CAA FOOTBALL RECAP - SEPT. 19
#1 Richmond 47, Hofstra 0
BOX SCORE
RICHMOND, Va. - Four fumble recoveries in the first half led to 24 points as the reigning Division I National Champions and No. 1-ranked Richmond Spiders opened their home schedule with a 47-0 rout of Hofstra Saturday at UR Stadium. The victory is the Spiders' 12th-consecutive to set a new school record.
Senior DE Pierre Turner had a pair of first-half fumble recoveries, senior DE Nicholas Battle recovered a fumble and forced two, while junior LB Eric McBride set up a touchdown with a 36-yard fumble return.
The Spiders (3-0, 2-0 CAA Football) own the FCS's longest winning streak and have now scored 31 points or more in 13 consecutive home games dating back to the 2007 season -- Richmond is 12-1 in those games.
Richmond's defense held Hofstra (2-1, 0-1) to eight yards rushing in the half -- and just 13 yards on 34 carries in the game. The Spiders out-gained the Pride 378-199 in total offense, thanks to 213 yards on the ground and 165 through the air.
Senior QB Eric Ward finished an efficient 12-of-16 passing for 165 yards and tied his career-high with four touchdowns passes to four different receivers. The All-American candidate, who has yet to be sacked in three games this season, completed 12 of his last 13 attempts.
Of Richmond's first five touchdowns, four were by players scoring their first career TDs -- freshman FB Kendall Gaskins' two-yard run in the second, sophomore WR Donte Boston's 49-yard catch in the second, junior WR Max Prokell's 23-yard reception in the second and junior FB Ben Keating's two-yard catch in third.
The Spiders pulled away with 28 points in the second quarter after senior K Andrew Howard's 27-yard field goal put the Spiders on the board with six minutes left in the first.
Senior TB Justin Forte racked up 72 yards on 12 carries, while junior WR Kevin Grayson hauled in four catches for 45 yards. Boston's 65 yards on two catches was a career high. Senior P Brian Radford averaged a career-best 64.0 yards on his eight punts.
Cory Christopher finished 17-of-26 passing with 172 yards for Hofstra.
Richmond recorded five sacks in the game and 11.0 tackles for loss. Battle finished the game with five tackles, a sack, two forced fumbles and a recovery.
The Spiders return to action next Saturday, hosting long-time rival VMI at UR Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET.
#2 Villanova 14, Penn 3
BOX SCORE
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Antwon Young's touchdown pass to Brandyn Harvey in the third quarter was the deciding score, lifting Villanova to a 14-3 win over Penn on Saturday night.
The Wildcats (3-0) finished with six sacks, taking the game's first lead at 7-0 in the first quarter when Matt Szczur scored on an 87-yard kickoff return. Terence Thomas led Villanova's defense with 10 tackles and two sacks.
Penn's Andrew Samson kicked a 22-yard field goal in the Quakers' first game of the season. But Young's 5-yard touchdown pass to Harvey in the third quarter gave the Wildcats enough cushion to pull away.
Young finished with 21 yards passing and led Villanova with 36 yards on the ground.
Keiffer Garton completed 19-of-27 passes for 185 yards and threw one interception for Penn. Matt Tuten caught four passes for 82 yards.
#5 William & Mary 27, Norfolk State 15
BOX SCORE
NORFOLK, Va. - The fifth-ranked William and Mary football team remained unbeaten as it improved to 3-0 with a 27-15 victory at Norfolk State on Saturday evening. With the victory, W&M is off to its best start since posting an identical mark to begin the 1998 season.
Senior quarterback R.J. Archer threw three touchdown passes – all of which came in the first half – and completed 15-of-20 passes for 153 yards. Senior wide receiver totaled a game-high six catches for 74 yards with a pair of touchdowns, while senior tight end Rob Varno recorded five catches for 36 yards. Sophomore running back Jonathan Grimes led the Tribe’s ground attack with a game-high 73 yards on 14 carries, while he also tallied a pair of catches for 28 yards and a touchdown. Junior running back Terrence Riggins also came up big with 68 yards rushing on 12 carries (5.7 yards per rush).
