Youngstown – In another Youngstown State-Northern Iowa football game that went back-and-forth all night, a blocked extra-point proved to be the difference as the Penguins lost 21-20 to the fourth-ranked Panthers on Saturday evening at Stambaugh Stadium.

With the game tied at 14 early in the fourth quarter, UNI took what turned out to be the the lead for good on Derrick Law's second touchdown of the game with 12:04 left. The Panthers moved the ball 76 yards in 12-plays and scored their third touchdown of the day from the YSU one-yard line when Law found pay dirt to put the Panthers up 21-14.

The Penguins responded on their next drive. After two rushes by Dana Brown that covered seven yards, quarterback Brandon Summers, playing for the first time since Oct. 4, found wide receiver Donald Jones for a 51-yard touchdown strike to put the Penguins within one.

However, the Panthers penetrated the line and blocked Brian Palmer's extra-point try to make the score 21-20, with 3:55 remaining in the game.

The YSU defense held UNI to a three-and-out on the next series to give the ball back to the Penguins' offense with 2:44 left in the game at their own 20.

Unfortunately the Panthers' defense stopped the Penguins from getting a first down and on fourth down Summers was stopped for a three-yard gain by Everetter Pedesclueaux with 2:12 left.

UNI had a short field to work with, but elected to go for a fourth-and-one to seal the win, but were stopped giving the Penguins offense one more shot to rally with 44 seconds left.

The offense picked up two first-downs, but a fumble by Summers was recovered by UNI's Wes Lane to seal the deal for the Panthers.

Offensively the Penguins were lead by through the air by Summers who completed 15-of-33 passes for 167 yards. On the ground running back Kamryn Keys rushed for 101 yards on nine carries. He became the first player to rush for more than 100 yards against the Panthers this year.

UNI found the end zone first, after most of the first quarter was dominated by both defenses. On third-and-goal from the one, UNI quarterback Zach Davis' pass was tipped by cornerback De'Angelo Wilson but caught by receiver Schuylar Oordt in the corner of the end zone with 32 seconds left in the quarter.

Northern Iowa wasted little time to extend their lead. On their next possession, the Panthers drove the ball 80 yards over 16 plays to go up 14-0. Law capped off the drive on a one-yard touchdown run.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Penguins' Dominique Barnes returned the ball to the UNI 41-yard line. Following six consecutive Penguin rushes, Summers rolled out of the pocket and connected with receiver Da'Michael Horne, who made a leaping catch in the back corner of the end zone. Palmer's kick cut the lead in half making the score 14-7 in favor UNI.

UNI threatened to score before the half and moved the ball into YSU territory. However, WIlson intercepted a Davis pass on the three-yard line to end the threat.

In the third, Keys evened the score up at 14 with a 61 yard rush. The five-play drive took 1:52 off the clock and covered 84 yards, all by Keys. The 61 yard run was the longest rush of the season for the Penguins and was Keys' career-long rush as a Penguin.

Both offenses finished the game with 300 yards apiece, with the Panthers holding the ball for 12:16 minutes longer than the Penguins. YSU (2-7 overall and 1-4 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference) drops its fifth straight game in the same season for the first time since 1986 and has now lost eight straight to UNI (6-2 and 4-1), including the last two by one point.

The Penguins will try to pick up their first road win of the season when they visit Illinois State. The Redbirds lost to North Dakota State on Saturday by a score of 25-7.