Cayson struggles to cope with loss

The junior running back gained 91 yards in place of Monquantae Gibson.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Josh Cayson stood in disbelief at what was happening to his football team and there was nothing he or any of the Penguins could do about it.
Cayson was on the field celebrating what he thought was YSU's homecoming victory over Northern Iowa.
But seconds later, he and the Penguins found out there was a penalty on the play and the Panthers got another try.
"It was like, this can't be," said the junior tailback who was a standout at Warren JFK High. "We were out there celebrating and in the next moment we had lost. It just doesn't seem fair.
"It [the game] was taken out of our hands by the officials," he added. "Maybe it was a penalty. I really don't know because we were all watching the ball, but to make that call at that time really hurt."
Stepping up
Cayson, who was the backup tailback going into Saturday's game behind sophomore Monquantae Gibson, was called into action early when Gibson went down with another injury just four plays into the Penguins first drive.
The veteran responded, getting 91 of the Penguins 109 rushing yards, and helped set up both of YSU's touchdowns in the final period.
"I thought we played better tonight," he said. "I thought we played well for four quarters, rather than just a first half or a second half like we had been doing.
"We were driving for those final two touchdowns it was just a tremendous attitude in the huddle out there," he added. "We knew what we had to do and we went out and did it."
While Cayson and the Penguins were totally disappointed with the outcome, Northern Iowa coach Mark Farley was elated.
"We've been in this situation several times this year already, but in other weeks we needed a touchdown to pull it out; this time it was only a field goal," he said.
"I have to praise our freshman quarterback, Eric Sanders, as he showed a lot of poise in that final drive, especially on the fourth-and-9 situation when he stayed calm and in the pocket to complete the big play that kept the drive going."
Farley said that he didn't see the penalty.
"I was watching the ball and saw it wobbling short of the goal posts," he said. "It was a bad break for them, but then I didn't think that Terrance Freeney fumbled right before that either. I thought he was down."