The Tribe’s defensive unit was dominant for much of the contest, as it held the Spartans scoreless until late in the fourth quarter. Additionally, the College limited NSU to 216 yards of total offense and allowed just 39 rushing yards. W&M also controlled the time of possession by nearly 15 minutes, 37:15-22:45.
After forcing Norfolk State to a three-and-out on the contest’s opening series, the Tribe got on the scoreboard first when Archer found Grimes on a short pass on the left side that went for a 10-yard touchdown strike. Archer was outstanding on the scoring drive, completing 4-of-4 passes for 49 yards.
An interception by sophomore linebacker Jake Trantin on the first play of NSU’s next possession gave the Tribe excel-lent starting field position at the Spartans’ 32-yard line, and Archer connected with McAulay on a 13-yard touchdown strike three plays later to push the advantage to 14-0 midway through the opening quarter.
The Tribe dominated the first quarter, as it outgained NSU, 134-7, and held the Spartans to no yards passing.
McAulay recorded his second touchdown catch of the evening when he made a diving grab in the front right side of the end zone on a 30-yard pass from Archer with 3:18 remaining in the opening half to give the Tribe a 21-0 lead. The ex-citing catch capped off a 12-play, 87-yard drive that lasted 6:26. Facing a fourth-and-two on its own 21-yard line, junior punter David Miller kept the scoring drive alive when he lined up to punt but instead raced 12 yards down the right sideline to pick up a first down.
Norfolk State looked as if it might get on the scoreboard in the final minute of the second quarter, but defensive end Sean Lissemore blocked Justin Castellat’s 47-yard field goal attempt.
W&M held a 224-132 advantage in total yards at the intermission and limited the Spartans to just 34 yards rushing. Additionally, the College dominated the time of possession, 17:47-12:13. Individually, Archer completed 11-of-14 passes for 121 yards and threw three touchdowns, while McAulay totaled five catches for 65 yards with a pair of touchdowns.
The Tribe increased its lead to 24-0 when junior place-kicker Brian Pate converted a 24-yard field goal that punctuated the opening drive of the second half. Highlighting the 11-play, 62-yard drive was a 19-yard run by junior running back Courtland Marriner and 15-yard catch by Varno on a third-and-8 deep in NSU territory.
A 32-yard field goal by Pate with 13:26 remaining in the fourth quarter pushed the margin to 27-0 and capped off a 12-play, 53-yard drive that chewed up 7:43 on the clock.
The Spartans avoided its first shutout since 2007 when quarterback Dennis Brown connected with P.J. Hayden on a 32-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-10 with 6:37 remaining in the contest.
NSU added two more points when a bad snap on a W&M punt attempt sailed over Miller’s head and resulted in a safety, while the final score of the contest came when Brown found Chris Bell on a 16-yard touchdown pass with 1:07 remaining.
The Tribe will return to action again next weekend when it opens its conference slate against Delaware at Zable Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m.
#7 James Madison 44, VMI 16
BOX SCORE
HARRISONBURG, Va., Sept. 19, 2009 – Senior Rockeed McCarter (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) had 168 yards receiving and caught a pair of touchdowns in the final 3:14 of the first half to put JMU ahead 31-10 en route to a 44-16 victory over Virginia Military Institute in JMU’s home opener on Saturday night at Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field.
JMU improved to 1-1 on the season while VMI dropped to 1-1. The Dukes improved to 10-3 in the head-to-head series and won their fifth straight dating back to 1994. JMU is 7-0 against the Keydets all-time at home.
McCarter finished with 168 yards on eight catches. His previous career highs were 87 yards on four receptions. It was JMU’s first 150-yard game by a receiver since Alan Harrison had 150 against Villanova on Sept. 6, 2001.
Redshirt senior tight end Mike Caussin (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) nearly made it two 150-yard receivers with three catches for a career-high 145 yards and a pair of scores. It was his second straight week with two scores and third of his career.
