The Youngstown State football team (3-2, 2-1 in the Gateway) defeated Indiana State (2-4, 0-1 in the Gateway) 31-16 behind 250 rushing yards and a dominating defensive effort that forced five Sycamore turnovers and blocked a field goal on Saturday night at Stambaugh Stadium.

Senior P.J. Mays led the offensive attack with 176 yards on 30 carries and one-yard touchdown plunge and senior linebacker Justin Dellarose anchored the defense with seven tackles, one sack, two pass deflections, and a key forced fumble.

Senior Guy Mazard ignited the Penguin defense early with a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in the endzone on the first three Sycamore plays from scrimmage.
On ISU's first snap, Mazard worked his way into the Sycamore backfield and sacked Julian Reese causing the quarterback to fumble into the hands of Penguin linebacker Martin Stachowicz.

After a 39-yard punt by Kosta Karapetsas, ISU started it's second drive on it's own four yardline. On the second play of the drive, the Sycamore's fumbled a handoff and Mazard recovered the ball in the endzone for his first career touchdown and the first score for the Penguins.

The Sycamores got on the board early in the second quarter behind a 42-yard field goal by Mike Megyesi with 12:39 remaining before halftime, capping a 14 play drive that covered 41 yards.

After the Penguins failed to score on its first possession of the second quarter, the Sycamores took over on their own 10 with the momentum and began a 16 play drive that covered 61 yards down to the YSU 29. On a fourth and eight, Megyesi came back in to bring the score within one, but Stachowicz blocked his 47-yard attempt and the Sycamores never recovered.

Following the blocked field goal, the Penguins went on a 35-yard drive that led to a 40-yard Jake Stewart field goal at the end of the half and went up 10-3 at the break.

After forcing the Sycamores to punt the ball away on a three-and-out series to start the second half, the Penguins marched 51 yards on nine plays to the ISU one yard line to set up Mays' touchdown run with 9:00 remaining in the third quarter to take control of the game at 17-3.

Josiah Doby put the game out of reach for the Penguins with 9:25 remaining in the fourth quarter. After Mike Andrews recovered a fumbled punt return by Clythel Branson, YSU went on a five-play, 50-yard drive that ended with Doby finding pay dirt from nine yards out to make the score 24-3 in favor of the Penguins.

The Sycamores answered right back with their own scoring drive, going 62 yards on 10 plays. Reese found James Braden from 25 yards out with 6:17 remaining to move the score to 24-10.

Following their touchdwon, the Sycamores tried an onside kick that was recovered by John Schumacher on the ISU 43. Eight plays later, Doby found the endzone for the second time of the quarter on a 12-yard run.

Reese and Braden connected one more time for a score with 45 seconds to move the score to 31-16, but Schumacher recovered his second consecutive onside kick and all the waited were two kneel downs for the Penguin victory.

Doby finished with 39 yards on six carries for the Penguins, and freshman quarterback rushed for 33 yards on 14 carries and passed for 11, completing two passes in seven attempts.
Anthony Barone led the Penguins with eight tackles and four players finished with seven tackles.

Reese finished 21-of-35, throwing two touchdowns and one interception by Mike Bracken in the third quarter.

The Penguins continue their 2002 campaign next Saturday against Florida Atlantic at Pro Player Stadium, the home of the Miami Dolphins.