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Springfield, Mo. – Tailback Jamaine Cook rushed for 167 yards and the Youngstown State football team built a 17-0 lead, but Missouri State rallied to earn a hard-fought 35-25 victory at Plaster Field on a windy Saturday afternoon.

Youngstown State (3-2 overall and 1-1 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference) led 17-7 late in the third quarter before two Bears defensive touchdowns in 90 seconds turned the game around.

MSU's Howard Scarborough recovered a fumble in the YSU end zone at 3:32 to get the Bears within 17-14. On first down at the Penguin two-yard line, YSU quarterback Kurt Hess lost control of the football and Scarborough pounced on it to get MSU within three points.

Soon after, on third-and-six from the YSU 32, MSU linebacker Adam Beachamp intercepted a Hess pass and returned it 40 yards for a score at the 2:02 mark.

Leading 21-17, MSU's Chris Douglas scored on a 22-yard touchdown run at 11:37 of the fourth quarter extending the cushion to 28-17.

Jordan Thompson two-yard touchdown run at the 7:47 mark. Hess scored the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 28-25.

However on a 3rd-and-12 at the YSU 43-yard line, MSU quarterback Cody Kirby threw a scoring strike to Jermaine Saffold to put the Bears ahead 35-25 with 3:33 left.

Kirby was 24-of-39 for 298 yards while Hess was 13-of-33 for 165 yards and threw two interceptions.

The first quarter was dominated by the Penguins while the second was dominated by the Bears. However, YSU was able to hold a 17-7 lead at halftime.

In the first quarter, YSU had 130 yards of total offense on 21 plays while the Bears had just 38 on a dozen snaps.

Three plays into the game, Cook raced 71 yards for a touchdown to put the Guins on top 7-0. On a third-and-one From the 29-yard line, Cook took a handoff around the right side and broke two would-be tackles from Bears defenders on his race to the end zone.

The Penguins took advantage of a 51-yard punt return by Dominique Barnes on their ensuing drive to increase their lead.

Senior placekicker Stephen Blose kicked 24-yard field goal giving the Penguins a 10-0 lead with 5:49 left in first quarter.

YSU caught a break on the kickoff when Jamarious Boatwright recovered a live ball at the Bears' 26-yard line. Five plays later, Cook found the end zone again to put the Guins on top 17-0. Cook scored on a five-yard rush with 3:10 left in the opening period.

Missouri State got on the scoreboard with 30-yard pass from Kirby to Cadarrius Dotson. MSU marched 80 yards in eight plays to pull within 17-7 with 13:43 left in the second quarter.

MSU dominated the second quarter allowing the Penguins to run just 10 plays for 37 yards. On the other hand, the Bears ran 30 plays for 176 yards. YSU had six first-half first downs to Missouri State's 13. Cook had 102 yards on 11 carries.

Before the end of the first half, YSU dodged a bullet when John Sasson blocked a Jordan Chiles 27-yard field-goal attempt in the final minute of the second quarter.

The Penguins play host to North Dakota State next Saturday at Stambaugh Stadium. Kickoff for the contest against the nationally-ranked Bison is set for 4 p.m. For tickets call (330) 941-1978.