came in after a big defensive stand in the third period and started the Penguins on a drive.
He hit Phil Larmon with a 25-yard pass on first down and then senior Josiah Doby, seeing his first action of the season, ripped off two straight 16-yard runs and the Penguins, with the help of a personal foul penalty, were at the Owls' 12.
On first down, senior Mike Burns never got the handoff from Rycraft and the ball bounded loose with Jason Pugh recovering for the Owls.
"That fumble was crucial, because we had just turned the momentum in our favor with the defensive stop," Heacock said.
FAU touchdown
The game's only touchdown came in the third quarter when the Owls marched 82 yards in 12 plays to take a 13-3 lead. Owls quarterback Jared Allen, who was 18 of 29 for 241 yards, hit Roosevelt Bynes with a 9-yard scoring toss.
Rycraft was 4-of-7 for 37 yards and rushed for 47 yards on nine carries. "We made the switch [at quarterback] because we needed some different mobility back there," Heacock said.
Neither offense was very consistent in the first half. Both teams moved the ball fairly well, but neither could produce a touchdown.
The Owls scored on their first possession, driving from their own 48, but once they got inside the Penguins 10-yard line, the YSU defense stiffened.
Mark Myers put the Owls ahead with a 22-yard field goal with 8:59 remaining in the opening quarter.
Scoring drive
The Penguins struggled on their first three offensive possessions, going three-and-out on their last two before Marshall finally got them rolling in the second quarter.
He hit four passes in the drive, which started at the YSU 19. Twice he hit sophomore Kyle Smith -- once for 22 yards and again for 12 -- to put the Penguins at the Owls' 23. On fourth down, Terracina kicked a 41-yard field goal to tie the score.
After holding the Owls on their next series, the Penguins started another drive from their own 26. Josiah Doby, playing in his first game of the season, raced 20 yards up the middle and Mike Burns tacked on a 13-yard scamper.
The Penguins reached the Owls' 40, and on fourth down punter Joe Bishop faked a punt and tried to pass to Josh Cayson, who was well covered. The pass went incomplete, ending the drive. Burns was wide open only a few yards from Cayson.
"We practiced that a lot and we felt it was a good time to try it," Heacock said. "Mike Burns was wide open on the play."
Florida Atlantic took advantage of the miscue and on second down Allen hit a wide-open Anthony Crissinger-Hill for a 28-yard completion. With time running out, the Owls attempted a 44-yard field goal and Myers was again perfect, giving Florida Atlantic the 6-3 halftime lead.
The Penguins try to get back on the winning track next Saturday when they take to the road to play Liberty University in a 7 p.m. contest in Lynchburg, Va.
mollica@vindy.com