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Oct. 23, 2004
Returns, Thompson Do In Penguins, 30-24
Normal, Ill. –
In a game featuring six lead
changes, the Youngstown State
football team could not overcome two
kick returns for touchdowns by
Illinois State and a 222–yard
rushing performance by Brian
Thompson in a 30-24 loss at Hancock
Stadium on a beautiful Saturday
afternoon.
The loss by the Penguins (2-6 overall and 0-4 in the Gateway Football
Conference) snapped their two-game
winning streak in Normal over the
Redbirds (4-3 and 2-2).
YSU fought back several times but its last chance to rally came with just
over four minutes remaining in the
game. On fourth-and-seven at the ISU
15, Tom Zetts hit Josh Cayson in the
flat, but Cayson fell backwards to
the ground before he could gain any
yardage.
Illinois State took over the ball at the 15 and ran the clock down
to 10 seconds behind Thompson, who
had a career-high 37 carries. Time
expired on a punt by Ryan Hoffman
Leading the Penguins on offense was Cayson who had 146 yards on a
career-best 25 carries and a
touchdown. Zetts completed 14-of-28
passes for 162 yards, two touchdowns
and had one interception.
Youngstown State had 331 total offensive yards while the Redbirds tallied
363.
In the third quarter, Illinois State’s defense, ISU placekicker Stephen
Carroll and Josh Cayson were the
stories. YSU could not generate any
offense on its two possessions going
three-and-out each time as Carroll
converted two field goals. Carroll’s
first field goat tied the game with
a 19-yard kick and put the Redbirds
in front 20-17 with 3:45 remaining
in the period.
At the close of the period, Cayson caught fire to get the
offense on track. On the drive that
put the Penguins in front 24-20 he
had eight carries for 80 yards and
took the ball to the end zone on a
13-yard scamper with 46 seconds
left.
In the fourth, ISU punter Ryan Hoffman pinned the Penguins on
their one-yard for the second time,
but this time proved fatal for the
Guins. Joe Bishop’s punt was
returned 52 yards for a touchdown by
Joe Walkins with 12:26 remaining in
the fourth.
An interception by Alex Filin of a Tom Zetts pass intended
for Mike Roberts returned to YSU 33
setting up Carroll’s third field
goal of the second half from 31
yards with 6:26 left.
Illinois State jumped out to a 7-0 lead before most of the
Homecoming Crowd of 10,279 were in
their seats. YSU’s Joe Bishop kicked
off to start the game and the
Redbirds’ LaShawn Bullock raced 97
yards through the Penguin
kick-coverage team for a touchdown
15 seconds into the contest.
Youngstown State regrouped
quickly taking their initial drive
of the game 82 yards on just eight
plays as Tom Zetts capped the drive
on a 27-yard scoring toss to Mike
Roberts. The score tied the game at
seven with 11:37 remaining in the
opening stanza.
YSU took advantage of a Mike
Bracken interception of a Yance
Vaughn pass to tack on a field goal.
Bracken picked off his second pass
of the season and returned it nine
yards, but ISU was assessed a
five-yard facemask and 15-yard
personal foul penalty placing the
ball at the Redbird 22.
The Penguins moved the ball down
to the ISU two-yard line, but had to
settle for a 19-yard Nick Terracina
field goal with 7:49 left. Later in
the quarter, Terracina pushed a
34-yard attempt wide right as the
Penguins held a 10-7 edge at the end
of the first.
Following the missed field goal,
ISU went on an impressive 15-play,
80-yard drive that ate 7:57 off the
clock. Vaughn capped the march by
connecting with Mike Larson for a
six-yard touchdown pass as the
Redbirds regained the lead 14-10
with 7:36 remaining in the second
quarter.
After being on the end of a
70-yard punt by Hoffman earlier in
the quarter, YSU took advantage of a
big Redbird special teams miscue to
grab the lead right before halftime.
Youngstown State held Illinois
State on three plays at the YSU 48,
than on the punt attempt, the snap
sailed over Hoffman’s head and
settled at the Illinois State 13.
Hoffman picked the ball up and
fumbled when Justin Scholes hit him
as Brandon Brown recovered the ball
at the 13.
YSU picked up a first down at
the three on a 10-yard carry by Josh
Cayson and on the next play Zetts
tossed a three-yard touchdown pass
to Demetrius Ison with 54 seconds
left in the half giving the Penguins
a three-point cushion.
Illinois State made things
interesting as on the final play of
the first half, Vaughn threw a deep
ball to Kevett Nickle who was
brought down at the YSU one by Steve
Reynolds as time expired.
The Penguins play their final
home game of the season next
Saturday when Indiana State visits
Stamabugh Stadium. Kickoff is set
for 4 p.m. |
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