Nov. 23, 2002
Final Stats
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio. - P.J. Mays ran for 137 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns and the Penguins (7-4) staved off a fierce Samford comeback as Youngstown State held on to defeat the Bulldogs, 37-29, Saturday afternoon at Stambaugh Stadium. The Bulldogs ended their season 4-7 in Bill Gray's first full season as head coach.
Mays became the career leader in Gateway Conference history in total touchdowns. Efrem Hill caught career-highs six receptions for 125 yards and two touchdowns to lead Samford's offense. Senior wide receiver Aryvia Holmes set a new single-season record for receptions with 10 catches for 90 yards and one touchdown in his last game as a Bulldog. Holmes finishes the season with 84 catches for 1,148 yards and nine touchdowns and finishes his career with 210 catches for 2,955 yards and 19 touchdowns. Josh Kellett completed 20-of-38 passes for 241 yards, two interceptions and two touchdowns in his final career game.
With the Penguins holding a 37-29 lead with 33 seconds left in the game, Samford got the ball back at the Youngstown 37-yard line, but Kellett's pass for Holmes on fourth down was knocked away preserving the win for the Penguins.
Samford had an opportunity to tie the game earlier with 4:12 left in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs drove to the Youngstown 15-yard line with 2:11 left in the game. However, another Kellett pass on fourth down fell incomplete for Hill in the end zone as the Penguins dodged the first bullet.
Youngstown State's largest lead came in the second half with 5:42 left in the third quarter. Aaron Marshall hit Jerald Burley on a 59-yard scoring pass. Jake Stewart kicked the extra point to make it 30-14.
On the ensuing kickoff, Hill returned it 76 yards setting up the Bulldogs at the YSU 17-yard line. Three plays later, Ray Nelson found Holmes in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown. Holmes caught the two-point conversion, cutting the Bulldog deficit to 30-22 with 4:29 left in the game.
Josiah Doby scored on a 6-yard run at the start of the fourth quarter giving YSU a 37-22 lead with 11:31 left in the game. Nelson and Kellett led the offense on a 12-play 59-yard drive capped off by Kellett's 3-yard run with 6:29 left in the game. Chip Walter's kicked the extra-point to make it 37-29.
Youngstown State took an early 3-0 lead on Stewart's 42-yard field goal. After a Samford punt, the Penguins moved 70 yards in two plays. Mays ran 13 yards for a touchdown to extend the YSU lead to 10-0 with 4:31 left in the first quarter. Stewart's second field goal of the first quarter gave the Penguins a 13-0 lead with 1:15 remaining.
Hill's first touchdown put Samford on the board with 11:10 left before halftime. Kellett hit Hill over the middle for a 48-yard touchdown pass pulling the Bulldogs within 13-7. Mays took a screen-pass 51-yards for a touchdown to put YSU ahead 20-7 with 7:16 left in the half. Kellett hooked up with Hill again for a touchdown from 12 yards out right before halftime as YSU lead 20-14 at halftime.
Youngstown State outgained Samford, 456-334. The Bulldogs returned eight kickoffs for 221 yards. Cortland Finnegan finished the game with three returns for 109 yards including an 82-yard return. Hill finished the game with 214 all-purpose yards.
Ray Nelson completed 3-of-8 passes for 31 yards and one touchdown while rushing for 30 yards on nine carries. Kellett led Samford's ground attack with 33 yards on nine carries.
