Carbondale, Ill. -- Playing their first ranked FCS opponent of the season, the Youngstown State football team couldn't muster enough firepower in a 27-8 loss at Southern Illinois on Saturday afternoon at McAndrew Stadium.

YSU drops to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference while third-ranked SIU improves to 6-1 and 5-0.

The stats for the contest were in YSU's favor for the most part despite the 19-point outcome. YSU had 346 yards of total offense to SIU's 315. The Guins had 18 first downs to the Salukis' 15 and the won the time of possession battle.

YSU quarterback Brandon Summers completed 30 of his career-high 45 attempts for 296 yards and one touchdown. However he threw two interceptions in the final stages of the game. With 3:12 remaining Southern Illinois linebacker Korey Lindsey intercepted Summers' third-down desperation pass at the two-yard line. Lindsey intercepted Summers for a second time with 1:30 left to seal the victory.

Senior wide receiver Donald Jones tied the school record for receptions in a game with 11. Jones, who finished with 96 yards, had 11 catches earlier this month against Missouri State.

Southern Illinois scored the first 24 points of the game before the Penguins finally got on the scoreboard with 9:55 left in the game. Summers connected on a 56-yard strike to Aaron Pitts down the near sidelines for the score. Summers and Pitts then hooked up on a two-point conversion to make the contest 24-8. Following the touchdown, Stephen Blose's onside kick almost worked, but SIU's Kyle Walker held on for the recovery.

SIU was able to capitalize following the onside kick to make the contest a three-score game again at 27-8 when Kyle Dougherty converted a 45-yard field goal with 6:17 left in the contest.

The Salukis added 10 points in the third quarter to increase their lead to 24-0 after three. Deji Karim scored on a two-yard run with 8:52 left in the quarter to make the score 21-0. Dougherty added a 44-yard field goal with 1:35 left in the period making the contest 24-0.

Special teams miscues and a big play by the Salukis' offense left the Guins in a 14-0 halftime hole. YSU had a punt blocked, misfired on a field-goal attempt and watched as SIU backup quarterback Paul McIntosh threw an 86-yard touchdown pass to Joe Allaria.

In the first half, YSU had 167 yards of total offense to SIU's 181. The Guins outgained the Salukis 63-46 on the ground, holding the nation's leading rusher, Karim, to just 32 yards on 10 carries. Summers had a strong first half completing 13-of-16 passes for 104 yards.

To start the game, the defense held SIU on a three-and-out. After a touchback on the ensuing punt, the Penguins moved 55 yards before being held on fourth-and-one at the SIU 25-yard line. Tailback Kevin Smith took the handoff and tried to find daylight on the left side of the line, but was cut down short of the 24 turning the ball over on downs.

Southern Illinois was able to change field possession by moving the ball to YSU territory and Scott Ravanesi pinned the Guins at their own six late in the first quarter.

To start the second quarter, disaster struck as Ben Nowicki's punt was blocked and the Salukis took over at the YSU two-yard line. Two plays later, SIU fullback John Goode plunged in from one-yard out with 13:39 left in the second quarter to give the Salukis a 7-0 lead. It was the second punt the Guins have had blocked this season.

McIntosh came on for Chris Dieker and on third-and-six from their own 14, connected on an 86-yard touchdown pass to Allaria. Allaria caught McIntosh's pass in the flat, scooted past a would-be YSU tackler and was able to dance past two more Penguins along the sidelines before finishing of his score with 9:27 left in the second as SIU pulled ahead 14-0. It was the longest pass play allowed by the Guins since Nov. 20, 1982 (UNI).

Trailing 14-0 with 3:09 left in the half, YSU tried to get on the scoreboard on a 25-yard field-goal attempt by Stephen Blose. However, Nate Schkurko's snap bounced to holder Marc Kanetsky and Blose's kick rolled harmless on the ground through the end zone.

Later in the contest, YSU knocked out Karim, who came in averaging 159.8 yards per game. He finished with 67 tough yards on 20 carries and had one score.

The Penguins return home next Saturday when they play host to South Dakota State. Kickoff for the annual Homecoming contest is set for 4 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium. The Jackrabbits beat UNI 24-14 on Saturday improving to 6-1 and 5-0.