Youngstown State University fell 28-6 at Michigan State on Friday in the season opener for both teams.  The Penguins moved the ball on the Spartans but came up empty on two of the three drives they pieced together in the first half.  Michigan State rode the arm of Kirk Cousins and scored 14 points in each half on their way to the win.

“We do not see this as a moral victory”, said Eric Wolford at the post game press conference.  “I made that real clear to the players in the locker room.  Make no mistake about it, we came here to win.”

Cousins (below) was the story on offense for the Spartans, completing 18 of 22 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown.  He did a great job and completed a couple of passes with very small windows of opportunity.  B. J. Cunningham, the Spartans top receiver finished the game with 130 yards on six catches.  The two fifth year seniors hooked up for the lone aerial score.

Michigan State got on the board first when Larry Caper rambled in for a six yard score to cap off a nine play, 80-yard drive with 12:04 left in the second quarter.  Youngstown State took the opening kickoff and moved the ball but got stuffed on a fourth-and-one to turn the ball over on Michigan State’s 30.

Youngstown State responded when Kurt Hess found Jelani Berassa with 7:38 in the second quarter for a touchdown to cut the lead to 7-6.  It marked Berassa’s first time into the end zone as a Penguin.  However, the extra point attempt failed as the snap was bad, leaving the Penguins behind, 7-6.

Michigan State wasted little time going 74 yards in four plays before Le’Veon Bell scampered in from three yards out to put the Spartans ahead, 14-6.  The big blow on the drive was a play action pitch and catch from cousins to Cunningham that covered nearly 50 yards.

Cunningham talked about the momentum swings.  “When they [YSU] missed the extra point it brought a lot of momentum to the team.  We went out there and started playing a little faster and a little harder.”

The score stayed at 14-6 until the half.  With 4:52 left in the third quarter, Michigan State struck for another score on the 18-yarder from Cousins to Cunningham.  The Spartans closed out the scoring with 7:09 left in the fourth quarter when Bell punched in another three-yard run for points.  Michigan State only had to march 17 yards for their final score as Hess was picked off.

“We were in it until there was about 8:18 left in the game”, remarked Wolford.  “They converted that turnover, which was a bad decision.”

For the Penguins, Jamaine Cook finished the game with 76 yards rushing on 17 carries.  Jeremy Edwards and John Sasson each finished the game with 11 tackles and Josh Garner chipped in with ten stops.

Freshman Christian Bryan had a nice debut with six receptions for 45 yards.  Andre Stubbs, another freshman racked up 82 yards on four kickoff returns.

The Penguins open at home Saturday against Valparaiso with the kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m.

*All photos courtesy of Ron Stevens