Mistakes doom YSU, 44-19

By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Mistakes have been hurting the Youngstown State football team all season, and it was more of the same Saturday night in the Penguins' Gateway Conference opener.
Western Kentucky put 19 points on the scoreboard after four YSU turnovers and rolled to a 44-19 victory, snapping a three-year losing streak in conference openers.
The Penguins (2-3, 0-1 Gateway), who trailed 13-7 at halftime, committed two second half turnovers that let the Hilltoppers take a commanding lead.
"You can't make mistakes like that against any team, let alone a team the caliber of Western Kentucky," said YSU coach Jon Heacock.
"Our kids never quit, but we just kept putting ourselves into positions we should never have been," he added.
Trailing 16-7 following the third field goal by WKU's Chris James, the Penguins drove from their own 28-yard line to the Hilltoppers' 1.
Fumble
But on third down sophomore tailback Regis Edgerson, who was filling in for injured sophomore Monquantae Gibson, fumbled and Brandon Smith recovered at the Hilltoppers' 6.
WKU then drove 94 yards in seven plays to score when quarterback Justin Haddix passed 27 yards to Stephen Willis for the score.
On the next series, YSU redshirt freshman quarterback Tom Zetts threw wildly on second down and Deonte Smith intercepted at the Penguins' 48 and returned it all the way for a score that broke the game open 30-7 early in the final period.
Zetts, who finished 28-of-40 for 280 yards and two touchdowns, but also with two interceptions, then generated two YSU scoring drives but the damage had been done.
He connected on 15 straight passes over the two drives, including a 9-yard scoring toss to Kyle Smith and a 6-yard touchdown pass to Matt Rycraft.
Added two more scores
In between YSU scores, the Hilltoppers added two more scores of their own as Brian Porter raced 5 yards for one and Lerron Moore raced 29 yards for the other score.
The Penguins finished with 437 total yards, the best offensive effort of the year, although the Hilltoppers finished with 456 yards behind the 173 yards rushing from Moore.
With Gibson gaining just 37 yards on 12 carries before leaving the game, the Penguins finished with 151 yards on the ground, with junior Josh Cayson leading with 57 yards on 13 carries. Cayson also caught four passes for 78 yards.
The Penguins began the contest with one of their best offensive drives of the season.
After the defense forced the Hilltoppers to a three-and-out to open the contest, the Penguins took over at their own 38-yard line.
Zetts then directed a 13-play 62 yard drive, mixing the pass and run, and Gibson slashed over from a yard out on fourth down for a 7-0 lead.
YSU's defense came up with a big play on the next series. It came right after Hilltoppers' Moore raced 50 yards down to the YSU 33. On first down quarterback Justin Haddix tried to pass, but sophomore defensive back Jason Perry stepped in front for the interception and returned it to the Penguins' 36.
Failed to capitalize
YSU couldn't take advantage of that turnover and then let the Hilltoppers back in the game with an 82-yard drive on just five plays, one a 33-yard run by Moore and another one of 26 yards by Brian Porter for the touchdown.
YSU came up with its second turnover early in the second period when Moore fumbled on a hit by Joe Juby and Brandon Brown recovered. Again the Penguins couldn't take advantage.
In the final four minutes of the half, the Penguins began to give the ball back to the Hilltoppers. First it was a pass interception by Zetts that gave Western Kentucky the lead, as James kicked his first field goal of 37 yards.
With time running out in the half the Penguins appeared to be running out the clock, but Josh Cayson fumbled and the Hilltoppers recovered at the YSU 31.
As time ran out in the half, James hit a 38-yard field goal for a 13-7 lead.
mollica@vindy.com