The Youngstown State football team jumped out to a 31-0 halftime lead and overcame a second-half rally by Western Illinois to win 31-21 on Saturday evening at Stambaugh Stadium.

Running back Kevin Smith eclipsed the century mark by gaining 113 yards on 28 carries and scored YSU's first touchdown to pace the offense. The Penguins' defense also came up big, forcing four turnovers for the third time this season.

Brandon Summers added 134 yards and two touchdowns through the air on 12-for-18 passing. He hit receiver Donald Jones on eight passes for 94 yards and a touchdown. 

Safety Sir Demarco Bledsoe led the defense in total tackles, tallying 10, while Lenny Wicks finished with seven tackles and a game-changing fumble recovery. David Rach forced a fumble in the first half and intercepted a pass with less than six minutes remaining in the fourth.

With the win, the Penguins improve to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play, while Western Illinois falls to 1-4 (0-2).

In the first half, the Penguins scored on their first five drives and were forced to punt only once. The first four drives saw the Penguins score touchdowns, and Summers completed his first seven passes of the game.

The Penguins' opening drive was a prelude to what was to come in the first half as they marched 60-yards over 10 plays to get out to an early lead over 7-0 lead. Smith punched the ball into the endzone from a yard out and carried the ball five times for 21 yards on the drive. Summers was a perfect four-for-four on the drive, tabulating 53-yards and connecting with three different receivers. It was the first points the Penguins have scored on their opening drive this season.

On their next possession, the Penguins again used 10 plays to score a touchdown. This time Summers connected with Jones in the back of the endzone, who held onto the ball after a taking a hard hit, to extend the Penguin lead.

Kicker Stephen Blose added the extra-point to make the score 14-0, Penguins. The drive covered 70 yards and took 5:38 off the clock.

The Penguins' special teams stepped up after the defense held Western Illinois to a three-and-out, as Lenny Wicks set the offense up with fantastic field position on a 32-yard punt return down to the Western Illinois 38-yard line.

From there, the offense only need five plays, all on the ground, to score another touchdown and go up 21 points. Tailback Dana Brown carried the ball all five times, including a 19 yard burst, and capped off the drive by scoring from a yard out.

The defense was not to be outdone, as linebacker Na'eem Outler sacked and forced a fumble from WIU quarterback Wil Lunt, which was recovered by Bledsoe at the Leatherneck 23-yard line.

Two plays and 59 seconds later, Dominique Barnes was on the receiving end of a seven-yard touchdown pass from Summers. The Penguins were aided by a pass interference call that moved the ball down to the eight-yard line. Blose's kick made the score 28-0, in favor of the Penguins.

The Penguin special teams forced another Leatherneck turnover on the ensuing kickoff, as Western Illinois return man Terry Barney coughed up the football on a hit by Rach, and Brandian Ross recovered at the WIU 37-yard line.

The Penguins tacked on three more points off the turnover as Blose connected on a 27-yard field goal to put the Penguins up 31-0 heading into halftime. The drive covered 54-yards over nine plays and took 5:26 off the clock.

Western Illinois scored its first points of the game on the first possession of the second half. The Fighting Leathernecks drove the ball 77 yards and found the endzone on a 30-yard completion from Lunt to receiver Justin Rideau. Placekicker Brian Egan tacked on the PAT, making the score 31-7.

The Penguins gave the ball right back to Western Illinois as a Summer's pass was picked off by defensive back Stephen Moore on the ensuing drive. Western Illinois threatened to cut deeper into the Penguins lead, but Wicks forced and recovered running back Dre Gibbs' fumble at the Penguins' two-yard line.

WIU forced another Summers turnover as he fumbled the ball on a sack by defensive lineman Mike Stieren.

This time the Leathernecks were able to capitalize on the Penguin miscue as Gibbs atoned for his mistake by rushing for an 11-yard touchdown run. The drive only took five plays and, with the PAT, the Penguins' lead was down to 31-14.

With momentum on their side, the Leathernecks forced the Guins to punt following a three-and-out to get the ball back with 12:19 left in the game. Lunt made quick work of the drive, only needing three plays to score on a 12-yard touchdown pass to receiver Lito Senatus to make make the score 31-21.

The combination of a Rach interception and the ability to run down the clock late sealed the victory for the Penguins. Rach picked off a Lunt pass after a hurry by Andre Elliott on a safety blitz with 5:41 remaining, and the Penguins were able to convert on three third downs to take the clock all the way down to 35 seconds.

The Penguins have their first idle Saturday in October since 1997 next weekend. YSU returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 24, when it travels to sixth-ranked Southern Illinois.