Penguins pull away late

College football

Big 4th quarter helps YSU roll past Indiana St.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — If you look at the 28-0 final score of Saturday’s Youngstown State-Indiana State football game, you would think the Penguins totally dominated the Sycamores.

Well, the Penguins did dominate the Sycamores, but not until the final quarter of play, as they improved to 3-1 on the season and opened Missouri Valley Football Conference action with a 1-0 record before some 3,500 fans at Memorial Stadium.

YSU only led 7-0 entering the final quarter after struggling offensively for three quarters, but then exploded for 21 points. The Penguins scored on two of their three offensive possessions, while the defense also added a score.

“After struggling through the first three quarters, we finally came alive offensively,” said YSU coach Jon Heacock, who beat the Sycamores for his ninth straight time. “I was very pleased with our defensive effort today; they played well the whole way. But it was important for us to get the offense rolling again and we were able to do that in the final quarter.”

It was YSU’s 13th straight win against the Sycamores (0-5), who have dropped 17 of 18 to the Penguins.

The defense did dominate the contest, holding the Sycamores without a first down in the opening quarter and 186 total yards (102 passing, 84 rushing). YSU also forced four turnovers, three interceptions and a recovered fumble. One of those interceptions was returned 37 yards for a touchdown by junior linebacker Na’eem Outler in the final quarter.

It was the second straight game the Penguins returned an interception for a touchdown.

Offensively, the Penguins struggled the first three quarters.

Senior quarterback Brandon Summers, who finished the game 20 of 32 for 185 yards and two touchdowns with one interception, struggled early, missing several open receivers with high tosses, but it didn’t help that the running game wasn’t working.

In the first half the Pengins had just 67 yards on the ground on 18 attempts. Summers was the leading rusher in the half with 30 yards, all on one play.

The Penguins scored on their second possession of the game following a Sycamores punt.

Starting at their own 44, Summers connected with senior Donald Jones for 13 yards and then fired a perfect pass to junior wide receiver Dominique Barnes that covered the final 36 yards.

Summers threw one interception when Jones fell down on the play and left Mike Woods all alone to make the pick at midfield, but it led to nothing.

The Penguins never got rolling again until late in the second quarter when they drove from their own 17 to the Sycamores’ 16, with Summers having the big play on a 28-yard run. When the drive stalled there, junior kicker Stephen Blose was called on for a 33-yard field goal attempt. Indiana State called three straight timeouts before Blose got to kick with 2.4 seconds left in the half. The strategy worked as Blose was wide left.

YSU’s offense didn’t make a first down in the third quarter. It almost scored a touchdown following an interception by sophomore Randy Louis at the ISU 30 yard line.

Summers connected with Jones in the end zone, but the big wide receiver was called for offensive pass interference. Blose then missed a 43-yard field goal attempt.

In the fourth quarter, the Penguins came to life.

On their first possession they drove 75 yards as Summers hit five short passes and then senior tailback Kevin Smith, who led the way with 72 yards on 14 carries, had back-to-back runs of 16 and 21 yards, the final one for a TD.

The next series the Penguins did it all on the ground with Smith and seniors Dana Brown and Jabari Scott getting the ball from the YSU 38 to the ISU 1-yard line. From there Summers faked the run and tossed a short pass to a wide open Aaron Pitts for the score.

But the Penguins weren’t through. On the next series Outler stepped in front of a Travis Johnson pass near the sidelines and rolled 37 yards for the touchdown.

The Penguins return home to take on Missouri State next Saturday in a 6 p.m. kickoff at Stambaugh Stadium.

mollica@vindy.comw