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YSU-Pitt notes | More from Heinz Field
Key play replay: On a night filled with creative play calls, Youngstown State saved its best for its first drive of the third quarter. On a third-and-2 at the Pitt 24, the Penguins gave the ball to Jamaine Cook, who rushed for a 1-yard gain. On fourth-and-1, YSU lined up in the same formation and pitched it to Cook, who hit a wide open Will Shaw for the 23-yard touchdown. “We’ve been talking about it all week,” said YSU coach Eric Wolford. “I said, ‘Listen, we’re going to be in a situation where it’s a four-down situation and I’m not going to kick a field goal. It’s called ‘Penguin’ and we ran the Penguin. It was wide open and it was a touchdown.”
FBS record: According to Andrew McKillop of FootballGeography.com, YSU is the first FCS team in history to win 20 games over FBS opponents. The Penguins are also the first FCS team to beat a Big East team since 2004 when New Hampshire defeated Rutgers 35-24. Overall, YSU is 20-25-1 against FBS teams, with the last win coming against Kent State in 2000.
Pitt suspensions: Panthers coach Paul Chryst suspended six players for Saturday’s game for “disciplinary reasons.” Only one, junior defensive lineman Tyrone Ezell, was a starter. The others were freshman WR Chris Davis (Fitch), sophomore DB Anthony Gonzalez, senior DL Shayne Hale, sophomore WR Ronald Jones and freshman RB Rushel Shell, who was the nation’s No. 3-ranked running back as a high school senior last fall.
This and that: Pitt sophomore safety Ray Vinopal (Mooney) started and made three tackles. ... CB Dale Peterman led the Penguins with nine tackles and LB Teven Williams followed with seven, including a team-best 1.5 for loss. ... DB Julius Childs and LB Dubem Nwadiogbu forced fumbles and safeties Jeremey Edwards and Twin Fernandes recovered fumbles for the Penguins. ... YSU will open its ticket office from noon to 5 p.m. on Labor Day.