Normal, Ill. -- The No. 2 Youngstown State football team relied on its defense to come up with the big stops and its offense to score two important touchdowns as the Penguins earned a hard-fought 14-12 win at Illinois State on Saturday in front of a crowd of 11,938 fans at Hancock Stadium.

The YSU defense forced a season-high six turnovers, including four interceptions, and stuffed the Redbirds (1-4) on a fourth-and-inches play with 3:17 remaining in the fourth quarter to preserve the 14-12 win and improve to 5-0 on the year and 2-0 in the Gateway Football Conference.

Two of the six turnovers forced by the YSU defense helped set up touchdowns for the Penguin offense. In the first quarter, Tim Johnson recovered a Kevin Glenn fumble at midfield. Following the recovery, YSU quarterback Colby Street, who started in place of Jeff Ryan, engineered an 11-play 50-yard drive that put the Penguins ahead 7-0. Street connected on a nine-yard touchdown pass to John Schumacher with 2:59 left in the first quarter giving them the lead.

The second score was set up when Guy Mazard stripped the ball from Walter James and Bruce Hightower pounced on it at the ISU one-yard line. Trailing 12-7, Eric Lockhart scored on one-yard plunge with 10:48 left in the third to give YSU a 14-12 lead.

From there, the defense came up with two interceptions and stuffed Glenn in his attempt on a potential game-winning drive. The Redbirds moved the ball to the Penguins'30 yard-line when on third down and one, James was tackled by Bob Sivik and Justin Dellarose for no gain. On fourth and about three inches with 3:17 left, Glenn tried a quarterback sneak, but was stuffed by the interior of the line for no gain.

Too close out the game, YSU picked up two first downs, including a 10-yard run by Ryan on a third and nine to run out the clock and earn its eight straight road win.

In the second half, the Redbirds turned the ball over twice in the first five minutes. Chris Conwell intercepted a Glenn pass and returned it to the ISU 29. However, five plays later, Ryan was intercepted at the Redbird one by Ryan Szokola. On third down at from the five, Glenn's handoff to James was bobbled and Bruce Hightower fell on the ball at the one-yard line.

On the next play, Lockhart scored from a yard out as the Penguins regained the lead 14-12, with 10:48 remaining in the third quarter.

Two Jake Strader field goals in the second quarter helped give the Redbirds a 12-7 halftime edge. Starder made field goals of 32 and 36 yards as ISU scored the final 12 points of the half after the Penguins took a 7-0 lead.

The Redbirds took the lead, 9-7, on a 36-yard field goal by Strader with 3:33 left before the half. After a 41-yard Troy Lefever punt into the wind, ISU took over at their 43. On the first play of the drive, James busted throw the middle for 36 yards down to the Youngstown State 21.

Illinois State crept to within 7-6 when James scored on a six-yard run. YSU held onto the lead when Strader missed the extra-point attempt.

YSU jumped out to a 7-0 lead when Street connected with John Schumacher on a nine-yard touchdown pass with 2:59 remaining in the first quarter. The play capped an 11-play 50-yard drive following Tim Johnson's fumble recovery.

Street started the game for Ryan who was suffering from an injury to his right wrist. Ryan, who suffered the injury in the win over Southwest Missouri State and did not practice much during the week, came on the second quarter for Street.

YSU returns to Stambaugh Stadium for its first home game in 35 days when the Penguins play host to Northern Iowa (3-2, 1-1). Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.