| October
7, 2006 INDIANA STATE COMEBACK IN SECOND HALF STOPPED SHORT BY PENGUINS YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Behind the impressive rushing of Youngstown State senior tailback Marcus Mason, who posted 197 yards on the ground, the Penguins posted a 55-17 victory over the Sycamores at Stambaugh Stadium this afternoon (Oct. 7). Indiana State falls to 0-6, 0-2 Gateway while the Penguins improve to 5-1, 2-0 Gateway. For the second time in as many weeks, the Sycamores drew first blood in the contest on a 21-yard field goal by kicker Kyle Hooper with 7:22 left in the first quarter. The scoring play came after ISU drove down to the YSU five-yard line, but a false start penalty moved the ball back to the 10. After a pair of incompletions, and a shovel pass to Darrius Gates that moved the ball to the three, the Sycamores had to settle for the field goal and the 3-0 lead. Back-to-back field goals by Youngstown State gave them a 6-3 advantage early in the third quarter, and with the Sycamores trying to retake the lead, ISU suffered from three consecutive dropped passes. The biggest was a dropped pass by Brian Jackson a brilliant fourth-and-one call that would have given the Sycamores a first down and some much needed momentum. The pendulum, however, swung in favor of the Penguins as they raced back down the field for a touchdown of their own and a 13-3 lead. The advantage would balloon to 27-3 at the half, and the Penguins scored on their first drive of the second half to make it 34-3. That’s when the Sycamores got things in full swing with back-to-back touchdown scoring drives that ended with scoring strikes from Ben Schmidt to Sam Logan and Carl Berman to make the score 34-17. ISU could not convert a third-and-three call to keep the momentum going late in the third quarter. ISU forced a Penguin fumble in the later portions of the third quarter, but Hooper missed a 37-yard field goal attempt wide left to stop the Sycamores’ scoring threat. YSU added late scores to give them a 55-17 victory. Ben Schmidt finished the game 23-of-32 passing for 201 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Berman was the Sycamores' leading receiver catching seven passes for 71 yards and a score. Tony West had 11 carries for 61 yards on the day. The Sycamores finally return home next week to host Northern Iowa at Memorial Stadium on October 14. It will be “Take A Kid To The Game Day” for the Terre Haute Community as all youth, ages 18-and-under will receive free admission to contest against the Panthers. Kickoff is set for 4:35 p.m. (EST).
|