Box Score
The ninth-ranked Youngstown State football team suffered a 19-14 setback to UNI on Saturday afternoon at the UNI-Dome.
The Penguins drop to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference while the Panthers improve to 4-3 and 3-1.
UNI jumped out to a 10-0 lead before the Penguins were able to put together a scoring drive.
In the first quarter, the Penguins defense stiffened when UNI had a first-and-goal as the Panthers had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Sam Drysdale which capped a 17-play, 78-yard drive.
On their next possession, the Panthers scored their first touchdown of the contest. Marcus Weymiller scored from a yard out to conclude a 12-play, 80-yard march.
YSU was able to pull within three points on its ensuing drive. Nathan Mays found Damoun Patterson on a 41-yard strike with 5:48 remaining to pull the Penguins within 10-7.
However, UNI was able to answer 2:31 later when Weymiller scored from six yards out this time as the Panthers took the ball 79 yards in nine plays.
In the third quarter, UNI increased its lead to 19-7 with 7:24 left in the third quarter on a 28-yard field goal by Drysdale. On the Penguins' first drive of the second half, they had a 4th-and-2 at the UNI 34, but Tevin McCaster was stopped for no gain on the play.
The Penguins made things interesting late as Ricky Davis came in to replace Mays. With 1:23 left in the fourth quarter, Davis found Alvin Bailey on a 15-yard score to cut the deficit to 19-14. However UNI recovered a Zak Kennedy onside kick to seal the win.
In the first half, YSU had 140 yards on 28 plays while UNI had 244 on 41. The Panthers had 132 yards rushing. Mays was 8-of-11 for 116 yards and a score.
For the game, YSU had 305 yards of total offense while UNI had 332 yards. The Penguins passed for 258 yards as Mays had 175 yards and Davis finished with 83.
The Penguins return home next Saturday to face Illinois State at Stambaugh Stadium. Kickoff for the annual Homecoming tilt against the Redbirds is set for 2 p.m.
