Bowling Green, Ky. -- Turnovers haunted the Youngstown State football team on Saturday night in Bowling Green, Ky., as the Penguins dropped a 44-19 contest to sixth-ranked Western Kentucky at L.T. Smith Stadium in the Gateway Conference opener for both schools.

YSU (2-3 overall and 0-1 in the Gateway) committed four giveaways, which led to 20 Hilltopper (3-1 and 1-0) points. WKU entered the game leading the nation in turnover margin and won that battle against the Penguins by two.

Highlighting the YSU individual performances were quarterback Tom Zetts who finished the game completing 28-of-40 passes for 286 yards, including two touchdowns and two interceptions and tailback Josh Cayson who had 135 all-purpose yards.

Youngstown State took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when Monquantae Gibson scored from inside the one on a fourth-and-goal play with 7:16 remaining in the period. YSU moved the ball 62 yards in 13 plays, with the key play coming on a 3rd-and-9 when Zetts connected with Phil Larmon for 15 yards.

Western Kentucky came back to score the final 13 points of the opening half and first 17 of the second half before the Penguins would score again.

The Hilltoppers' comeback started when Brian Porter broke outside the Penguin defense and raced 26 yards tying the game 7-7 with 1:48 left in the first.

Late in the second, WKU took advantage of two Penguin turnovers to add two field goals and grab its six-point halftime advantage. After an interception by Antonio Thomas at the Penguin 44, Chris James kicked a 37-yard field goal with 1:22 left as WKU took its first lead of the game. With 12 seconds remaining, Deonte Smith recovered a Cayson fumble at the YSU 31.

The Hilltoppers used a gadget play when reserve quarterback Blake Ladson took a lateral and then threw a 10-yard pass to Haddix moving the ball to the 21 with two seconds left. James booted a 38-yard field goal as the half expired.

On the Hilltoppers' first possession of the second half, they moved the ball 68 yards in five plays as James converted his third field goal of the game from 29 yards out. The big play of the drive came when Haddix hit -- on a 54-yard toss that put the ball at the YSU 23-yard line.

Trailing by nine, Youngstown State had an impressive drive that ended without points when Regis Edgerson fumbled at the Western Kentucky two. WKU came away with the ball at the six and answered right back moving the ball 94 yards to add a touchdown of its own. On a fourth-and-two play, Haddix hit Stephen Willis in the flat for a 27-yard touchdown as the third quarter wound down.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Smith intercepted a Zetts pass and returned it 48 yards for a score to increase the lead to 30-7.

The Penguins had a productive drive following Smith's return for a touchdown moving the ball 58 yards on 10 plays. Zetts threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Smith with 11:23 remaining. YSU went for two, but Zetts' pass to Smith was broken up.

Porter scored his second touchdown of the game 50 seconds later taking the ball in from five yards 10:33 remaining.

YSU answered when Zetts tossed a six-yard score to Matt Rycraft with 7:15 remaining in the contest.

Youngstown State played the second half without leading-rusher Gibson who was held out with an injury. Gibson had 37 yards on 12 first-half carries, including a touchdown before being removed from the contest.

The Penguins return to Stambaugh Stadium next Saturday to play host to top-ranked Southern Illinois. The Salukis (4-1 and 1-0) are coming off a 40-36 come-from-behind victory over Northern Iowa.