MARCH OF THE PENGUINS

By CHARLES GROVE

cgrove@vindy.com

CHENEY, WASH.

The Youngstown State football team stared down adversity and never blinked.

The Penguins — missing five significant contributors against Eastern Washington in Saturday’s FCS semifinal — rallied in the final seconds and stunned the Eagles, 40-38.

The win propels YSU to the FCS national championship game in Frisco, Texas, on Jan. 7 against James Madison.

“I’m proud of this football team,” YSU head coach Bo Pelini said. “They showed a lot of character.”

Hunter Wells hit Kevin Rader in the back of the end zone with one second left for a game-winning, 5-yard touchdown pass. Rader caught the ball by trapping it between his hand and linebacker Ketner Kupp’s back.

“I knew I was going there,” Wells said. “[Rader] was covered but I thew it anyway. I don’t know why really, but he made a hell of a catch.”

The game couldn’t have started much better for the Penguins. Jalyn Powell picked off a Gage Gubrud pass on EWU’s first drive which led to a Tevin McCaster 4-yard touchdown run barely five minutes into the game.

“We got the ball and scored right away,” Wells said.

But later, a secondary that was missing safeties LeRoy Alexander and Jameel Smith was exposed deep on a number of occasions.

Gubrud had 243 yards at the end of the first half and All-America wide receiver Cooper Kupp had eight receptions for 155 yards and two touchdowns.

The Eagles scored on passes of 4 yards and 83 yards to jump out to a 17-7 lead with 12:35 to go in the second quarter before a 42-yard field goal by YSU’s Zak Kennedy brought YSU back to 17-10.

But after a defensive stand by the YSU defense forced a punt, a muffed punt by Alvin Bailey gave EWU the ball back in Penguin territory and a 32-yard pass by running back Sam McPherson to Kupp two plays later gave the Eagles a 24-10 lead.

But YSU wouldn’t back down. The Penguins (12-3) scored five plays later on a 20-yard run by McCaster on fourth-and-inches to trail 24-17 at halftime.

Players said the frigid conditions were not much of a factor. Temperatures were in single digits all night and wind chills made it feel even colder.

“It didn’t bother me at all,” Wells said.

YSU players said they’ve overcame adversity all year long, but nothing like this. Alexander, Smith, running back Martin Ruiz and wide receivers Darien Townsend and Robert Byrd all were not with the team. Sources this week said the players had been suspended after NCAA substance tests were administered following a playoff win at Jacksonville State on Dec. 3. On Dec. 6, Ruiz was arrested on two fourth-degree gun charges stemming from a traffic stop in Tallmadge.

Backups Billy Nicoe Hurst and Powell replaced Alexander and Smith in the YSU secondary. Hurst also had an interception at the goal line in the third quarter to thwart an Eagles scoring opportunity.

“They played well,” Pelini said.

McCaster rushed for three touchdowns and a career-best 154 yards in splitting carries with fellow running back Jody Webb with Ruiz out. Webb ran for 101 yards and the Penguins finished with 262 yards on the ground.

Eastern Washington head coach Beau Baldwin couldn’t quite but his finger on anything specific on why his team wasn’t as explosive in the second half.

“They might have changed a few things up and they got decent pressure on us too which made it tougher to let things develop.” Baldwin said.

YSU avoided disaster on their opening possession of the second half. Wells threw a pass that was tipped and intercepted but the Eagles were called for being offside. The drive ended in a 20-yard Kennedy field goal.

That didn’t faze Gubrud and the EWU offense. The Eagles drove down the field on their next possession in four plays in 1 minute 33 seconds to make it a 31-20 game midway through the third quarter.

But YSU came back with a Wells touchdown strike to Alvin Bailey with 12:14 to play that brought the Penguins within four.

YSU took the lead on McCaster’s 12-yard run with 6:30 to go. EWU answered quickly with a seven play, 80-yard drive to make it 38-34 with 4:24 to play .

But it was just enough time for the Penguins to complete the comeback.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Rader said. “It’s very exciting.”