JMU rotated quarterbacks on each series throughout the game. Redshirt junior Drew Dudzik (Clifton, Va./Centreville) completed 9-of-13 passes for three touchdowns and 214 yards. Redshirt freshman Justin Thorpe (Richmond, Va./Varina), who started for JMU, completed 7-of-11 passes for 127 yards and one score while rushing for 53 yards and a another touchdown.
The Dukes finished with 486 total yards of offense (8.0 per play), including 341 through the air. JMU picked up 89 of its 145 rushing yards in the fourth quarter.
VMI totaled 288 yards (4.9 per play) with 178 rushing and 110 through the air. Bryan Barnson had a 67-yard catch from Kyle Hughes to account for over half the receiving yards.
The two scoring throws to McCarter late in the opening half were the key in turning a one-score game into a 31-10 margin at the break.
Thorpe found McCarter on a 14-yard bubble screen with 3:14 left in the half. Redshirt junior receiver Marcus Turner (Berlin, N.J./Eastern) had a key block to spring McCarter into the endzone.
VMI was stopped an inch short on fourth and one with 1:13 remaining and JMU responded with an eight-play, 64-yard drive to score with six seconds left. Dudzik found McCarter on a fade in the left corner of the end zone for the 31-10 halftime lead.
After stopping VMI on the opening drive of the game, JMU took possession on the 22-yard line. Thorpe led the Dukes on a nine-play, 78-yard drive culminating in a one-yard plunge by redshirt junior tailback Jamal Sullivan (Ruther Glen, Va./Caroline) for a lead JMU did not relinquish.
The teams traded possessions until VMI pinned JMU deep and took possession on the Dukes’ 40-yard line. Nine plays later Jeff Sexton nailed a 32-yard field goal to make it 7-3 early in the second.
On the ensuing kickoff, JMU redshirt senior Scotty McGee (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) returned it 64 yards to the VMI 26. After gaining just six yards on offense, redshirt sophomore Dixon Wright (Crossnore, N.C./Avery County) hit his first career field goal from 37 yards.
After holding VMI, JMU took possession on the VMI 35 and Dudzik found Caussin for a 65-yard strike, the longest play in each player’s JMU career.
VMI capped a quick three-play, 70-yard drive with a four-yard run by Michael Rainey-Wiles. The drive included the 67-yard pass to Barnson. That set the stage for the two late strikes to McCarter to end the half.
In the second half, JMU added a 26-yard pass from Dudzik to Caussin and a 19-yard scramble for a score by Thorpe.
VMI scored its final touchdown on a 13-yard pass from Hughes to Tim Maypray. The extra point was blocked after a bad snap.
JMU will be on the road each of the next two weeks, beginning next Saturday evening with a 7 p.m. contest at Liberty. The game will air locally in Harrisonburg on WHSV’s MyValley.
NOTES: JMU has defeated VMI four times since 2004 by a combined score of 179-50… the Dukes scored 45 points in each of the previous three contests while a botched snap on an extra-point attempt prevented that score in this meeting… Caussin and McCarter each had their first career 100-yard receiving games… JMU had two 100-yard receivers in a game for the first time since 1998 against Hofstra by Lindsay Fleshman (114) and Earnest Payton (104)… JMU had 300 yards passing as a team for the first time since throwing for exactly 300 against Villanova on Sept. 29, 2007… McGee had two kick returns in the game for 64 and 48 yards… he has six career touchdowns combined on punt and kick returns, one short of the FCS record.
#17 Massachusetts 30, Rhode Island 10
BOX SCORE
AMHERST, Mass. - The Minutemen continued to dominate Rhode Island, beating the Rams for the ninth time in a row at home, winning 30-10 on a picture-perfect Saturday afternoon at McGuirk Stadium. UMass has outscored the Rams 79-10 over the last two meetings including last year's 49-0 whitewash. The Minutemen moved to 2-1 overall, with a win in the conference opener for both teams. Rhode Island falls to 1-1.
