Youngstown St. heads to FCS title game thanks to crazy game-winning TD catch (Video)

Youngstown State is heading to the FCS Championship Game. And YSU tight end Kevin Rader might have made the most famous catch in school history vs. Eastern Washington.

Rader snagged a one-handed 6-yard touchdown pass by pinning the ball against the back of a defender with a second left in the game to give the Penguins a 40-38 win over Eastern Washington in Saturday night’s FCS semifinal.

Take a look at how Rader caught the ball. If quarterback Hunter Wells threw the ball anywhere else, we doubt Rader would be able to make the catch (no, pass interference wasn’t called on the play).

The win means Youngstown State — coached by former Nebraska coach Bo Pelini and a school whose president is former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel — will play for the FCS title vs. James Madison on Saturday, Jan. 7. James Madison beat five-time defending champion North Dakota State 27-17 on Friday night.

After a review, officials put one second on the clock following Rader’s touchdown catch. Since the six points from the TD put Youngstown State up by two points, YSU simply kneeled on the ball on the point-after attempt to prevent a possible tie by Eastern Washington on a blocked kick or turnover return.

The Penguins then squib-kicked the ball to EWU and finally stopped the Eagles after a lateral-filled return ended in a fumble.

Youngstown State’s win came without starting running back Martin Ruiz, who was arrested Dec. 6 on weapons possession charges. Ruiz played just one play in YSU’s quarterfinal win last week following his arrest.

Television station WKBN also reported the school found out the week before the EWU game that four or five players had failed NCAA drug tests and were facing suspensions. When asked about possible punishments for players, Pelini refused to comment, saying he protected his players.

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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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