Bad start, better finish

The Penguins rallied from a 6-0 halftime deficit to turn a close game into a rout.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State went through the motions in the first half, then started playing football in the third period for a 35-13 season-opening victory over Slippery Rock before 15,756 fans at Stambaugh Stadium Thursday night.
Slippery Rock (0-2), a Division II opponent, led 6-0 at the intermission.
After going three-and-out on their first possession of the third period -- for the fourth straight series -- the Penguins scored touchdowns on their next three possessions.
Two of the scores were set up with interceptions by sophomore cornerback Jason Perry.
"We never really put any pressure on them [Slippery Rock] in the first half, while they kept the pressure on us the whole half," said YSU coach Jon Heacock.
"The first interception was the big play of the game as it turned the momentum to our side."
The Penguins ran just 19 plays in the first half, made just 56 total yards and had two first downs, while The Rock rolled up 175 yards, 10 first downs and led on two field goals by Ryan Daniel, measuring 31 and 26 yards.
"We've never moved the football on YSU the way we did tonight," said Slippery Rock coach Dr. George Mihalik. "We had them on the ropes early and even in the fourth quarter we were only down 21-13 and still in the game."
Breaking it open
But, right after The Rock scored its only touchdown with 10:10 remaining in the game, YSU came back with redshirt freshman quarterback Tom Zetts throwing a 72-yard scoring pass to junior tailback Josh Cayson on the first play after the kickoff.
Zetts, starting his first game at YSU, had an outstanding night, completing 14-of-16 passes for 207 yards and the touchdown. He also ran 3 yards for another score, his first as a collegian.
He led YSU to 306 yards in the second half.
Cayson finished with 92 yards on 14 rushes and also scored on a 13-yard run, tying the score in the third quarter. Nick Terracina's conversion gave the Penguins the lead, 7-6.
"We came in at halftime and nobody panicked," said YSU senior wide receiver Matt Rycraft.
"I thought Tom [Zetts] really showed his leadership in the second half, along with all of the seniors."
Tough first half
Cayson picked up 19 yards on the Penguins' first play of the game and Zetts passed to senior tight end Mike Roberts for a 17-yard gain in the second series, but those were the only first downs YSU had in the first half.
The Penguins went three-and-out each of the next four series.
YSU's only scoring threat in the first half ended when Terracina missed a 44-yard field goal attempt.
Slippery Rock scored on its fourth possession after starting from the Penguins' 36-yard line following a punt.
Then The Rock drove from their own 1-yard line before settling for Daniel's second field goal, from 26 yards.
Slippery Rock held the Penguins on their first series of the third quarter, but its first drive was ended by Perry's interception of a Nate Crookshank passs.
He returned the ball to midfield. Zetts fired a perfect pass to junior wide receiver Kyle Smith for 32 yards and then Cayson darted outside made a great move at the 5 and waltzed to the end zone on a 13-yard touchdown run.
Scoring in spurts
YSU kept Slippery Rock bottled up deep it its own territory and forced a punt. Smith returned it 22 yards to the Slippery Rock 22 and four plays later Zetts rolled out, cut back inside and was all alone as he score from the 3.
Perry's second interception led to the Penguins' third touchdown as he again picked off Crookshank at the YSU 15 and returned it to the Rock 46.
On the first play Zetts found senior Phil Larmon with a 30-yard completion and Cayson and sophomore fullback Demetrius Ison took over from there with Ison going the final yard for the score.
The Rock came back with a 77-yard drive to cut the margin to eight points as Cory Manfull, a former United High standout, scored on an 18-yard run.
Zetts then hit Cayson on a short screen pass from the YSU 28 and he broke loose down the sidelines, got a good block from Rycraft and then made a last cut back to midfield and raced for the end zone.
Rycraft scored the Penguins' final touchdown, which he also set up with a 49-yard run. He scored from a yard out.
mollica@vindy.com