YSU falls in N. Iowa, 34-7 | News, Sports, Jobs

Youngstown State’s Demeatric Crenshaw throws a pass in the first half of the game on Saturday afternoon at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. (David Dermer / Chronicle of Warren Tribune)

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – It’s been since 1999 that Youngstown traveled to northern Iowa and won a football game in Cedar Falls. The wait for a victory at the UNI-Dome will continue.

The Penguins were heavily beaten on Saturday as northern Iowa strained its muscles in a 34-7 victory.

This is YSU’s third consecutive loss following a season opener against Incarnate Word.

“(It was not good. They surpassed us, good football team”, YSU head coach Doug Phillips told reporters after the game. “(There’s a) reason they get ranked, a reason they win year after year. They know how to recruit; they know how to develop. There are a few teams in our league that you model, and northern Iowa is one of those teams. We are certainly not there yet.

The Penguins (1-3, 0-2 Missouri Valley Football Conference) trailed 31-0 at halftime and 34-0 at the start of the fourth quarter. YSU entered the board with 2:32 to play on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Demeatric Crenshaw to Jorge Porterreal.

Overall, YSU was beaten 388-250, despite 21 more games than the Panthers (3-1, 1-0).

Crenshaw had his busiest passing day this season, completing 25 of 37 passes for 198 yards. He threw for the only score and was drafted twice. Tight end Andrew Ogletree led Penguin receivers with seven catches for 54 yards, while Jorge Porterreal had two catches for 32 yards and his touchdown.

From Crenshaw’s day, Phillips assessed, “He’s made mistakes, but guess what, he’s going to make mistakes, and he’s got to dig in. So to see this last workout and put a touchdown on the board, it’s a young man who learns the position.

The Penguins’ typically powerful running play was thwarted by 52 yards on 32 carries. Jaleel McLaughlin was limited to 20 yards on 12 touchdowns, while Mark Waid had five carries for 18 yards.

“We have to go back and assess and see where we can do a better job as coaches,” said Phillips. “I believe our children give us effort, so we have to do a (better) job. It starts with leadership, and it starts with our teaching to find a way to be successful, because it doesn’t get any easier.

YSU returns home Saturday to welcome the State of Missouri.