Cedar Falls, Iowa -- The Youngstown State football team had been strong against the run for most of the season, but 11th-ranked UNI found daylight on Saturday afternoon at the UNI Dome rushing for 230 yards to hand the Penguins a 28-7 setback.
The total was the most allowed by the Penguins this year with the previous high a 187-yard rushing performance by Pitt in the season opener. With the loss, YSU drops to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Panthers kept their postseason hopes alive with the win improving to 6-3 and 4-2.
UNI scored the first two touchdowns of the game and eventually led 21-7 at halftime. The Panthers had success on the ground in the first half rushing for 115 yards on 22 carries and picking up three touchdowns. Through the air, quarterback Pat Grace was 9-of-10 for 71 yards. UNI was 6-of-8 on third downs during the first 30 minutes. The 21 points were the most allowed in the first half by YSU since the opener at Pitt.
The Panthers scored on their initial drive of the game when Carlos Anderson capped a 12-play 80-yard march on a 12-yard scoring run with 6:31 left in the quarter.
In the second quarter, Grace called his own number scoring on a two-yard keeper that put the wraps on UNI's second straight 80-yard drive with 10:21 left before halftime.
Later in the period, YSU took over at the UNI 47-yard line. Brandon Summers connected with Dominique Barnes from 10 yards out at the 1:28 mark to cut the deficit in half.
However, Anderson returned the ensuing kickoff 48 yards to the YSU 33-yard line. Grace scored his second touchdown of the quarter from three yards with just 13 ticks on the clock before halftime.
Each team struggled to find an offensive rhythm for the most of the third quarter before YSU picked up a boost via a David Rach interception. The linebacker's second career pick set up the Guins at their own 49 with 1:28 remaining in the quarter.
On the ensuing possession, YSU moved to the UNI 25-yard line. However, on a fourth-and-six play, Summers completed a pass to Jamaine Cook who was collared for no gain giving the ball back to the Panthers.
The Panthers concluded their scoring for the contest when Matt Strathman plowed in from a yard out with 4:25 left for the 28-7 margin.
For the game, Summers was 22-of-35 for 164 yards with one touchdown and a late interception. Dana Brown was the leading rusher finishing with 30 yards on nine attempts while Donald Jones caught five passes for 41 yards. Anderson finished with 113 yards on 17 carries while Grace had 42 on 13 rushes. He was 12-of-17 for 104 yards through the air. UNI had 334 yards of total offense to YSU's 238.
The Penguins play their final home game of the season next Saturday against Illinois State. Kickoff against the Redbirds is set for 1 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.
Courtesy: YSU Sports Information
