Nov. 13,
1999
Football: Numerous Heros in
Comeback Win at Villanova
Villanova, Pa --
Senior Dave Vecchione forced a fumble by Villanova
running back Ducarmel Augustin and
Dwyte Smiley recovered the ball on
the two-yard line with one minute to
play as the Youngstown State
football team closed out the regular
season with a thrilling 28-21
come-from-behind victory at
Villanova Stadium on Saturday.
Trailing 21-7, the Penguins got back in the game when quarterback
Jeff Ryan hit wide receiver Elliott
Giles with a 22-yard touchdown pass
with 9:28 left in the third quarter.
After a three-and-out by the
Wildcats, YSU mounted an 11-play,
game-tying drive when Ryan hit wide
receiver Renauld Ray with a 13-yard
touchdown pass to knot the game at
21-21 in the third quarter.
After being held to just 32 yards in the first half, YSU tailback
Adrian Brown exploded in the second
half. Brown rushed for 88 yards in
the second stanza and scored the
game-winning touchdown on a 19-yard
run that put the Penguins up 28-21.
It was Brown’s 53rd career
touchdown, tying him with Tamron
Smith for the school record.
Leading
28-21 with 5:48 to play, the
Wildcats mounted what looked to be a
game-tying drive, driving 58-yards
to the YSU two after a critical
pass-interference penalty on the
Penguins. On the first play, Chris
Boden handed the ball to Augustin,
but Vecchione, who was lying on the
ground, punched up and knocked the
football in the arms of Smiley to
preserve the Penguins’ ninth win of
the season.
YSU now waits for the NCAA selection announcement, which is set to
be held on Sunday, Nov. 21. |
