The fifth-ranked Youngstown State football team mounted a furious rally that ended up in a 42-35 double overtime victory over No. 8 Hofstra in front of 16,832 fans at Stambaugh Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

In the second overtime, YSU scored on Jeff Ryan's school-record-tying fourth touchdown pass of the game to Brandon Pedraza from 25 yards. On Hofstra's final possession, YSU linebacker Tim Johnson, who finished with 18 tackles, intercepted Rocky Butler's final pass in the end zone to end the game.

For the contest, Ryan ran for a career-best 125 yards on 18 carries. He had 194 yards passing on 14 completions and with his four touchdown passes, he now has 40 in his career to tie the school mark.

The win lifts the Penguins to 8-1 on the year, while Hofstra falls to 7-3.

For most of the afternoon, Youngstown State had to battle uphill. The Pride had leads of 7-0, 14-7, 28-14 and 35-28 before YSU finally pulled out the victory.

The Penguin rally began with 7:42 remaining in the game when Ryan moved the offense 40 yards in three plays to pull within a touchdown. After the defense held, YSU took over at its own 30 with 2:38 left.

Ryan threw his third touchdown of the game, a two-yard score, to Eugene Mintze with 15 seconds left and Jeff Stewart's extra point capped a wild 9-play 70-yard drive that tied the game.

In the first overtime, Hofstra scored first on Butler's eight-yard pass to Jason Maxwell to go ahead 35-28. But YSU hung tough and took advantage of Hofstra holding penalty on a would-be interception that would have ended the game. On the play following the key penalty, P.J. Mays scored his second touchdown of the game to force a second overtime.

While Youngstown State hung on to win, top five teams Georgia Southern, Delaware and Western Illinois all lost. Illinois State beat Western Illinois 25-18 to give the Penguins a share of the Gateway lead with one game remaining. New Hampshire stunned Delaward 45-44 and Furman pounded No. 1 Georgia Southern 45-10.