THE CROWD: ALTHOUGH THE OFFICIAL ATTENDANCE WAS REPORTED AS 15,937, THERE WERE FEWER THAN 10,000 PEOPLE IN THE SEATS FOR SATURDAY'S GAME AND ONLY A FEW THOUSAND REMAINED TO WATCH THE PENGUINS' FOURTH

The crowd: Although the official attendance was reported as 15,937, there were fewer than 10,000 people in the seats for Saturday's game and only a few thousand remained to watch the Penguins' fourth quarter comeback.
Penalties hurt: Some crucial penalties proved costly to the Penguins. The first was a personal foul, late hit, called against the Penguins for tackling Northern Iowa quarterback Eric Sanders as he went out of bounds on the Panthers' first touchdown drive. It gave the Panthers a first down at the YSU 10. The second came in the third quarter when the Penguins were called for pass interference on an incomplete third-and-11 pass play by the Panthers. If gave the Panthers a first down and they went on to score. And then, of course, there was the roughing kicker called on the game's final play.
Unproductive: The Penguins still were not productive enough on offense, especially through the first three quarters. The Penguins had just 36 rushing yards on 16 attempts in the first half and after the first series of the third quarter were down to 33 yards rushing. Redshirt freshman quarterback Tom Zetts completed 16 passes, but 11 of them were for seven yards or less. When given time, he threaded the needle perfectly on a 73-yard touchdown pass to Matt Rycraft, heaving it close to 40 yards in the air.
Defensively: Once again sophomore linebacker Marty Hutchinson, the Newton Falls native, led the Penguins with 11 tackles, while sophomore Jeremiah Wright finished with 10. Junior defensive end Brandon Brown had three stops for losses and redshirt freshman James Terry had a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
Up next: The Penguins go on the road next Saturday to meet Illinois State in a 3:30 p.m. kickoff in Normal, Ill.
Pete Mollica