Junior quarterback Kyle Havens was sensational in the game as he completed 22-of-30 for 329 yards and two touchdowns. That included a first half where he was 15-of-17 for 206 yards. On the ground, Tony Nelson rushed for 158 yards on 29 carries and a score. It was his ninth-career 100-yard game and second this season.
The defense continued to be stout, not giving up a point in the first or fourth quarters this season. Outscoring opponents 64-10. Kyle Harrington and Eric Dickson led the defense with seven tackles each.
Senior linebacker Kurt Filler had two huge plays to thwart Rhode Island's two best potential offensive-touchdown scoring drives. Filler had his career-interception in the UMass end zone to end a URI drive in the first quarter. Then in the fourth with Rhode Island down to the UMass 5-yard line and looking to get within one score on a fourth-down and goal, Filler tackled Rhode Island's quarterback Chris Paul-Etienne after he fumbled to end the drive and give UMass the ball back.
The Rams did score a touchdown on defense in the third quarter to end UMass' shutout in the second half. But still, UMass' defense has yet to allow a second-half touchdown.
Rhode Island was held to just seven rushing yards in the first half and 70 overall in the game.
UMass set the tone from the start with a 12-play drive to open the game. That finished with a 4-yard pass from Havens to Chris Zardas, 5:48 into the game.
The Minutemen would go on to scored two more times in the second quarter, each with a drive or more than 10 plays. UMass was also perfect on third-down conversions in the first half, making all seven attempts.
Victor Cruz caught a 5-yard pass from Havens 1:29 into the second quarter for a 14-0 lead. Nelson ran in from 3 yards with 2:44 left in the first half for a 21-0 intermission edge.
Rhode Island scored the first points against UMass in the second half this season as Jarrod Williams returned a fumble 68 yards with 8:49 left in the third quarter to cut the Minuteman lead to 21-7.
The Rams tried and on-sides kick, but Jonathan Hernandez recovered the ball and set UMass up for a drive that ended with an Armando Cuko 22-yard field goal. Rhode Island answered with a 38-yard field goal by Louis Feinstein to make the score 24-10 UMass with 2:25 left in the third quarter. Cuko added two more field goals from 37 and 42 yards away in the fourth quarter for a 30-10 advantage.
UMass wraps up its three-game homestand next Saturday as the Minutemen host Stony Brook at 6 p.m. Its Band Day, where more than 5000 local band members will be on hand at McGuirk Stadium.
Delaware 27, Delaware State 17
BOX SCORE
NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware holds football bragging rights in the state after posting a 27-17 victory over Delaware State in the inaugural First State Cup matchup Saturday afternoon at sun-splashed Delaware Stadium.
But it wasn't easy.
Delaware junior quarterback Pat Devlin ran for two scores and threw for 227 yards, including a fourth quarter touchdown to freshman Rob Jones, and the stingy Blue Hen defense held the Delaware State offense to just one touchdown on the day as the Hens (2-1) outlasted the Hornets (0-2) in the first-ever regular season matchup between the two teams. The game drew a spirited crowd of 20,585.
Dubbed The First State Cup in a state-wide naming contest, the games featured the state's only NCAA Division I football programs. The team met for only the second time following Delaware's 44-7 NCAA first round playoff win over Delaware State in 2007. Delaware was awarded the trophy in a post-game ceremony and will keep possession of the cup until the teams resume the rivalry again in 2012.
This time the game was much closer as the Hens came away with a hard-earned win against the Hornets. Delaware increased its lead to 21-3 after Devlin's 17-yard scoring strike to Jones with 10:56 left to play, but the Hornets kept it close by scoring two touchdowns in the final 5:01. A three-yard touchdown run by Leon Jackson with 3:36 left gave the Blue Hens some insurance.
Athlete photo"This was a great football game," said Delaware head coach K.C. Keeler. "We have so much respect for Delaware State and this was a hard-fought win for our team. We were out of sync offensively in the first half but we came out and did a great job in the second half. There could have been some panic in our team because everyone was telling them all week that they should win this game. But we knew we were playing a good football team."
