YSU rips Indiana State for sixth

The Penguins rode a prolific ground attack to a
40-7 win in Terre Haute.

VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — It took the Youngstown State football team almost a half to get going, but once the Penguins got started they treated Indiana State just like everybody else has this season.

The Penguins, who led just 13-0 after the first two quarters, blew open the contest in the second half and handed the Sycamores a 40-7 defeat Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

The Penguins (6-4, 2-3 Gateway Conference), who have won 11 straight against the Sycamores (0-10, 0-5 Gateway Conference) and never have lost at Me morial Stadium, did it in typical Youngstown State fashion, with the running game. YSU ground out 392 rushing yards against a team that has allowed over 300 yards per game this season.

The Penguins had two backs rush for over 100 yard and they scored five rushing touchdowns to go along with junior Brian Palmer’s two first half field goals.

“It was a much better effort in the second half, a much cleaner effort,” said YSU coach Jon Heacock. “It was a good win for our seniors and it will make the long bus ride home a whole lot easier.”

Junior tailback Kevin Smith and sophomore Jabari Scott were the workhorses in the Penguins’ attack. Scott finished with 149 yards on 14 carries and one touchdown, while Smith added 122 yards, also on 14 carries, and scored twice. Juniors Ferlando Williams and Brandon Nicholson also had short touchdown runs for the Penguins.

Youngstown State will close out its season next week at home when the Penguins entertain Western Illinois in a 1 p.m. kickoff at Stambaugh Stadium. It will be Senior Day at the stadium with 19 Penguins playing their final contest.

The Penguins finished with a season-high 511 total yards against the Sycamores as senior quarterback Tom Zetts, who was playing with a slightly sprained knee, added 111 yards passing on 13-of-18 without an interception or a sack.

YSU forced two turnovers and gave back just one as freshman Edward Barney caused the fumble on a Sycamores kickoff return and senior Vince Gliatta recovered, while another freshman, Brandian Ross, intercepted an Indiana State pass thrown by quarterback Charles Dowdell in the fourth quarter.

The defense held the Sycamores to 300 total yards, 188 rushing and 112 passing.

Indiana State, which has lost 37 of its last 38 games, played with the Penguins through most of the first half. On its opening drive the Sycamores moved from their 21 to the YSU 33 before the failing on a fourth down attempt.

YSU came back and led by a 31-yard run by Williams, drove to the Indiana State 11 before stalling and Palmer, who has made 13-of-14 field goals this season, converted from 24 yards.

The Sycamores punted on their next series and the Penguins put together a long drive, going 83 yards in 16 plays and using up over 7:30 on the clock. Zetts threw only three passes in the drive as Smith and Scott carried the load on the ground. Scott’s 20-yard run was the big play in the drive which ended with the sophomore waltzing over from a yard out.

YSU had one more drive in the first half and thought it had another TD when Zetts hit senior tight end Louis Irizarry in the end zone on a short pass, but the Penguins were called for holding and had to settle for Palmer’s 32-yard field goal.

The Penguins came out the second half a different team, scoring on their first four possessions.

Smith started it with a 30-yard run on the first play from scrimmage, then after two more runs, Smith slanted over from 10 yards out and a 20-0 lead.

The Penguins drove 89 yards for the next score that included three Zetts passes and a 32-yard run by Scott, who capped the drive with a 1-yard run. Palmer missed the PAT, his second miss this year.

Indiana State finally got on the scoreboard late in the third quarter, but needed a bit of luck to pull it off.

The Sycamores drove from their own 5-yard line to the YSU 11 where freshman tailback Justin Collins drove up the middle to the 1 where he fumbled. The ball rolled into the end zone and ISU lineman Jack Byrne fell on it for the score.

The Penguins added one last touchdown which was set up by a 62-yard run by Scott. The drive was finished with a short run by Nicholson.