Penguins fall in final seconds

North Dakota State 34 - YSU 29

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Penguins fall in final seconds

By Joe Scalzo

scalzo@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Saturday’s script was written, the game-winning field goal made, the playoffs in reach, the conference title in play and 15,000 fans ready to wrap their arms around the type of team — and the type of comeback — they hadn’t seen much in the last decade.

“We just thought everything was done,” Youngstown State freshman running back Adaris Bellamy said. “We thought everything was wrapped up in a box and ready to send off.”

Just one thing. There were 51 seconds left.

In a stunning three-play sequence that came after the Penguins had taken a one-point lead in the final minute, North Dakota State scored the game-clinching TD and all but ruined YSU’s league title hopes, winning 34-29 at Stambaugh Stadium.

“It’s tough,” senior DT Torrance Nicholson said.

And the Penguins had only themselves to blame.

Following Stephen Blose’s 38-yard field goal with 51 seconds left, YSU kickoff specialist Jake Smith booted a short kickoff into a light wind that was fielded by Justin Howard at his own 19. Howard returned it 26 yards to the 45.

Then, on first down, YSU safety Will Shaw was hit with a defensive holding penalty that gave the Bison a first down at the YSU 45 with about 40 seconds left.

“Basically, we were in a tight spot,” Nicholson said. “After that penalty, I think we guesstimated they needed about 13 more yards to get into field goal range.

“Defensive coordinator [Rick] Kravitz said we were gonna take a shot [at a big play]. We took a shot and, unfortunately, we got burnt.”

Howard got behind Shaw deep in the middle of the field, caught QB Jose Mohler’s pass around the 10 and broke a Randy Louis arm tackle en route to the end zone with 34 seconds left.

“We got two guys technically in somewhat of a position there to make the play,” said Penguins coach Eric Wolford, “and we didn’t make it.”

YSU got the ball back at its own 23 with 28 seconds left, but an incompletion and Kurt Hess fumble (the Penguins’ third lost fumble of the game, all by freshmen) ended any lingering hope.

Afterward, Wolford was as unhappy with Smith’s kickoff as the blown secondary assignments.

“It’s a problem when your only job is to kick the ball in the end zone,” Wolford said. “Obviously, we’ll make a change. That is completely unacceptable. You have one job to do. It’s not hard. Kick the ball in the end zone.

“It’s not like you’re not capable. It’s not like there’s a 50-mile [per hour] headwind. Kick the ball in the end zone. And you can. Do. Your. Job.”

The loss, YSU’s second straight, doesn’t necessarily end the Penguins’ conference title hopes but it comes close. In the MVFC’s 25-year history, just one team (UNI in 2005) has won the title with two losses.

On the other hand, this year’s race is unusually wide open; every team has at least one loss.

“From what I hear, this thing’s still wide open,” Wolford said.

YSU (3-3, 1-2) will definitely need to win its final five games to have any hope of winning, and the same thing applies to its playoff hopes.

“If we lose another game, that’s it,” said Nicholson. “No postseason. No more after five more games.

“So as a senior class and as a leader of this team and a captain, I have to make sure that doesn’t happen.”