|
The 1991
National Champions
Although the 1991 season had many miraculous moments, the biggest
turning point of the year and perhaps the program’s history came against
Georgia Southern on Nov. 2.
Both the
Penguins and Eagles entered the game with 4-3 records with YSU losing
two straight contests. The loser was out of playoff contention while the
winners’ postseason hopes continued.
YSU jumped out
to a 12-0 halftime lead before GSU kicked a field goal just before the
first half ended. Ray Isaac scored on a 33-yard touchdown run to put the
Penguins in front 19-3 then in the fourth, YSU had to hang on.
Georgia
Southern, winners of 53 of its last 55 home games and the two-time
defending national champions, pulled within 19-17 with 5:40 but failed
to tie the game missing the two-point conversion. YSU’s offense kept the
ball the final 5:40 of the game converting two fourth-down plays to earn
the victory.
YSU ended the
regular season with wins over James Madison, Slippery Rock and Towson
State to make the playoffs.
In the first
round against Villanova, YSU trailed 16-7 before Leo Hawkins scored on a
one-yard touchdown run in the third cutting the deficit to 16-14. In the
final two minutes, Youngstown State faced a fourth-down-and-11 play and
turned in another memorable moment when Ray Isaacs’ pass was deflected
and then caught by Herb Williams for 41 yards.
Jeff Wilkins
kicked a 33-yard field goal with six seconds left to send the Penguins
into another thriller in the quarterfinals at top-seeded Nevada-Reno.
At
Nevada-Reno, YSU jumped out to a 17-3 lead and led 30-20 in the fourth
quarter to set up an amazing finish. With just over seven minutes
remaining, the Wolfpack scored to cut the deficit to four. After YSU
mishandled a punt for a safety, Nevada stormed down the field to set up
a 27-yard field goal attempt by Rick Schwendinger, but with one second
left, his kick sailed wide left.
In the
semifinals, YSU’s defense was the star scoring on a fumble return,
intercepting six passes and holding Samford to minus-4 yards rushing in
a 10-0 Penguin win. Samford had just 144 yards of total offense, was
0-of-19 on third-down conversions and committed eight turnovers in the
game.
Chris
Vecchione returned a fumble six yards for a touchdown in the first and
Wilkins kicked a 28-yard field goal in the third for the games only
points.
Tamron Smith
carried the load for YSU with a school-record 46 carries for 246 yards
on a cold and rainy day at Stambaugh Stadium.
YSU returned
to the site of its biggest victory of the season playing Marshall for
the National Championship at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Ga. Again,
the Penguins pulled out a thrilling win coming from behind to win 25-17
by scoring 19 fourth-quarter points.
Marshall owned
a 17-6 lead entering the fourth but an Isaac to Williams 33-yard
touchdown pass and a three-yard touchdown run by Ryan Wood gave YSU an
18-17 lead. Smith added a five-yard touchdown rush to give the Penguins
a 25-17. A desperation pass by Marshall’s Michael Payton was knocked
down in the end zone on the game’s final play.
|