Devlin completed 19 of 29 passes for 227 yards and scored on one-yard sneaks with 7:41 left in the first quarter to open the scoring and again with 1:26 left in the third quarter to increase the lead to 14-3. He completed all five of his pass attempts for 47 yards in leading a 59-yard march that culminated with his 17-yard scoring toss to Jones in the back of the left end zone early in the fourth quarter to increase the lead to 21-7.
Both teams struggled all day to mount long drives and each finished with 343 total yards. The game also featured 10 punts, 13 penalties, and three turnovers, including a crucial interception by Delaware safety Anthony Bratton at the Blue Hen 22-yard line with 7:56 left in the third quarter as Delaware was clinging to a 7-3 lead.
Another Delaware State turnover, a fumble by running back Jason Randall that was forced by Siddiq Haynes and picked up by Michael Atunrase at the 41-yard line, set up Devlin’s scoring toss to Jones.
Randall led all runners on the day with a career-high 93 yards on 20 carries while Delaware State quarterback Anthony Glaud connected on 23 of 40 passes for 208 yards. Darius Jackson, who caught seven pass in the Hornet’s season-opening 21-12 loss at Florida A&M two weeks ago, caught eight passes for 81 yards on this day.
Delaware’s defense, which has allowed just two offensive touchdowns in three games this season, posted three quarterback sacks and six other tackles for loss while also breaking up four passes.
The Hens were stopped on their first drive when Jon Striefsky’s 42-yard field goal attempt sailed wide. But Delaware State was whistled for a personal foul penalty, giving the Hens a first down at the Hornet 12-yard line. Four plays later Devlin bulled into the end zone from one-yard out to open the scoring.
Athlete photoDelaware State got on the board with its next possession when a Delaware interception by Marcus Burley was negated by a penalty. The Hornets took advantage and four plays later cut the lead to 7-3 as Riley Flickinger booted a career-long 42-yard field goal.
Neither team scored again in the first half as Flickinger’s 44-yard field goal attempt with 13:27 left in the half sailed wide and the Blue Hens ended the half stranded on the DSU one-yard line when Jackson was stopped at the goal line by Hornet linebacker Kevin Green.
Delaware State had the chance to take the lead on its first drive of the second half as the Hornets drove all the way down to the Delaware 22-yard line. But the drive ended when Bratton made a diving interception on the left sideline of a Glaud pass.
Delaware’s offense finally began to click in the second half as the Hens needed just four plays to drive 70 yards and capped the march with Devlin’s one-yard scoring burst with 2:54 left in the third stanza to up the lead to 14-3. Devlin’s 19-yard pass to Mark Mackey and a 38-yard strike down the middle to Tommy Crosby highlighted the drive.
The Hens made it 21-3 on Devlin’s 19-yard scoring pass to Jones with 10:56 left before Delaware State made a comeback. After Flickinger had a 35-yard field goal attempt block, the Hornets came right back as safety Jerome Strums gathered in a Devlin pass off the finger tips of UD receiver Mark Schenauer and stormed down the left sideline with a 71-yard interception return for a touchdown.
But Delaware responded and went back up 21-10 with 3:36 left as a 56-yard kickoff return by Jerry Butler gave the Hens the ball at the Delaware State 23-yard line. After an eight-yard run by Butler and a 12-yard scamper by Devlin, Jackson scored from three-yards out to tack on some insurance.
The Hornets capped the scoring with their longest drive of the day when they marched 74 yard on 10 plays and cut the lead to 27-17 on a one-yard run by Glaud with 31 seconds remaining. Glaud completed five of for 57 yards to highlight the drive.
Delaware will return to Colonial Athletic Association action next Saturday when they travel to No. 5 ranked William & Mary for a 7 p.m. game in Williamsburg, Va. Deaware State travels to Hampton next Saturday in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference action.
