Sept. 13, 2008

Football: YSU Rebounds Against Central State to Get First Win of Season

    Youngstown – The Youngstown State football team returned home after losing its first two games of the season on the road and used a complete team effort in beating Central State 38-0 at Stambaugh Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
    The offense, defense, and special teams were all instrumental in the win for the Penguins.
   Offensively, Jabari Scott rushed for his second-career 100 yard game finishing the game with 111 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns.
    Making his first start for the Penguins at quarterback, junior Brandon Summers completed 6-of-8 passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns.
    The defense held Central State scoreless and only allowed 198 total yards, forced three turnovers and a sack..
    Special teams was solid as De'Angelo Wilson scored on a 39-yard punt return and punter Ben Nowicki averaged 44 yards per punt on three kicks including two inside the 10 yard line.

    After forcing the Marauder's to punt on their opening drive, the Penguins jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. 
    The Penguins scored on their opening drive of the game that consisted of seven plays, all on the ground to Scott that ended with a 17 yard touchdown run. Brian Palmer added the kick to put the Guins up 7-0.
    It didn't take long for the Penguins to extend their lead to 14-0 after Summers connected with senior wide receiver Ferlando Williams for a 64-yard touchdown strike.  The drive only took two plays and 41 seconds.
    The touchdown pass was YSU's longest completion since 2005 when Tom Zetts competed a 72 yard pass to Aaron Marshall against Southern Illinois.

      After both teams combined for seven consecutive drives that resulted in a punt, Wilson took a Central State punt 39 yard for a touchdown that put the Penguins up by 20.  Palmer then added the kick extending the lead to 21.
    Wilson's return was the first time the Penguins returned a punt for a touchdown since Jason Perry returned one for a score against Missouri State in 2006.
    On the ensuing drive, the Marauders drove the ball down to the YSU 14 yard-line but faltered as YSU cornerback Jarvis Richards intercepted Central State quarterback Jude Diege's pass on the YSU six just before halftime.
      To start the second half, the Penguins took the opening kickoff of the third quarter and put together a six-play 70-yard drive that was capped off by a two-yard Scott touchdown run.  Along with Palmer's kick, the Penguins were up 28-0.
    YSU wasted no time extending their lead.  After forcing the Marauders to punt after the touchdown drive, Summers found Williams again for a 5-yard touchdown that put the Penguins up 35.  The drive consisted of eight plays and covered 30 yards.
    Palmer added the final score for the Penguins as he hit a 23 yard field goal in the fourth quarter to extend the lead over Central State to 38.
    With the win the Penguins improve to 1-2 on the season and the Marauders drop to 0-3.

    The Bison are ranked No. 1 in the FCS Coaches Poll and are ranked second in the Sports Network Top 25. The last time the Guins played host to a top-ranked team was Southern Illinois on Oct. 9, 2004.