Penguins Fall to Penn State, 44-14, in Wolford Debut

Saturday, September 4

12:5 pm

Youngstown State University

0-1

Penn State

1-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Youngstown State	7	0	0	7	14
Penn State	3	13	14	14	44

Penguins Fall to Penn State, 44-14, in Wolford Debut

9/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

PDF Final Stats | Kurt Hess Video | Coach Wolford Video | Photo Gallery

State College, Pa. – Senior Dominique Barnes tied a school single-game record with 11 receptions for 134 yards and redshirt freshman Kurt Hess threw for 189 yards with two touchdowns, but the Youngstown State football team (0-1) lost to No. 14/19 Penn State (1-0), 44-14, in Head Coach Eric Wolford's debut in front of a crowd of 101,213 at Beaver Stadium.

Hess was an impressive 21-for-25 on the day with no interceptions and connected with eight different receivers.

Defensively, the Penguins allowed just 132 yards rushing and limited Evan Royster to 40 yards on 11 carries. Individually, junior linebacker David Rach set a career high with eight tackles and forced the game's only turnover with his third career interception in the second quarter. Senior Brandian Ross and junior Deonta Tate matched Rach with a team-best eight tackles.

After giving up a field-goal to trail, 3-0, the Guins responded with a three-play 80-yard drive capped by a crowd-stunning 80-yard touchdown pass from Hess to Barnes. The touchdown pass was the first of Hess' career and the first touchdown against an FBS opponent since 2003 and first-ever versus a BCS foe.

The Penguins carried a 7-3 lead into the second quarter but the Nittany Lions scored next 41 points before Hess' seven-yard touchdown strike to junior Ely Ducatel in the endzone for the game's final score.

The Nittany Lions' Collin Wagner booted a career-long 49-yard field goal made the score 7-6 with 14:08 left in the second quarter.

Penn State regained the lead, 13-7, with 1:20 left in the second quarter on an eight-play 68-yard drive culminated on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Robert Bolden to Brett Brackett.

Wagner kicked his third field goal of more than 40 yards with a 48-yard boot as time expired in the second quarter to boost the Nittany Lions edge to 16-7 at halftime.

PSU opened the second half with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Chazz Powell that extended the lead to 23-7 with 14:48 to go in the third quarter. Penn State added another touchdown in the third and two more in the fourth quarter.

The Penguins host Butler, Saturday, Sept. 11, at 6 p.m. in the 2010 home opener and Head Coach Eric Wolford's first game at Stambaugh Stadium. Tickets are available by calling (330) 941-1YSU.

Youngstown State Postgame Notes vs. Penn State – Sept. 4, 2010

The Penguins are now 19-24-1 against FBS opponents and are 0-2 all-time against Penn State.
Youngstown State first-time starters include: TB Jamaine Cook, QB Kurt Hess, OT D.J. Main, WR Juilian Harrell,TE Carson Sharbaugh, WR Kevin Watts, NT Andrew Johnson and DE Daniel Stewart.
Senior Dominique Barnes has now caught a pass in 24 consecutive games, which is tied for the fifth-longest streak in school history. He also extended his multi-catch streak to 21 straight games.
Senior WR Dominique Barnes tied the school single-game record with 11 receptions.
Dominique Barnes' 80-yard TD reception is the Guins' first touchdown against an FBS opponent since 2003 and the longest touchdown reception since 1999.
The 80-yard touchdown pass to Barnes was the first of QB Kurt Hess' career.
Junior David Rach's second-quarter interception was the third of his career.
Dominique Barnes 134 yards receiving marks his fourth career 100-yard receiving game.
David Rach set a career high in tackles.
Ely Ducatel recorded his first career reception in the third quarter and his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Andre Barboza recorded his first career reception in the third quarter.
Freshman RB Jordan Thompson posted his first career reception.