Coming into the game leading the Gateway and ranking seventh in the country turnover margin, it took Youngstown State more than 55 minutes to force its first turnover of the game. But Codera Jackson's interception with 4:48 remaining in the fourth quarter led to a game-winning Marcus Mason touchdown as No. 15 Youngstown State defeated Western Illinois 23-21 Saturday evening at Stambaugh Stadium.

WIU's attempted comeback drive stalled with 1:11 remaining at the WIU 40 after Mike Andrews came up with a big sack and Steve LaFalce threw two incompletions on third and fourth down.

Mason finished with 125 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns while quarterback Tom Zetts threw for 202 yards and a touchdown for the Penguins, who improved to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the Gateway. LaFalce threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns, but the Penguin defense held the Leathernecks (2-5, 0-3) to just 48 yards rushing.

The Penguins are 3-0 in the Gateway for the first time since 2000, and their 6-1 overall mark matches their best start under head coach Jon Heacock.

Youngstown State scored on its opening possession of the game to go up 7-0 with 8:30 remaining in the first quarter. The Penguins took possession at their own 20 and capped their seven-play drive with a 39-yard strike from Zetts to Damian Wright. Wright finished the game with four catches and a team-high 84 yards.

The Leathernecks tied the score at the 13:50 mark of the second quarter when Steve LaFalce hit Boomer Moore for an 18-yard touchdown. LaFalce was 3-for-3 on the drive for 55 yards and hit Moore twice for 28 yards.

After punter Joe Bishop pinned Western Illinois inside its own 10, the Penguins took over on the WIU 44 and scored three plays later on a 25-yard Mason touchdown to reclaim a seven-point lead.

WIU, however, tied the score with 30 seconds remaining in the half when LaFalce hit Reggie Gray for 29-yard touchdown strike. The pair connected four times on the drive for 72 yards.

Brian Palmer kicked a 25-yard field goal on the Penguins' opening drive of the second half to give them a 17-14 lead with 10:08 remaining in the quarter. But LaFlace connected with Moore again on a 33-yard touchdown pass with 4:05 left in the third to put WIU up 21-17.

The Penguins were turned away twice in the fourth quarter after driving inside the WIU 35 twice in the fourth quarter until Mason scored off Jackson's fifth pick of the season.

Gray finished with 134 yards receiving while Moore finished with 118 for the Leathernecks.

Jason Perry averaged 24 yards on kickoff returns and had two covering 30 yards or more.

The Penguins will play host to Missouri State in their Homecoming game on Oct. 22 at 4 p.m.