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YSU notebook | More from Saturday’s game at Stambaugh Stadium
Bad start: Youngs- town State defensive end Desmond Williams was ejected on the game’s opening kickoff for targeting. The play was upheld by review, marking the first video replay in Stambaugh Stadium history. The Missouri Valley Football Conference is utilizing replay in select games this season. Williams is a versatile player for the Penguins with 13 tackles (two for loss) as a defensive end/strongside linebacker. He also lines up at fullback in short-yardage situations.
Another ejection: YSU defensive end Terrell Williams was ejected for a flagrant foul on the first play of the fourth quarter. Williams has started all six games this season and was leading the Penguins with eight tackles in Saturday’s game at the time of the ejection.
Not-so-special teams: YSU had another special teams breakdown early in the third quarter. On fourth-and-6 at the WIU 43, Leathernecks punter Nathan Knuffman ran for 27 yards on a perfectly executed fake punt through the middle of the field, setting up Trenton Norvell’s 35-yard TD pass to Joey Borsellino on the following play. “That’s something that can’t happen,” senior safety Donald D’Alesio said of the fake punt. “We had all the momentum, we were getting them off the field and they break a long fake punt. We need to be a more disciplined team.” It was the latest special teams mistake for the Penguins, who had a punt blocked and missed a field goal in last week’s win over Missouri State, gave up a successful fake punt against Saint Francis and had an infamous “butt punt” that may have cost them a win in the opener against Illinois.
Injury report: Senior center Stephen Page missed the game with a concussion. Redshirt freshman Cole Newsome got the start in his place. RB Demond Hymes suffered a concusion while blocking on a kickoff return with 4:30 left in the third quarter. He was down for several minutes before being taken off the field on a stretcher. “It’s a pretty serious deal,” YSU coach Eric Wolford said. “He was able to move his hands and feet and bringing out the board was somewhat precautionary. Obviously, we err on the side of caution. Hopefully he’s OK and gets back with us.”