Towson 21, Coastal Carolina 17
BOX SCORE
TOWSON, Md. - After jumping out to a 14-3 half-time lead, the Tigers held off a second half rally by Coastal Carolina to present Coach Rob Ambrose with his first victory as the Tigers' coach, a 21-17 non-conference win over the Chanticleers in front of 7,628 fans at Johnny Unitas Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Tigers led by 21-10 less than four minutes into the fourth quarter before the Chanticleers made their comeback. With 10:29 remaining, Brandon Whitley caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Zach MacDowall to narrow the margin to 21-17. After the Tigers were forced to punt, the Chanticleers regained possession.
However, the Coastal Carolina drive was stopped when Ollie Thomas intercepted a pass by MacDowall and returned it 38 yards to the Coastal Carolina 27-yard line. However, the Chanticleers got revenge when Josh Norman picked off a pass from freshman quarterback Peter Athens in the end zone.
The Chanticleers marched down the field to the Towson 12-yard line, but with 1:07 remaining, MacDowall threw a pair of incomplete passes to end the comeback attempt.
The Tigers took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when tight end John Godlasky caught a 4-yard pass from freshman quarterback Tommy Chroniger, capping an 8-play, 23-yard drive. With 11:02 remaining in the second quarter, the Tigers upped their advantage to 14-0 when David Newsom ended a 12-play, 83-yard drive by catching a four-yard pass from Athens.
Less than four minutes later, the Chanticleers closed to within 14-7 when David Duran caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Jamie Childers to complete a 6-play, 52-yard drive.
With 1:36 remaining in the third quarter, Justin Durham narrowed the gap to 14-10 when he booted a 20-yard field goal to set up an exciting fourth quarter.
Athens completeted 13 of 18 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns while Chroniger went 4-for-7 for 45 yards and a touchdown. Newsom caught five passes for 48 yards and a pair of touchdowns while Tremayne Dameron rushed for 84 yards on 21 carries.
MacDowall was 11-for-21 for 185 yards and a touchdown while Childers completed 9 for 13 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. Duran was the Chanticleers' leading receiver with six catches for 88 yards and a touchdown.
The Tigers will travel to Morgan State next week for a 4 p.m. showdown against the Bears. Meanwhile, Coastal Carolina will host North Carolina A&T next Saturday night.
Albany 20, #20 Maine 16
BOX SCORE
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- David McCarty rushed for 109 yards and scored the winning 24-yard touchdown to give Albany (N.Y.) a come-from-behind 20-16 victory over Maine on Saturday.
The Black Bears (2-1) led 16-0 at halftime, but the Great Danes (1-2) scored 20 unanswered points, including 17 in the fourth quarter.
Herb Glass began Albany's scoring with a 27-yard field goal. Vinny Esposito threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Paul Booker, then Glass kicked a 33-yard field goal with 3:45 left.
Tony Sparano recovered Maine quarterback Mike Brusko's fumble at the Maine 26 and McCarty scored with 2:02 remaining.
Jake Ciccarello sealed the win by intercepting the Black Bears' Warren Smith at the Albany 13 with 20 seconds left.
Derek Session had 76 yards and one touchdown for Maine, which was was trying to go 3-0 for the first time since 2002.
Youngstown State 38, Northeastern 21
BOX SCORE
BROOKLINE, Mass. - Senior Tony Lott's 76-yard punt return for a touchdown on NU's first possession of the game gave Northeastern promise in the early goings, but Youngstown State capitalized on turnovers and won the field position battle en route to a 38-21 victory Saturday afternoon at Parsons Field.
The Huskies fall 0-3, and the Penguins improve to 2-1 on the season.
Junior quarterback Alex Dulski returned to the field after missing last week's contest, totaing 208 yards on 20-of-38 passing and a touchdown. Dulski also netted 65 yards rushing on 13 carries. Junior John Griffin led the Huskies' ground game with 75 yards on 15 attempts while third-year wideout Greg Abelli registered a team-best 76 yards on four catches.
Youngstown State signal-caller Brandon Summers logged 159 yards on 16-of-24 passing and a touchdown in addition to leading the rushing attack with a game-high 99 yards on nine touches and three touchdowns.
Junior free safety Darryl Jones directed the defensive efforts with a game-best 10 tackles, including five solo, and an interception while senior Craig Kenney recorded two timely tackles for a loss of 13 yards.
