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ysu notebook
First season similarities: Coach Eric Wolford’s first season is unfolding a lot like Jim Tressel’s first at YSU. Tressel went 2-8 in 1986, with four of those losses by three points or fewer and three in the final minute. Five of Wolford’s six losses have been by 10 points or fewer, with three coming in the last three minutes. “I’ve had conversations with Coach Tressel, and there are similarities,” Wolford said. “I can assure you the future looks bright. I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but it does. We have a lot of positive things going on here in Youngstown, and we’re going to will this thing to happen, I can assure you of that.”
Fake FG fails: Facing third-and-7 with six seconds left in the second quarter, YSU lined up for a 27-yard field goal. Wolford called a fake, but holder and backup QB Marc Kanetsky overthrew LB David Rach in the end zone. “Sometimes under pressure guys just let it go a little too much and that was unfortunate there because that could have been another TD,” Wolford said. With one second left, senior kicker Stephen Blose made the field goal.
Barnes moves up the books: Senior WR Dominique Barnes caught four passes for 89 yards and a TD, moving into a tie for second on YSU’s career receptions list with 150. Trent Boykin (1991-94) and Rick Shepas (1983-86) also have 150. Jim Ferranti (1976-79) is first with 186. Barnes also moved past John Goode (1980-83) into seventh in career receiving yards with 1,817.
Century club: Sophomore RB Jamaine Cook carried 26 times for 136 yards to go past 1,000 for his career. It’s the fifth time this season he’s rushed for 100 or more. He’s just the third runner to rush for more than 100 against UNI this season. For the year, Cook has 177 carries for 986 yards.
This and that: Blose’s field goal was his ninth straight, one behind Jeff Wilkins (1992-93) for second-best in YSU history. Brian Palmer (2007-08) made 14 straight. ... Redshirt freshman LB Dom Rich (Canfield) made his first career start in place of banged-up junior Deonta Tate. Tate did play. ... Junior WR Andre Barboza caught his first career TD. It was just his second reception of the season. ... Sophomore safety Will Shaw made his first interception and his 87-yard return was the fourth-longest in YSU history. ... UNI now leads its series with YSU 19-6.