Waterloo / Cedar Falls paper game story
• By JIM SULLIVAN, jim.sullivan@wcfcourier.com(0) Comments
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Video: Northern Iowa v Youngstown State
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Photos: UNI v Youngstown State Sept. 22, 2012
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Northern Iowa’s dominance of Youngstown State stretched to the beginning of the century.
The streak ended in just a few heartbreaking hours Saturday night.
UNI lost to the Penguins for the first time since the 2000 season Saturday night. That 11-game string ended with a 42-35 defeat at Stambaugh Stadium.
“You know it’s a tough loss,” said UNI wide receiver Chad Owens, a key man in the Panther offense.
“It was our first conference game, and we wanted to come out and get this first one against a very good Youngstown State team, but we’re just gonna bounce back.”
This Missouri Valley Football Conference opener was delayed 45 minutes by a severe thunderstorm. Then it went right down to the final play.
With UNI at the YSU 11 and 5 seconds to go, quarterback Sawyer Kollmorgen tried to hit Brett LeMaster in the end zone. The pass was incomplete, and UNI drew an offensive interference call on the play.
Later, Panther head coach Mark Farley said he was still mystified by the last play. He originally thought 1 second would remain on the clock, but the game ended with that Kollmorgen pass and the penalty.
“I’m still waiting to find out what the penalty was,” said Farley. “Who was the pass interference on?”
Farley added, “You’d think they’d indicate who the penalty was on. (The officials) were holding up (indicating) one second on the clock. I was just waiting to figure out who the penalty was on. Still am.”
So ended an offensive free-for-all, and a wild finish that featured a fourth quarter comeback by Youngstown State. Then again, UNI’s last two wins over the Penguins came down to the final minutes.
Trailing, 35-28, the Penguins scored twice in the final 7 minutes, 7 seconds of play. Torrian Pace ran a yard for the tying touchdown, then Christian Bryan caught a 26-yard TD strike from Kurt Hess for the go-ahead score with 1:50 to go.
Hess threw four TD strikes and hit 20 of 28 passes for 290 yards.
Farley also pointed to the Penguins’ ability to pick up vital first downs. YSU converted 2 of 3 chances on fourth down and went 9-for-15 on third.
One such key play came on Youngstown State’s tying touchdown drive. Hess, facing a fourth-and-4, connected with tight end Will Shaw for 26 yards to the UNI 3. Pace scored two snaps later.
“They’re a good football team,” said Farley. “The quarterback did a great job for them today. They hit those fourth-down plays and those were the difference in the game.”
For UNI, David Johnson enjoyed a spectacular night. The sophomore running back scored four touchdowns, two rushing and a pair receiving. He gained 84 yards on the ground and caught a half-dozen Sawyer Kollmorgen passes for another 76.
Kollmorgen was 20 of 28 through the air. He connected for 3 scores - to Johnson for 5 and 48 yards and to Terrell Sinkfield for 32.
UNI rallied from a 21-7 first-half deficit. The Panthers overcame nine penalties in the opening 30 minutes to take the lead twice in the final half. But they are now 1-3 to start the season for the first time since 2004.
UNI played Saturday without several injured regulars. Linebackers Zach Cutkomp and Max Busher did not suit up. Neither did cornerback J.J. Swain, and wide receiver Kevin Vereen also missed the game.
Linebacker Jordan Gacke, who was hurt twice in the loss at Iowa, started. Defensive back Blake White also returned to the field after being injured early in the year. Tackle Mac O’Brien came back after being helped off the field in the opening half.
Yet UNI battled to the end.
Said Gacke, “Any player on our team — they’re just as tough. They’re gonna give up anything they have for the Panthers to try and get the W.”
http://wcfcourier.com/sports/college/uni/football/panthers-lose-heartbreaker-to-penguins/article_47902256-04bd-11e2-a2e6-0019bb2963f4.html