The fifth-ranked Youngstown State football team forced six turnovers and junior tailback P.J. Mays was impressive on the ground rushing for 218 yards as the Penguins beat SMS 41-20 on Saturday afternoon at Stambaugh Stadium.

Mays, who had four rushing touchdowns last week against Indiana State, scored three more times against the Bears and had 24 carries for 218 yards. With the win, YSU improves to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the Gateway Football Conference. SMS drops to 2-4 and 0-3.
YSU jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a 24-yard touchdown run by Jerald Burley and a 29-yard run by Mays.

SMS clawed back within 14-10 on a 12-yard score by Eddie Linscomb and a 30-yard field goal by Brian Long, but YSU answered with another Mays touchdown run, this time from eight yards out. Before halftime, Long added a 33-yard boot to pull the Bears within 21-13 at the break.
In the third quarter, YSU took the opening possession of the half and marched 76 yards in eight plays. Quarterback Jeff Ryan scored on a one-yard run with 12:15 left.

The Penguins' next two scoring drives combined to take two plays and went for two yards. After a botched fumbled punt, Mays scored on a one-yard plunge and following an 18-yard interception return by Guy Mazard to the SMS one, senior fullback Jerry Johnson scored to put the Penguins in front 41-13.

For the game, YSU had 431 yards of total offense, 393 of which came on the ground. SMS finished with 406 yards, 353 of which came via the air.

The Penguins return action on Saturday, Oct. 20, when they play host to Illinois State at 4 p.m. The contest is YSU's Homecoming game.