Nov. 10, 2007

Football: Penguins Grind Out 40-7 Victory at Indiana State

    Terre Haute, Ind. – The Youngstown State football team rushed for a season-high 392 yards and scored five rushing touchdowns in a 40-7 victory over Indiana State on sunny Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.

    With the victory, YSU improves to 6-4 overall and 2-3 in the Gateway while Indiana State is now 0-10 and 0-5.

    Sophomore tailback Jabari Scott led the way rushing for a career-high 149 yards and two touchdowns. Junior tailback Kevin Smith finished with 122 yards on 14 carries and a score.

    For the game, the Penguins amassed 511 yards of total offense on 70 plays.

    YSU jumped out to a 13-0 lead in a face-paced first half that lasted just under an hour. The Penguins offense was efficient running 36 plays for 200 total offensive yards, 142 of which came on the ground.

    Palmer converted a 28-yard field goal in the first quarter before making a 32-yarder in the second. He extended his streak to a school-record-tying 10 consecutive makes.

    YSU took a 3-0 lead after Palmer converted a 28-yard field goal with 7:14 left. The Guins moved the ball 61 yards on eight plays before the drive stalled at the Indiana State 11-yard line.

    Youngstown State used an impressive 16-play, 83-yard scoring drive to increase its lead to 10-0. Tailback Jabari Scott capped off the drive with a one-yard scoring run with 9:46 remaining in the second quarter. Scott accounted for 40 yards on seven rushes during the drive.

    Palmer's second field goal of the game with 26 seconds remaining in the first half gave the Penguins a 13-0 lead at intermission.

    In the third quarter, YSU found the end zone twice while the Sycamores were able to put a touchdown on the scoreboard.

    The Penguins took their initial possession of the third quarter 65 yards in four plays to boost their advantage to 20-0. Smith scored on an 11-yard run just 92 seconds into the second half.

    Later in the quarter, Scott found the end zone for the second time. He capped an impressive eight-play, 89-yard drive on a one-yard scoring rush at the 7:41 mark.

    On the ensuing kickoff, YSU regained possession when Everett Barney knocked the ball loose and Vince Gliatta recovered. The drive stalled and Ben Nowicki's pooch punt backed ISU up at its own five.

    However, the Scyamores moved the ball 95 yards and found the end zone for the first time when offensive guard Jack Byrne pounced on a Justin Collins fumble for a touchdown.

    In the fourth quarter, Ferlando Williams and Brandon Nicholson chipped in rushing touchdowns.

    The Penguins close out the 2007 campaign next Saturday when they play host to Western Illinois. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.