Big early lead helps Penguins survive scare from Duquesne

September 7, 2014 at 12:10a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Even with Duquesne controlling the game’s final 40 minutes, Saturday’s outcome was never really in doubt.

But for Youngstown State, a lot of other things are.

The Penguins jumped out to a four-touchdown lead, then survived injuries, inconsistency and Dillon Buechel’s right arm to hold on for a 34-23 win in the home opener at Stambaugh Stadium.

“It wasn’t pretty by any means,” YSU coach Eric Wolford said.

Well, for the first 20 minutes it was. Dante Nania tossed two touchdowns and Martin Ruiz ran for two more as the Penguins jumped out to a 28-0 lead with 10:06 left in the second quarter.

The Penguins managed just two field goals the rest of the way and were outscored 16-3 in the second half. But Duquesne trailed by double digits throughout, thanks to two missed field goals and a missed extra point on its final touchdown, a 57-yard pass from Buechel to Devin Rahming with 2:48 left.

YSU sophomore running back Jody Webb recovered the ensuing onside kick and the Penguins ran out the clock.

When asked if he was ever worried about losing, senior wideout Jelani Berassa said, “Not at all. In the second half we were struggling but we kept at it. On the sideline, our coaches kept scheming up the plays that we needed. We were never worried, but we just tried to keep fighting.”

The Penguins took that phrase literally late in the fourth quarter, when tackle Trevor Strickland was ejected for throwing a punch. (YSU may have only managed three first downs in the second half, but at least you can’t say the offense was punchless.) Nania injured his right ankle on the same play, forcing true freshman backup Hunter Wells into his first game.

Nania, who isn’t expected to miss significant time, finished 16 of 23 for a career-best 288 yards, two TDs and no interceptions (although a Duquesne defender dropped a gift-wrapped pass in the end zone). Ruiz carried 23 times for 148 yards, while Berassa had six catches for a career-high 114 yards.

Buechel completed 25 of 44 passes for 347 yards, two TDs and one interception by Jaylin Kelly, who was stripped after a 43-yard return. He repeatedly took advantage of a YSU secondary held together by duct tape thanks to injuries to starting cornerback Nate Dortch (who suffered concussion-like symptoms in Wednesday’s practice), sophomore CB Eric Thompson (sprained AC joint midway through the first quarter) and freshman D.J. Thomas (knocked out late in the third quarter). Add in a hobbling Julius Childs (knee), a cramping Deion Hall and an unavailable Kenneth Durden (a South Florida transfer whose paperwork still hasn’t come through) and YSU was forced to play free safety Donald D’Alesio at cornerback late in the game.

“The only time I was ever concerned [about losing] was when we had so many defensive backs out of the game,” Wolford said. “[But] hey, we’ll take the win right now.”