Shutout sign of superior division

Youngstown State had just 152 total yards. Pitt had 528.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- No one expected Youngstown State to defeat Pittsburgh Saturday. But there weren't many people who thought the winless Panthers would rout the previously unbeaten Penguins, 41-0, at Heinz Field.
The Penguins proved no to be match for the Panthers and the difference showed in the final statistics.
Pitt (1-3) finished with 528 total yards, including 307 passing and 221 rushing, while YSU (3-1) had just 152 total yards -- 43 passing and 109 rushing. The game was never more clearer than those statistics.
"We certainly didn't help ourselves today," said YSU coach Jon Heacock. "We knew we had to play a near perfect game to stay in the game with them and we weren't anywhere near what we needed to be.
Momentum missing
"We gave them some easy scores, which we said we couldn't afford to do and we never were able to get anything going offensively on the ground or in the air," Heacock said. "We never had any momentum in the game."
Just what did the Penguins learn from Saturday's game?
"We learned that we still have an awful lot of work ahead of us," said Heacock.
The Penguins offense, which came into the game averaging over 400 yards and 40 points, was non-existent.
YSU had the ball for 12 offensive series and on seven of them went three-and-out or less and only got into Pitt's territory three times.
Pitt, on its 12 possessions, scored seven times -- five touchdowns and two field goals -- turned the ball over twice, punted twice and ran out the clock on the final series.
"We expected to win this game," said Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt, "but it was still good to put it on the record."
Poor production
YSU's sophomore quarterback Tom Zetts did not have a productive day.
He finished just 6-of-19 passing for 29 yards and one interception. The YSU running game wasn't much better. Junior tailback Marcus Mason, who replaced starter Montquantae Gibson, was the leader with 64 yards on 16 carries. Junior Justin Reams, who played the final two series, added 37 on eight tries.
Pitt's quarterback, Tyler Palko, who has struggled the first three games this season, finally found the range.
He connected on 14-of-22 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns while getting intercepted once.
Pitt also had four running backs with over 40 yards, led by senior Raymond Kirkley with 84 yards on 17 carries, and he scored two touchdowns.
Heacock felt the Penguins played hard on defense, but they were never able to shut down the Panthers.
Twice Pitt turned the ball over in the shadow of YSU's end zone.
First, Palko was picked off by YSU junior Jason Perry, then tight end Erik Gill caught a pass from Palko but was hit by Dorian Chenault at the 3-yard line and fumbled out of the end zone for a touchback.
Tale of tackling
Chenault led the Penguins with nine tackles, while linebackers Jeremiah Wright and Mike Andrews had seven each.
Junior linebacker Marty Hutchinson said the Penguins have to learn from this game.
"The defense played hard, but we gave up too many big plays, but we've got to take this and learn from it and then get ready for the Gateway Conference next week," he said.
It took Pitt 41 seconds to score on its first offensive series following a 19-yard punt by YSU's Joe Bishop.
Palko hit Kirkley with a short swing pass and after two Penguins missed him he darted 39 yards for the score.
Pitt had an even a quicker touchdown in the second half, one that took seven seconds. It came after Zetts threw his only interception to Darrelle Revis at the YSU 27. On the first play Palko hit a wide open Greg Lee for the score.
Lee finished with six catches for 143 yards and the one touchdown. Palko also tossed a 3-yard scoring pass to Gill, while Kirkley had a 12-yard touchdown run and Tim Murphey a 43-yard jaunt to go along with David Abdul's field goals of 22 and 40 yards.
mollica@vindy.com