Sunday, November 16, 2014
Penguins lose in overtime as Sycamores
turn interception into winning field goal
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
Over his five-year career, Youngstown State safety Donald D’Alesio has been part of nearly every heart-wrenching loss of the Eric Wolford era.
Saturday’s was the worst.
“Yeah, definitely the most painful loss I’ve been part of since I’ve been here,” D’Alesio said following a 27-24 overtime defeat to Indiana State at Stambaugh Stadium. “We’ve got one more chance next week.”
The Penguins (7-4, 4-3 Missouri Valley) scored two touchdowns in the final five minutes of regulation to force overtime, but ISU defensive back Mark Sewall made a diving interception on the first play of the first extra session to swing the momentum back to the Sycamores.
YSU freshman quarterback Hunter Wells was trying to hit wide receiver Andrew Williams on an inside slant and Sewall managed to tip the pass and making a leaping catch that held up under replay review.
“We had an opportunity to hand the ball off or throw and we didn’t hand it off, so that’s where we are today,” Wolford said. “We had success [with that route], but we made the wrong decision. Hopefully we’ll learn from that and won’t do that again.”
Indiana State running back Logan Buck carried twice for 18 yards in the Sycamores’ overtime period and ISU quarterback Mike Perish centered the ball at the 10 on third down to set up Eric Heidorn’s winning 28-yard field goal.
“Our deal is we find a way to find a way,” Sycamores coach Mike Sanford said. “And our guys found a way.”
YSU squandered several scoring opportunities, losing three fumbles (including two by Jody Webb inside the ISU red zone).
Wells, meanwhile, had the worst game of his young career, completing 11 of 23 for 106 yards and a touchdown, although he was 7 of 12 for 69 yards in the fourth quarter.
After Heidorn’s 25-yard field goal made it 24-10 with 12:25 left, YSU drove 77 yards in 18 plays, capped by a 2-yard TD pass from Wells to tight end Nate Adams on fourth down on a beautifully designed throwback play. YSU’s defense then forced a three-and-out to set up the game-tying touchdown, a 4-yard run by Martin Ruiz with 1:20 left.
“I’m proud of the kids for coming back and putting the game into overtime,” Wolford said. “We just had too many costly fumbles.
“You can’t lose three fumbles and honestly expect to win the game.”
And YSU can’t lose three straight to finish the season and honestly expect to make the playoffs. For the third time in four years, the Penguins had a chance to advance by winning their home finale.
Unlike 2011 and 2013, YSU gets one more chance. If the Penguins can win at North Dakota State next weekend — no easy task against the three-time national champions — that might be enough.
“That’s the great thing about this game — we get one more chance out there,” said D’Alesio, who had a team-best 12 tackles, forced a fumble and had an interception called back by penalty. “[If we] beat the fourth-ranked team [in the country], we’ll solidify a playoff spot.”
Wolford agreed, believing any team that goes 5-3 in the nation’s top-ranked conference deserves to advance.
“It would be a fourth ranked team,” said Wolford, who has already beaten three ranked teams. “If you can beat four ranked teams in the No. 1 conference, I think it merits an opportunity.
“[But] I think we’ve got to win. You can’t leave it up to something else.”