Oct. 27, 2007

Football: Top-Ranked Panthers Rally To Nip Penguins  in 14-13 Heartbreaker

    Cedar Falls, Iowa – The Youngstown State football team watched a 13-0 lead evaporate in the fourth quarter adding another disappointing chapter to the Guins' history book against UNI. The No. 1-ranked Panthers scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to nip No. 20 YSU 14-13 before a crowd of 16,528 at the UNI Dome on Saturday.

    With the victory, UNI remains unbeaten improving to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the Gateway while the Guins fall to 5-4 and 1-3. The Panthers have beaten YSU seven straight times and have won 16 of 20 all-time meetings.

    Trailing 14-13, the Guins held and forced a UNI punt.

    YSU took over on its 13-yard line with 1:36 remaining. On first down, quarterback Tom Zetts ran for six yards, but was forced to leave the game following an injury. Todd Rowan's first career pass attempt fell incomplete on second down.

    Zetts returned to the game completing a 12-yard pass to Ferlando Williams for a first down. On the next play, Zetts pass was intercepted by Brannon Carter at the 36-yard line to put the game out of reach. 

    With the Guins leading 13-7, UNI quarterback Eric Sanders connected with Schuylar Oordt for 34 yards on a third-and-10 play that moved the Panthers from their own 48-yard line to the YSU 18. On the next play, Johnny Gray scored on an 18-yard reverse to tie the contest. Bill Hallgreen's point-after kick put the Panthers ahead 14-13, their first lead of the contest. UNI covered 80 yards in 10 plays to pull ahead.

    YSU held the Panthers scoreless until the 11:58 mark of the fourth quarter. On third-and-three from the YSU 29, Sanders snuck a ball through coverage connecting with Gray for a touchdown. Sanders moved the Panthers 65 yards in plays before connecting with Gray on the score.

    Zetts tied the school record for 200-yard passing performances in a career. The mark of 12 was established by Ron Jaworski. Zetts finished by completing 25-of-35 passes for a season-best 245 yards and one touchdown.

    The Penguins dominated the first quarter taking a 10-0 lead. On the initial possession of the game, YSU marched 75 yards in eight plays as Zetts capped the drive with 28-yard pass to Derrick Bush. For Bush it was his second career touchdown reception of his career, both of which came at the UNI Dome.

    After holding the Panthers to a three-and-out, YSU moved the ball to the one-yard line before the drive stalled. After a delay-of-game penalty, Brian Palmer kicked a 22-yard field goal capping a 11-play, 67-yard march.

    In the opening period, YSU amassed 151 total yards to 19 for UNI. Zetts was 8-of-9 for 111 yards and a touchdown while Sanders was 1-of-3 for five yards. In the period, YSU ran 19 plays while UNI had 19 offensive yards.

    The Penguins extended the lead to 13-0 on Palmer's second field goal of the game. Palmer booted a 37-yard kick with 7:50 left in the second quarter.

    UNI's offense came to life picking up their initial first down of the game at the 7:21 mark of the second. The Panthers kept the ball for most of the remainder of the second period, but on a third-and-four play at the YSU five, Jarvis Richards intercepted a Sanders pass to end the threat. The pick was the first interception of Richards' career.

    In the first half, the Penguins finished with 249 yards of total offense to 89 for UNI. For the game, YSU had 330 yards of total offense to UNI's 272.

    The Penguins are back on the road next Saturday when the travel to Indiana State. Kickoff at Memorial Stadium in Terre Haute is scheduled for noon.