Oct. 27, 2001
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - For the last few weeks, Western Kentucky University head football coach Jack Harbaugh has received the same advice - get ahead, then stay ahead. The 10th-ranked Hilltoppers followed the plan to perfection to earn their season-high fourth consecutive victory Saturday.
WKU scored on its first two possessions, then turned the game over to one of the nation's top defenses to earn a 24-14 Gateway Football Conference win over fifth-ranked Youngstown State at Stambaugh Stadium.
The Toppers (6-2, 3-1 Gateway) won for the fourth time in seven games at the "Ice Castle", and lead the all-time series, 7-4. The Penguins (6-2, 4-2 GFC) fell for the first time at home this season, and the third time in the last three years.
"That was about as exciting a game as we've played in a long time," said Harbaugh. "Our players were not intimidated coming in here. Other teams have not fared well coming in here - it's loud, so you have a hard time with audibles."
The Hilltoppers received the opening kickoff and proceeded to drive 75 yards in 10 plays, taking a 7-0 lead when Donte Pimpleton scored from 1 yard out on 4th-and-goal. YSU managed one first down via penalty on its first possession, losing nine yards on three carries. Western took over at its own 45-yard line after 7-yard punt return by Antonio Veals. The Hilltoppers again needed 10 plays to reach the end zone, as this time DeWayne Gallishaw scored on an 8-yard run to cap a 5:10 drive that gave WKU a 14-0 advantage with less than five minutes remaining in the first quarter.
The first of two Western turnovers sparked the Penguins, though, when Joseph Jefferson fumbled a punt return at the YSU-39 near the end of the first period. Jeff Ryan's 3-yard touchdown run at 10:08 in the second quarter cut the Penguin deficit in half, ending a march that lasted 7:15.
The Toppers were in position to add to their lead late in the half. The defense pinned YSU inside its own 5-yard line with the aid of a Hayes Thomas sack that cost the Penguins 18 yards. Veals ran back a punt from Kosta Karapetsas 20 yards to the YSU-15, but the Hilltoppers were called for a personal foul on the return. Two plays later, Russell Stuvaints recovered a Curtis Hamilton fumble to end the threat.
Western's defense took over in the second half, forcing a season-high four turnovers that the offense turned into 10 points, which provided the final margin of victory. Mel Mitchell intercepted a Ryan pass at the YSU-30 with a little more than 10 minutes left in the third quarter, which led to Peter Martinez' 29-yard field goal at 5:24, pushing the Hilltopper lead to 17-7. The Penguins closed the gap on the second play of the fourth quarter when LeVar Greene blocked a punt by Brian Claybourn, with Chris DiMauro scooping up the loose ball and running 26 yards for a touchdown. But, Erik Dandy intercepted Ryan with eight minutes to go to end a YSU drive that reached the WKU-27, and when the Hilltoppers were forced to punt, Carl Birts recovered a ball that bounced off Carlos Pearson at the YSU-24.
WKU capitalized on the mistake, with Pimpleton leading a four-play drive that ended on a 1-yard touchdown run by Hamilton at 5:00.
The Penguins had a chance to get to within a touchdown, but Jake Stewart's 42-yard field goal attempt a minute and a half later sailed wide right.
"I felt the way they (turnovers) were going was going to be our demise," Harbaugh said. "We fumbled twice when we had a chance to score and they blocked that punt, but our players maintained their poise and played through the problems."
Dandy recorded 17 tackles to lead a defense that held the Penguins 228 yards below their season average and limited the leading rusher in the Gateway, P.J. Mays, to only 53 yards on 17 attempts. Thomas and Kyle Moffatt each made 11 tackles, Mitchell had nine and Jon Drummond eight. Bobby Sippio recorded his first interception of the season.
Pimpleton rushed for a career-high-tying 111 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries to lead Western. Keith Brooks chipped in with 87 yards and Gallishaw had 45 as the Hilltoppers ran for 265 yards in the contest.
"I'm real proud of Donte, especially the way he played in these adverse conditions," Harbaugh said. "Every time he came to the sidelines, he kept asking for the ball. We gave it to him, and each and every time he responded."
Ryan was 11-of-22 passing, but managed only 93 yards, and he was responsible for two of the three interceptions thrown by YSU quarterbacks. Jerald Burley had five catches for 31 yards, adding 60 yards in returns, while Eugene Mintze collected three receptions for 25 yards.
Jon Tekac led the Penguins with 16 tackles, while Anthony Barone was credited with 11 stops.
"The real implication is in the Gateway Conference," said Harbaugh. "Either team was going to come out of this with their second loss, which is very difficult to come back from."
The Toppers face Illinois State in Normal, Ill., next Saturday at 1:30 p.m. (CST) in their final road game of the regular season.
- WKU -
