Final PDF Stats

Macomb, Ill. – The Youngstown State football team came up just short in a seesaw affair that featured nine-lead changes on Saturday night at Hanson Field. Unfortunately for YSU, the final lead change was not in its favor as Western Illinois scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:00 left for a 40-38 win.

The defeat offset a solid night by the Penguins tailbacks – Jamaine Cook and Adaris Bellamy. Cook rushed for 161 yards on 30 carries and his late touchdown put the Guins ahead 38-34 in the fourth quarter. Bellamy had 71 yards on 17 carries and set a career-high with three touchdown runs.

The Penguins (3-4 overall and 1-3 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference) had a chance to put the back-and-forth contest away. However, on third-and-four at the WIU 44, Cook was stopped by Kevin Palmero for a one-yard loss and the Guins were forced to punt with 2:22 left.

A 57-yard punt by Nick Liste went for a touchback and WIU took over at the 20-yard line with 2:13 remaining.

Following two incompletions, WIU quarterback Matt Barr ran 20 yards on a third-and-10 play for a first down. After a completion for a five-yard loss to Bryce Flowers, Barr and favorite target Lito Senatus hooked up on three straight plays. Barr hit Senatus for 15 yards to midfield, connected with him for 33 yards down to the YSU 17 and finally the two hooked up for the go-ahead score with exacty 1:00 left on the clock.

A missed extra point gave the Guins an opportunity for a field-goal winning try as they trailed 40-38.

The Penguins' last ditch comeback effort ended when Kurt Hess' pass intended for Kevin Watts fell incomplete on fourth-and-two at the YSU 29-yard line.

YSU had a strong start for the third consecutive contest. YSU led 24-14 at halftime behind an impressive offensive display in the first 30 minutes. In the first half, the Penguins had 291 yards on 51 plays while Western had 176 on 30.

For the game, YSU racked up 506 yards of total offense, including 293 on 37 rushing attempts. Hess was 19-of-31 for 213 yards and had a rushing score. He had a career-high 38 yards rushing on seven attempts.

YSU's last lead came with 5:27 left in the game. Cook capped off a nine-play 76-yard drive scoring on a five-yard run. On the drive, he had seven carries and caught a pass. The Guin benefited from a huge roughing-the-passer call when Hess had been sacked for a seven-yard loss on a second-and-20 play.

WIU went three-and-out and was forced to punt giving the ball back to YSU with 3:47 remaining. Cook picked up a first down on the initial carry, but the Guins were stopped and forced to punt.

Youngstown State had leads of 3-0, 10-7, 24-14, 31-28 and 38-34 in the contest.

YSU went ahead 31-28 in the final minute of the third quarter when Bellamy scored from two yards out. The Guins had led 24-14, but two WIU third-quarter scores gave it the lead.

Barr passed for three scores completing 22-of-34 passes for 302 yards while Senatus had seven grabs for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Barr also ran for two touchdowns and 53 yards on 10 carries.

The Penguins play their second consecutive conference road game when they visit South Dakota State next Saturday. Kickoff for the contest against the Jackrabbits is set for 3 p.m. Eastern time. The Jackrabbits have won two straight following an impressive win at Southern Illinois on Saturday.