Cedar Falls, Iowa – The No. 11 Youngstown State football team suffered their first conference loss of the season on Saturday afternoon losing to an inspired 21st-ranked Northern Iowa squad 21-7 at the UNI Dome.

UNI tailback David Horne rushed for 142 yards and had three scores to lead the Panthers to their fifth straight win over the Penguins. With the loss, YSU drops to 7-2 on the season and 4-1 in the Gateway Football Conference while the Panthers improve to 5-3 and 3-2.

For the game, UNI finished with 280 yards rushing, the most allowed by the Penguins this season. Each team committed two turnovers. Penguin quarterback Tom Zetts was 20-of-39 for 264 yards and a touchdown.

Leading 14-7, Northern Iowa increased its lead to 21-7 with an impressive drive that started at the end of the third quarter.

Taking the ball at their 11-yard line, the Panthers marched 89 yards in 16 plays and Horne capped off the seven-minute and 27-second drive with a two-yard score at the 11:32 mark of the fourth quarter.

That was the lone touchdown of the second half.

The Panthers opened up a 14-7 lead following the first half.

UNI jumped out to a 7-0 lead with 2:18 remaining in the first quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by Horne. The Penguins had forced a fourth-and-goal situation, before Horne went through the right side to open up the touchdown advantage.

YSU was able to battle back and tie the game midway through the second quarter.
Zetts threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to freshman tight end Derrick Bush capping an impressive 10-play, 83-yard drive with 8:52 left in the quarter.

The Penguins defense forced it second interception of the game when Codera Jackson knocked the ball from Sanders' hand and Brandon Brown intercepted.

However, on fourth-and-one at the Panthers' 38, quarterback Vince Gliatta was stopped short of the first down giving the ball back to UNI.

After seizing the momentum, the Panthers increased their lead to 14-7 on a quick three-play 60-yard drive when Horne scored on a 33-yard scamper with 4:12 remaining in the second quarter.

Junior tailback Marcus Mason was held to 41 yards on 12 plays and did not play in the second half because of a slight concussion. Mason had rushed for 100 yards in each of the previous four contests.

The Penguins are back on the road next Saturday when they travel to Southern Illinois. The Salukis are coming off a 31-20 victory over top-ranked Western Kentucky this past Thursday.
YSU, Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky each have one conference loss entering the final two weeks of Gateway play for all three schools.