Jackrabbit rally falls short

Saturday, September 8

Youngstown, Ohio

6 p.m. ET

South Dakota State University

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Youngstown State

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2nd

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South Dakota State

Youngstown State

9/8/2007 1:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: SDSU Sports Info

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio ? Brandon Nicholson's 2-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter put sixth-ranked Youngstown State (Ohio) in the lead for good as the Penguins defeated South Dakota State, 23-17, before a crowd of 16,118 at Stambaugh Stadium.

Things looked bleak for the Jackrabbits early on as YSU scored a pair of first-quarter touchdowns 1 minute, 14 seconds apart. The Penguins marched 88 yards on their first possession of the game, capping a 14-play drive with a 3-yard Jabari Scott run.

After holding SDSU on its next possession, Dorian Chenault broke through the Jackrabbit line and blocked a Dean Priddy punt. Vince Gliatta picked up the blocked punt at the 2-yard line and scored, making the score 14-0 with 5:39 remaining in the first quarter.

The Penguins made it 17-0 with a Brian Palmer 38-yard field goal midway through the second quarter.

SDSU gained the momentum late in the first half as Andrew Hoogeveen picked off a Penguin pass at the SDSU 11 and returned it 30 yards. SDSU marched the ball down field, capping the eight-play, 59-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Berry to Cory Koenig with 18 seconds remaining in the half to pull the Jackrabbits to within 17-7 heading into halftime.

The ball continued to bounce the Jackrabbits' way in the third quarter. With Youngstown driving deep into Jackrabbit territory, SDSU stopped the Penguins short on two consecutive plays, including fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line.

The Jackrabbits then methodically moved the length of the field, capping an 18-play, 99 drive with a 2-yard Koenig run. Berry completed 9-of-11 passes on the drive, including one to himself after the ball was tipped at the line of scrimmage.

SDSU knotted the game on its next possession, converting twice on third down, before Parker Douglass booted a 32-yard field goal with 9:30 remaining in the game.

Youngstown won the field-position battle late in the game, forcing the Jackrabbits to punt from deep in their own territory. De'Angelo Wilson fielded the punt at the SDSU 49 and advanced 16 yards to the Jackrabbit 33. The Penguins converted on third-and-one before Nicholson tallied the decisive score three plays later.

YSU sealed the game as Gliatta picked off a Berry pass at midfield on the second play of the Jackrabbit drive, then ran out the clock.

Scott led the YSU rushing attack with 89 yards on 19 carries as the Penguins out-rushed SDSU, 180-48. Koenig led the Jackrabbits on the ground with 12 carries for 61 yards.

Berry finished the game 28-of-40 for 208 yards, connecting with nine different receivers. Kyle Minett caught six passes for 51 yards and JaRon Harris added six receptions for 41 yards.

Penguin quarterback Tom Zetts completed 18-of-28 passes for 167 yards, with Rory Berry catching six balls for 49 yards.

Defensively, SDSU was led by Chris Johnson's 11 tackles. Tyler Koch added 10 stops, including nine solos.

Jarvis Richards and Jeremiah Wright each posted eight tackles for the Penguins.

SDSU opens its home schedule Sept. 15, hosting nationally ranked Northern Iowa in the 12th Annual Cereal Bowl. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium.