Box Score Columbus, Ohio -- The Youngstown State football team lost its
first season opener since 1995 after dropping a 38-6 decision to
11th-ranked Ohio State in front of 105,038 at Ohio Stadium. It is
the largest crowd to see Youngstown State play and the 18th largest
at Ohio Stadium.
Senior Tom Zetts completed 10-of-18 passes for 86 yards in three
quarters, and Jabari Scott led the Penguins with 26 yards
rushing.
Senior Louis Irizarry led the Penguins with four receptions for
19 yards.
Defensively for the Penguins limited the powerful Buckeye
rushing attack to 147 yards but allowed 270 yards through the air.
Sophomore linebacker Rashon Simons posted a team-high 12 tackles
while senior Vince Gliatta added nine tackles with a sack and
forced fumble.
After the Penguins went three-and-out on the game's first
possession, the Buckeyes drove 70 yards on nine plays to take a 7-0
lead on Todd Boeckman's three-yard touchdown pass to Dane
Sanzenbacher with 9:36 left in the first quarter. On the second
play from scrimmage, Boeckman hit Brian Robiskie for a 41-yard gain
and then connected with Robiskie on a seven-yard pass to the YSU
six.
A partially-blocked punt by Ohio State's Tyler Moeller set up
the Buckeyes second touchdown - a one-yard run by Chris Wells - on
the first play of the second quarter.
Trailing 14-0 in the second quarter, the Penguins got on the
scoreboard after a Brian Palmer 21-yard field goal to cut the
deficit to 14-3. The Penguins drove 81 yards in nine plays and had
first-and-goal on the Ohio State four-yard line but stalled and had
to settle for the field goal.
Ohio State went ahead, 21-3, on Brandon Saine's one-yard dive
with under a minute left in the second quarter. The Buckeyes
responded to YSU's field goal by driving 75 yards on 10 plays.
Midway through the third quarter, Gliatta sacked and forced a
fumble by Boeckman and freshman Jon Penick recovered at the Ohio
State 27. Three plays later, Stephan Blose converted his first
career field goal - a 42-yarder - to bring the score to 24-6 with
6:44 remaining in the third.
The Buckeyes added two more fourth quarter touchdowns to take a
38-6 lead midway through the stanza.
Youngstown State hosts South Dakota State, Saturday, Sept. 8, at
6 p.m. in the 2007 home opener at Stambaugh Stadium.