Nov. 11, 2006

Football: Gibson, Defense Lead Guins to Gateway Title, Playoff Berth
    Bowling Green, Ky. – Senior tailback Monquantae Gibson rushed for a career-high 236 yards on 43 carries and scored two touchdowns and the YSU defense shut down the Western Kentucky offense for a 19-3 victory on a frigid night at L.T. Smith Stadium.
    Coupled with Southern Illinois’ 47-23 victory over Northern Iowa earlier on Saturday, the Penguins have earned the Gateway’s automatic bid to the playoffs. It marks the Guins’ first trip to the postseason since 2000 and first for head coach Jon Heacock.
    Gibson’s second one-yard scoring run eliminated any doubt in the contest.
    Leading 13-3, his second score of the game came with 4:10 remaining on a fourth-and-goal play. The impressive drive took more than six minutes off the clock and gave the Guins a 19-3 lead after the extra point failed.

    Entering the contest, Gibson had 285 yards rushing for the entire year on 43 attempts. The 43 attempts are the second most in a single game in school history. Gibson was playing in place of Marcus Mason, the nation’s leading rusher, who was held out after suffering an ankle injury last Saturday against Southern Illinois.
    YSU never trailed in the contest and scored the final 13 points in what turned out to be just the second Guin win in Bowling Green ever and first since 1990.
    Two Brian Palmer field goals helped the Penguins take a 6-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
    After YSU held the WKU offense to a three-and-out on the initial possession of the game, the offense moved the ball quickly into scoring position. Palmer capped a seven-play 35-yard drive by converting a 27-yard field goal.
    On their next possession, the Guins were backed up to their own one-yard line before scoring three points on an impressive 80-yard drive. YSU moved 12 plays, but could not find the end zone and Palmer came on to drill a 36-yard field goal.
    WKU converted the first turnover of the game into three points. After Travis Watters returned Zetts’ interception 38 yards to the Western Kentucky 49-yard line, the Hilltoppers moved to the YSU 13 before their drive stalled. WKU placekicker Chris James end the five-play 39-yard drive by making a 39-yard field goal.
    YSU found the end zone for the first time in the game when Gibson scored on a one-yard run to take a 13-3 lead. The Guins capped an impressive 10-play, 80-yard drive that was highlighted by a 34-yard Gibson run on a third-and-four play from the WKU 35-yard line.