Northern Iowa's Brian Wingert's second chance at a game-winning 31-yard field goal following a roughing-the-kicker penalty nulled a 13-point fourth quarter comeback by Youngstown State as the Panthers snuck away with a 22-20 victory Saturday night at Stambaugh Stadium.

After the Penguins overcame a 19-7 deficit to take a 20-19 lead with 3:53 remaining, UNI drove 45 yards to the YSU 27 to set up a 44-yard attempt for Wingert with 5 seconds on the clock. YSU's Nate Baston got a hand on the kick forcing it short and left, but the Penguins were tagged for a 14-yard roughing the kicker penalty and Wingert converted from 31 yards out to give the Panthers their first Gateway win.

"The kids played awfully hard against a good football team," head coach Jon Heacock said. "(The comeback) is a tribute to those kids; they're something else."

Trailing 19-7 with 10:59 remaining in the fourth, the Penguins (2-5, 0-3 Gateway) drove 53 yards on 16 plays to set up a 1-yard touchdown rush for Demetrius Ison. The UNI (2-4, 1-2 Gateway) defense came up with its second goal-line stand in as many possessions, but the Penguins were given a second chance when the Panthers were called for pass interference in the end zone on Tom Zetts' pass to Shawn Carlson on fourth-and-goal from the five. Ison punched it in from the 1 three plays later and, after the Penguins failed to convert the point after on a high snap, the UNI lead was cut to 19-13.

James Terry then forced and recovered a Terrance Freeney fumble on UNI's first play from scrimmage on the ensuing possession to give the Penguins the ball on the UNI 24. Zetts found Kyle Smith on a 15-yard pass near the sideline, then hit a wide-open Mike Roberts who took it to the end zone from nine yards out. Nick Terracina's point after gave the Penguins a 20-19 lead with 3:53 remaining.

But Northern Iowa had one drive left as it moved 58 yards on 11 plays to set up the game-winner for Wingert. UNI faced a fourth-and-nine on the YSU 46 with 1:35 remaining, but Eric Sanders hit Justin Surrency over the middle for 14 yards to keep the drive alive. Freeney then rushed twice for five yards to set up Wingert's first attempt.

"I felt today we played hard all four quarters," Josh Cayson said. "The coaches have been stressing to us all week that this was going to be a physical game and I think everybody played their hearts out, defense and offense."

"We're just going to come back next week and play harder."

Cayson, who had only 23 yards on five carries at halftime, finished with 91 yards on 23 attempts to lead the Penguin rushing attack while Tom Zetts was 16-of-22 for 155 yards and had two touchdowns.

Freeney paced the Panthers with 136 yards on 29 carries while Sanders was 9-of-18 for 137 yards and one touchdown.

After a 44-yard field goal attempt from Wingert fell short, the Penguins scored on their first play of the ensuing drive for the game's first points. Zetts found Matt Rycraft in stride on a post route and the receiver outran the secondary for a 73-yard scoring strike at the 1:21 mark of the first quarter. Terracina's added the point after to make the score 7-0.

The Panthers answered with a scoring drive of their own, going 80 yards on 15 plays for the touchdown. UNI converted on two third-and-ones and a fourth-and-one at the YSU 2 on the drive to set up a 1-yard score for Terrance Freeney. Wingert's point after attempt was blocked by Nate Baston and the Penguins stayed on top 7-6 with 10:07 remaining in the opening half.

The Panther defense then forced a three-and-out for the Penguins and took a 9-7 lead as the offense marched 30 yards on eight plays to set up a 39-yard Wingert field goal. UNI faced a third-and-four from the YSU 46, but Eric Sanders connected with Bryan Butler for a 19-yard completion to keep the drive alive. Sanders then looked to Ben Spellman in the corner of the end zone on third-and-five from the YSU 22, but the wide receiver couldn't keep possession on a diving attempt and the Panthers had to settle for a field goal.

Northern Iowa went up 16-7 on its first drive of the second half as sanders hit Surrency on a 31-yard scoring strike to cap a 10-play, 85 yard drive with 8:43 remaining. The Panthers then upped their advantage to 19-7 on their next possession when Wingert converted on a 26 yarder with 1:40 remaining in the third.

YSU had a chance to get within a touchdown early in the fourth quarter when it faced a first-and-10 from the UNI 11, but the Panthers stuffed Cayson on third-and-two and Ison on fourth-and-one to keep the lead at 12. Cayson rushed on eight consecutive plays for 44 yards to start the drive.

The Penguins will head to Normal, Ill., to take on the Illinois State Redbirds on Oct. 23 at 3:30 p.m.