Youngstown State scored two touchdowns on two forced fumbles in the game's opening four-and-a-half minutes en route to a 42-10 victory over Western Kentucky Saturday afternoon at Stambaugh Stadium.

With the victory, the No. 19/21 Penguins (8-3 overall, 5-2 Gateway) kept their chances alive for making the playoffs for the first time since the 2000 season. No. 12/14 WKU dropped to 6-4 overall and 4-3 in the Gateway.

Tom Zetts threw two touchdown passes to Kyle Smith and another to T.J. Peterson while racking up 245 yards. Marcus Mason rushed for 89 yards and two scores while Deke Ison added a touchdown.

YSU's Brandon Brown forced a Chris Jackson fumble two plays into the game's opening drive to set up the Penguins' first score. Zetts hit Smith for a 24-yard strike down to the WKU 7 on play action on the first play of the drive. The pair hooked up again three plays later on a five-yarder into the end zone to give YSU a 7-0 lead.

On WKU's ensuing possession, Justin Scholes jarred the ball loose from Stephen Willis and Dorian Chenault recoverd at the WKU 38. Mason scampered into the end zone from 10 yards out four plays later to put YSU up 14-0 with 10:40 remaining in the opening quarter.

The Hilltoppers got within 14-7 with two seconds remaining in the opening quarter when Sam Sexton returned a Zetts fumble 21 yards to the end zone.

But Mason retuned the ensuing kickoff 44 yards to the WKU 41 to keep the momentum in YSU's favor, and Zetts hit Smith on a 41-yard connection on the drive's third play to make the score 21-7. Smith finished with six catches for 111 yards.

Mason added his second scoring rush with 1:12 remaining in the half from one yard out to complete a 12-play, 60-yard drive that put the Penguins up 28-7.

WKU's Chris James made a 37-yard field goal as the first half expired to get the Hilltoppers within 28-10.

The Penguins then marched 70 yards on the opening drive of the second half as Zetts hit Peterson in the back of the end zone from two yards out to go up 35-10. Ison scored from one yard out with 38 seconds remaining in the third to make the score 42-10.