Monquante Gibson rushed for a career-high 198 yards and scored three touchdowns as Youngstown State defeated the Northeastern Huskies 35-16 on Saturday afternoon at Stambaugh Stadium.

Gibson led a 267-yard rushing attack while Tom Zetts was 21-of-32 for 201 yards and a touchdown as the Penguins gained 468 yards on offense.

The Penguins defense was also strong as it allowed only 70 yards rushing to the Huskies on 26 attempts, forced two turnovers and broke up six pass attempts. YSU also held a 38:01 to 21:59 advantage in time of possession.

Gibson gave the Huskies a preview of what was to come on the first drive as he ran for 81 yards on two carries. After a nine-yard run, Gibson busted an off tackle 72 yards on a third-and-one for a touchdown to put the Penguins up 7-0 with 11:49 remaining in the opening quarter.

The Huskies threatened to climb within four midway through the first quarter when they faced a second-and-two from the YSU 19, but Jason Perry and Bob Perez recorded back-to-back sacks of Anthony Orio to put NU back to the 33. Miro Kesic's field goal attempt from 50 yards was short to keep the score 7-0.

On YSU's next drive, Zetts hit Smith from two yards out with 12:19 remaining in the second to cap a 14-play, 67-yard drive. Zetts was 5-for-6 on the drive and was 4-for-4 on third downs, hitting Smith and T.J. Peterson on 10-yard connections on third-and-eight and third-and-six.

Northeastern cut the deficit in half with 7:10 left in the second when Maurice Murray scampered into the end zone for a five-yard touchdown. NU only had to go 13 yards for the score as E.J. Jackson recovered a Vince Gliatta fumble.

YSU went up 21-7 on its next drive with a 16-play, 80-yard drive that took 5:51 off the clock and ended with a two-yard touchdown rush from Gibson on a fourth-and-one.

Northeastern climbed to within 11 on a 32-yard Kesic field goal after A.J. Lillie intercepted a Zetts pass at the YSU 23 on YSU's first possession of the second half.

Gibson found the end zone again on YSU's next drive as the Penguins marched 81 yards on 18 plays to go up 28-10. The Penguins were successful on six third down attempts and twice converted on third-and-10.

NU scored on its first possession of the fourth quarter as Orio passed for 76 yards and hit Kendrick Ballan on a four-yard strike with 12:11 remaining. After NU's two-point conversion failed, YSU remainined on top 28-16.

The Penguins failed to score on their next possession, but they managed to chew 5:39 off the clock thanks to a 26-yard Vince Gliatta rush on a fake punt before Northeastern took over on their own 29 with 6:27 remaining. That drive lasted only three plays however as Dorian Chenault forced a Pat Graham fumble and Marty Hutchinson recovered it at the YSU 46.
Justin Reams scored on a nine-yard touchdown rush with 3:14 remaining for the final tally.

Gibson had 111 yards on 10 carries in the first quarter and nearly matched his career high in the first half with 160 yards.

The Penguins will play their road opener on Sept. 17 at Liberty.