After a great defensive stance on Northeastern's behalf, Lott got the fans to their feet after he juked Youngstown's special teams' pursuit and motored back a punt for a 76-yard touchdown. Northeastern grabbed the early edge at the 12:39 mark of the first quarter, 7-0, after a successful Mat Johnson extra try.
On the ensuing drive, the Penguins were driving, but Kenney spoiled YSU's progression with a nine-yard sack to force a 3rd and 18 situation. Junior defensive back Nate Thellen read Summers' pass attempt on the next play and recorded his first interception of the season to turn possession back over to the Huskies on their own six-yard line.
The Huskies' drive stalled and NU was forced to punt. With 4:36 on the clock, the Penguins constructed an 84-yard drive that lasted 5:54 to tie the game, 7-7. On 3rd and 5, Summers completed a 12-yard lob to Aaron Pitts to keep the drive alive. The Penguins caught NU off guard on a reverse pass play that nudged YSU to the one-yard line. Two plays later, Summers capped off the 13-play drive on a quarterback keeper into the endzone.
Three-and-outs by each offensive unit gave way to a 14-7 advantage for the Huskies in the middle of the second quarter. Northeastern opted for an aerial attack as Dulski connected with four different receivers on a 10-play, 80-yard drive that elapsed in 3:32. After winning a 4th and 1 battle at the Penguins' 38-yard line, Dulski went over the top on the succeeding play for a 35-yard touchdown strike to Greg Abelli for each player's first score of the season.
After senior Phil Higgins notched a 13-yard sack to impose a Penguins punt, Northeastern's offense was moving along smoothly until redshirt freshman quarterback Matt Carroll and sophomore running back Jordan Griffin muffed the handoff. YSU's Jordan Edwards recovered at midfield.
It only took Youngstown State four plays to capitalize as Summers' connected with Dominique Barnes for a 32-yard touchdown to tie the game. Barnes' touchdown reception wrapped up a 50-yard drive, closing the half at a deadlock of 14-14.
Youngstown State caught Northeastern off guard by collecting an on-side kick to start the second half on its own 43-yard line. The Penguins benefited from the unorthodox play and dialed up a 36-yard field goal from Stephen Blose to finish the seven play, 38-yard drive to gain their first lead of the game, 17-14, with 11:30 left in the third quarter.
Youngstown State punter Erik Johnson pinned NU's offense on its own 13-yard line at 8:34. After a first-down run from Griffin, Vinnie Patella picked off Dulski's pass attempt at the Huskies' 30-yard line. Patella found an open gap after his grab and made scored to go ahead, 24-14, with 6:32 remaining in the third quarter.
After each team offered up an interception to one another, the Huskies engineered a nice mix of air and ground attack, scoring with 30 seconds left in the third quarter. Three complete passes preceded three Griffin rushing attempts, setting up a 3rd and 5 on YSU's 11-yard line. Dulski attained nine yards, setting up a two-yard touchdown run by sophomore Tony Torres to inch within three, 24-21, capping a 12-play, 60-yard drive that spanned 5:10.
After a couple of stalled possessions, Youngstown State benefited from great field position to stretch its lead to 10, 31-21. The Penguins took over on NU's 22-yard line due to an errant punt. It took YSU seven plays and 4:05 to cross the goal line as Summers finishing the job on a one-yard scant at the 6:43 mark.
Northeastern made every attempt to stage a comeback, including a one-armed, 27-yard grab from junior wideout Greg Abelli, but Northeastern was stopped on 4th and 2 at the Penguins' eight-yard line.
After the change of possession on 3rd and 10, Summers baited NU's defense to the left side and then changed directions to the right for a 73-yard touchdown run, closing out a six-play, 93-yard drive with 1:30 on the clock to diminish any hopes of a comeback.
Northeastern resumes conference action when the Huskies travel to Philadelphia to collide with Villanova on Sat., Sept. 26 at 3:30 p.m. The game will be televised live on Comcast SportsNet New England and The Comcast Network.