YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — UNI football traveled to Ohio to take on the Penguins of Youngstown State on Saturday, November 16. YSU jumped out to an early lead before the Panthers stormed back. The teams traded punches down the stretch, but Youngstown State came away with a 39-38 victory in overtime.
The Penguins opened the game on offense and put up back-to-back scores to take an early 14-0 lead. A blocked Panther punt looked like it could lead to the third scoring drive of the day for Youngstown State before a clutch defensive stand on the UNI side of the field forced a 45-yard field goal. The kick was wide and the Panthers got the ball back with no harm done.
A 36-yard rush on fourth down and one by Aidan Dunne kept the next UNI drive alive which resulted in a touchdown on a 16-yard pass from Dunne to Desmond Hutson for UNI’s first score of the game. The teams went into the halftime break with YSU on top by a score of 14-7.
UNI opened the second half with its second scoring drive of the afternoon which saw a 39-yard reception from Desmond Hutson and culminated in a six-yard touchdown by Layne Pryor to tie the game at 14. After a Penguin punt, the YSU defense looked to stop the Panther offense and forced a punt, but the punt was muffed and recovered by Dominic Sisneros to give UNI possession just outside the redzone. The Panthers scored on the very next play on a 29-yard reception by Tye Edwards.
A UNI punt was followed by a 22-yard touchdown from the Penguins to tie the game at 21 before another Panther punt and a 51-yard field goal from YSU. Following the field goal, Sergio Morancy housed the kickoff for a 97-yard kickoff return touchdown to take a 28-24 lead.
The Penguins responded with a touchdown to take a 31-28 lead with 1:14 left on the clock. UNI stormed down the field and tied the game up at 31 on a 32-yard field goal from Caden Palmer to go into overtime. In overtime, the Panthers started with the ball and converted on their first OT drive. Tye Edwards ran in the ball from seven yards out to give UNI the edge. Youngstown State scored on its first possession of overtime but elected to go for the two-point conversion and the win. After a near sack, the Penguin quarterback found a receiver in the endzone which gave the Penguins a 39-38, overtime victory.
Aidan Dunne finished with 197 yards and three touchdowns on 16 completions. On the ground, Tye Edwards recorded 60 yards and a touchdown while Desmond Hutson led the Panther receivers with 101 yards and a score.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
The Panthers fall to 0-9 on the season and 0-7 in MVFC play after the 39-38 loss in overtime to the Penguins.
Desmond Hutson set a new career high with 101 receiving yards.
Aidan Dunne tied his career high with three passing touchdowns against the Penguins.
UP NEXT
The Panthers head home to the UNI-Dome for the last matchup of the season on November 23 when UNI takes on Indiana State. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. CT and can be streamed on ESPN+ or listened to on the Panther Sports Radio Network.