Illinois States offensive and defensive units went toe-to-toe with No. 5-ranked Youngstown State the entire game, however, the Redbirds were unable to overcome several miscues on special teams in a 44-30 loss to Youngstown State in a Gateway Football Conference matchup Saturday at Stambaugh Stadium.
Youngstown State (6-1 overall and 4-1 in the Gateway) tallied 17 points off Illinois State (0-7 overall and 0-3 in the Gateway) turnovers en route to victory in front of 19,171 fans on Homecoming Day.
The Redbirds battled valiantly on both sides of the ball and actually owned a 9-5 lead midway through the second quarter, however, the Penguins were able to capitalize on three miscues by the ISU punt team to claim the victory.
The Penguins got on the board first with a 44-yard field goal by Jake Stewart less than three minutes into the contest. YSU added to its lead on the Redbirds ensuing possession when long snapper Andy King overshot punter Ryan Hoffman who was punting out of his own end zone.
The Birds responded with back-to-back field goals by Stephen Carroll to take a 6-5 advantage after the opening quarter. Carrolls first attempt, from 36-yards out, came after a key fourth-down completion from quarterback Dusty Burk to his tight end Mark Schaeve. The second attempt, again from 36-yards out, came after cornerback Dennis Butler recovered an on-side kick on the ensuing kickoff.
Carroll added his third and final field goal of the day, a 22-yarder, to give ISU a 9-5 advantage with 10:59 remaining in the second quarter.
Momentum swung the Penguins way as they rattled off 18 straight points to take control of the game. Stewart started the scoring with a 35-yard field goal and then the Redbirds committed two mistakes which decided the game.
Punting out of his own end zone once again, Hoffman was unable to handle a bad snap and the Penguins took over on the Birds 8-yard line. Three plays later, quarterback Jeff Ryan hit paydirt with a one-yard scoring run. Burk was picked off on ISUs ensuing possession and Ryan connected with receiver Jerald Burley on the next play for a 33-yard scoring strike to give YSU a 23-9 advantage with 1:21 remaining in the half.
ISU was able to responded as Burk drove the team 59 yards in six plays over 51 seconds and capped the drive off with a two-yard run to pull the Birds within a touchdown at the half.
The Redbirds held the run-oriented Penguins to only 13 first-half rushing yards on 14 carries and outgained YSU 166-122 at the break.
YSU wasted little time as they took the opening drive of the second half 42 yards to score on a three-yard run by P.J. Mays to take a 29-16 advantage. The two-point conversion attempt failed.
The Birds bounced back as linebacker Adam Waugh scooped up his second fumble recovery of the day after Andy Papoccia jarred the ball loose from Ryan. Burk connected with wideout Wayne Riley for a 14-yard touchdown pass on the next play to pull ISU within 29-23.
Special teams reared its head again for the Redbirds when Jerald Burley took Hoffmans punt 77-yards for a touchdown to increase the Penguin advantage to 35-23 at the start of the fourth quarter. Ryan added the two-point conversion.
ISU fought back when Burk found Schaeve in the end zone on a five-yard toss to pull the Birds within 37-30, however, P.J. Mays added his second touchdown of the day, a 13-yard run to put the game out of reach.
Burk completed 25-of-41 passes for 272 yards with two passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdown and an interception. Schaeve, who pulled down seven passes for 105 yards the previous week against Western Illinois, finished the game with six catches for a team-high 97 yards and a touchdown.
The Redbirds host Northern Iowa at Hancock Stadium on Homecoming Day, October 27.
