August 30, 2001 •
Head Coach Jon Heacock enjoyed a victory in his
debut as the Penguins’ coach with a 38-7 win over Lock Haven. P.J. Mays rushed
for 226 yards and YSU returned a kick off and a block punt for touchdowns.
Nov. 4, 2000 • YSU overcame a 14-point
deficit in the final 6:15 behind two Jeff Ryan touchdown passes to force
overtime. After each team scored in the first overtime, Ryan threw a 25-yard
touchdown pass to Brandon Pedraza on the first play of the second overtime, and
on the final play of the game, Tim Johnson intercepted a desperation pass to
preserve a 42-35 victory in the stadium’s longest game.
Dec. 11, 1999 • The Penguins overcame a 24-13
fourth-quarter deficit for a 27-24 victory over Florida A&M in the NCAA
semifinals. Tim Johnson’s interception turned the momentum of the game and with
44 seconds remaining, Jeff Ryan connected with Damion Matthews from 10 yards out
for the game-winning score.
Sept. 25, 1999 • The Youngstown State defense
came up big in the end with a goaline stand in the final minute to preserve a
28-24 win over Western Illinois. WIU had a first-and-goal at the YSU five with
just under two minutes remaining and had two cracks from the one in the final
minute. But the Penguins defense led by Dave Vecchione kept the Leathernecks out
of the end zone.
Dec. 3, 1994 • Youngstown State used another
playoff comeback to keep its drive for the national title alive beating Eastern
Kentucky 18-15 in the NCAA quarterfinals. Eastern Kentucky trailed 11-0 in the
fourth quarter before scoring 15 unanswered points. But with 1:02 remaining,
Mark Brungard threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Darnell Bracy to keep the
title drive alive.
Nov. 25, 1994 • YSU defeated Alcorn State
63-20 in the first round of the 1994 playoffs in a contest that was shown across
the country on ESPN. Steve McNair, quarterback of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans,
threw for 514 yards on 82 attempts, but the Penguins sacked him six times. Shawn
Patton rushed for 158 yards and three touchdowns.
Sept. 26, 1992 • James Madison defeated YSU
52-49 in the highest-scoring game ever at Stambaugh. Both teams had more than
500 total offensive yards on the day. Tamron Smith rushed for 159 yards and
scored four touchdowns. Nick Cochran was 19-for-23 for 243 yards and one
touchdown. The Dukes were too much to handle as David McLeod caught seven passes
for 185 yards and two touchdowns.
Dec. 14, 1991 • With the help of the home
crowd the Penguins shut out Samford 10-0 to advance to the 1991 NCAA I-AA
Championship Game. Samford turned the ball over 10 times on six interceptions
and four fumbles. The Bulldogs were held to just 144 total yards for the game
and minus-four yards rushing. The Penguins held the ball for 42:45, more than
two thirds of the game.
Nov. 30, 1991 • Youngstown State used a
miraculous catch by Herb Williams to set up a game-winning field goal as the
Penguins beat Villanova 17-16 in the first round of the 1991 playoffs. YSU
trailed 16-14 with less than two minutes remaining in the game and faced a
fourth-and-11 from their own 41-yard line. Williams’ caught a tipped pass with
one hand as he was falling to the ground for a 41-yard gain to set up a 33-yard
game-winning field goal by Jeff Wilkins.
Nov. 24, 1990 • Youngstown State hosted its first home
playoff game against Central Florida after posting an 11-0 regular-season mark.
UCF’s Franco Grilla kicked a 34-yard field goal as time expired for the victory
after the Penguins rallied from a 17-6 halftime deficit to tie the game in the
fourth quarter.
Oct. 15, 1988 • Youngstown State defeated
Towson State 41-39 in a high-scoring battle as eight different receivers caught
a pass for YSU. Lorenzo Davis scored three touchdowns and rushed for 133 yards.
Darren Morgan was 4-for-4 in field goals. TSU’s Dave Meggett scored three
touchdowns. TSU tried to tie the game in the forth quarter with a two-point
conversion, but the Penguins defense denied TSU and won by two points.
Nov. 21, 1986 • Youngstown State defeated
Akron in a high-scoring 40-39 in a game that featured eight lead changes.
Trenton Lykes passed for 305 yards and two touchdowns. Elliot Fedd had 158
receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Sept. 6, 1986 • Jim Tressel’s first game as the head coach
of Youngstown State was played against Nicholls State at Stambaugh Stadium. The
Penguins were defeated 34-17, but this game marked a new era in Youngstown State
history.
Nov. 3, 1984 • Youngstown State defeated
Akron 3-2, in the lowest scoring game in stadium history. Akron scored first,
when YSU snapped the ball over the punter’s head and out the back of the end
zone. John Dowling kicked a 41-yard field goal in the fourth quarter for the
only YSU score.
Sept. 18, 1982 • Youngstown State earned its first victory
at Stambaugh Stadium by a score of 37-14 over Tennessee Tech. Paris Wicks rushed
for 136 yards and scored two touchdowns.
Sept. 4, 1982 •
The first game at Stambaugh Stadium was played between Youngstown State and
Akron in front of a sellout crowd of 15,833. The Penguins scored the first
touchdown at the new stadium on a 65-yard run by Paris Wicks. Paul McFadden made
four fields goals including two from 42 yards. Akron won the game with a 48-yard
field goal by Dennis Heckman with only one second remaining.
