The Youngstown State football team held a productive scrimmage on a cool Saturday morning at Stambaugh Stadium. Senior quarterback Kurt Hess engineered two long scoring drives early in the scrimmage, which lasted a little more than an hour.
The No. 1 offense came out and moved the ball 75 yards on 11 plays against the first-team defense. Hess connected with Andre Stubbs for a 28-yard score on a third-and-six play. The offense converted three third-down plays during the drive.
After the No. 2 defense stopped the second-string offense, Hess moved the first team 70 yards on 10 plays for another score. Michael Wheary opened the drive with a nifty reverse for a 29-yard gain. Demond Hymes scampered six yards for a touchdown to wrap up the drive.
The defense stiffened and held the offense off the board for the next four possessions. Nick Wargo found Kevin Watts on a 31-yard pass play and tailback Deion Hall had a strong 12-yard run before the drive stalled. The defense forced two straight three-and-outs and stopped the final drive ended when D.J. Moss intercepted a deflected Wargo pass that was originally broken up by Brandon Thomas.
During the red-zone sequence, the offense scored on two of five posessions, but missed scoring opportunities on the three that were unsuccessful.
On the first scenario, tight end Nate Adams worked his way open, but Hess just missed him in the back of the end zone. Hess found Stubbs in the back corner of the end zone on the next try, but Stubbs couldn't hang on for the score. Hall scored from four yards out and Hess had a 13-yard keeper that found paydirt as well.
The offense and defense went head-to-head on third-down and fourth-down plays to conclude the scrimmage.
Hess completed 6-of-8 passes for 47 yards and a touchdown, Wargo was 2-of-7 for 38 yards with an interception and Dante Nania was 3-of-7 for five yards.
Hall led all rushers with 42 yards on six attempts and a touchdown while Hymes had 41 yards on 12 carries and a score. Hess had two gains of 16 and 13 yards in his two rushes. Stubbs caught three passes for 31 yards, Marcel Caver had three grabs for 12 yards and Watts finished with two catches for 37 yards.
The Penguins open their final week of practice of Tuesday afternoon at Stambaugh Stadium.
