Springfield, Mo. -- The No. 3 Youngstown State football team used a late defensive stand to hold off Southwest Missouri State and open Gateway Football Conference play with a 19-13 victory in front of a crowd of 11,592 at Plaster Field on Saturday night.

The Penguins, who improved to 4-0 on the season, stopped a late SMS drive deep in YSU territory when Montrail Thomas busted through to sack SMS quarterback Austin Moherman on the game's final play. The Bears (1-3) had a first-and-goal at the Penguins' five-yard line with 15 seconds remaining trailing by six. On first down, Moherman's pass to Bell was broken up by Demetrious Rich. With 11 seconds left, Thomas charged through the line and sacked Moherman for a 10-yard loss as time ran out.

YSU looked to have the game under control leading 19-10 late in the fourth quarter, but the Bears cut the lead to 19-13 on a 20-yard field goal by Brian Long with 2:59 remaining.

The Penguins avoided disaster on the first play of the drive following Long's field goal when Jeff Ryan fumbled the snap, but Ryan recovered his own fumble at the YSU 23. On third and 10, Ryan hit tight end John Schumacher on a 39-yard gain, but Schumacher was stripped of the ball by Donte King at the SMS 35. King recovered the fumble to set up the Bears' final drive.

With 1:38 remaining SMS took over and marched down to the YSU five on eight plays to set up the game-ending drama.

The Penguins built their 19-10 advantage with 10:50 left in the contest on an eight-yard touchdown run by P.J. Mays, however Jake Stewart missed the extra point to leave the lead at nine points.

SMS took advantage of a Youngstown State miscue to pull within 13-10 with 46 seconds left in the third. After YSU held the Bears, Fon Nanji mishandled an Eddie Pena punt at the YSU five and the Bears' Pete Tillman recovered. On third down, Jason Ringena scored from two yards to pull SMS within three.

The Bears took the first drive of the second half and moved the ball to the YSU 26 before the drive stalled. Long was called on to attempt at 43-yard field goal but pushed it wide left.

Following the missed field goal by Long, Stewart answered with his second 3-pointer of the game.

Leading 10-3, Stewart connected on a 42-yard kick with 6:54 remaining in the third as the Penguins built a 13-3 lead.

YSU tied the game 3-3 with a successful field goal on the second play of the second quarter.

After an incomplete pass by Ryan on third down, Stewart drilled a career-long 45-yard field goal to tie the contest. The field goal was the second of Stewart's young career. Ryan ended the game completing 9-of-15 passes for 120 yards.

On the Penguins' ensuing drive, Eric Lockhart scored his first career touchdown scoring on a one-yard plunge with 5:27 remaining in the half.

Southwest Missouri State took its initial drive of the game and took a 3-0 lead on a 22-yard field goal by Brian Long with 9:36 left in the first quarter. The 3-0 deficit marked the first time the Penguins had trailed this season.

Twice the YSU defense stiffened with SMS deep inside the Penguins' 20-yard line in the first quarter. On the first drive, the Bears had to settle for a 22-yard field goal from Long after having first-and-goal from the nine. The next time SMS moved to the YSU 19-yard line, but Long missed a 37-yard field goal attempt.

Youngstown State concludes its three-game road trip on Saturday, Oct. 7, when the Penguins travel to Illinois State (1-3, 0-1). Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. in Normal, Ill.