Final Stats PDF

Brookings, S.D. – The Youngstown State football team put up a valiant effort on Saturday afternoon against South Dakota State at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium. But the Jackrabbits proved to be too much as the Penguins dropped a 30-20 decision.

With the loss, the Penguins fall to 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. After an 0-4 start, the Jackrabbits have won three straight games and move to 3-2 in MVFC play.

The Penguins took a 9-7 lead late in the first quarter on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Kurt Hess to Dominique Barnes. Hess tossed the ball to Barnes on the left side and he avoided the arms of Winston Wright racing to the end zone for the score putting the Guins in front with 1:41 left in the half. On the ensuing extra-point try, Stephen Blose's kick was blocked snapping his school-record streak for consecutive extra points made.

From that point, the Penguins held the Jackrabbits scoreless until the final five minutes of the second quarter. YSU was moving the ball in the SDSU territory before having a drive stopped on a lost fumble when Hess's toss to Jamaine Cook was recovered by the Jackrabbites at the SDSU 44-yard line.

On the possession following the turnover, SDSU's Peter Reifenrath booted a career-long 43-yard field goal with 4:59 left to give the Jackrabbits the lead for good at 10-9.

The Guins moved the ball 15 yards, but had to punt to SDSU with 3:03 left before halftime.

SDSU quarterback Thomas O'Brien moved the Jacks down the field quickly finishing a six-play, 88-yard drive with 1:14 left before halftime by tossing a nine-yard strike to Colin Cochart putting the Jacks ahead 17-9.

In the third quarter, YSU cut the deficit to 17-12 on a 19-yard field goal with 8:19 left in the third quarter. YSU moved the ball 70 yard in 16 plays and scored on an opening drive of the second half for the first time this season. However, on third-and-goal from the one-yard line, Cook was stuff for no gain and the Penguins had to settle for three points.

South Dakota State went by eight when Peter Reifenrath converted a 42-yard field goal with 4:19 remaining in the third.

Down 20-12, YSU used a fake punt to keep a drive alive when Nick Liste picked up 12 yards on a fourth-and-four from the Penguin 40. But on the next three plays YSU gained zero yards and the momentum seemed to shift to SDSU.

Following a 62-yard run by Minnet, Reifenrath made his third field goal of the game put SDSU ahead 23-12 with 14:56 left in the fourth.

YSU's next possession was a three-and-out, only its second one of the contest.

SDSU marched 87 yards on eight plays and went on top 30-12 when O'Brien connected with Aaron Rollin from 15 yards out with 8:35 left.

Hess threw a 15-yard scoring toss to Ely Ducatel with 5:34 left in the fourth and added the two-point conversion on a run bringing the Guins within 30-20 with 5:34 left.

South Dakota State recovered the onside kick and YSU's final drive ended at its own 36-yard line with 3:02 left.

For the game, Hess was 26-of-46 for 263 yards and two touchdowns. It was the fifth-most attempts in a game in school history and the most thrown by a YSU quarterback without an interception.

Barnes had 10 receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown. Minett had 185 yards rushing on 26 carries to lead the Jacks' attack.

The Penguins return home next Saturday to take on UNI. Kickoff for the Homecoming Contest at Stambaugh Stadium is set for 1 p.m.