PDF Final Stats

Normal, Ill. – Just when a season of tough losses couldn't get anymore gutwretching, the Youngstown State football team allowed a game-winning 40-yard touchdown pass with just under a second left in a devasting 41-39 loss to Illinois State at Hancock Stadium.

Matt Brown threw a 40-yard touchdown toss to Tyrone Walker with 0.7 seconds remaining. The play came right after the Penguins had erased an 18-point deficit by scoring 20 seconds earlier.

Kurt Hess scored on a six-yard run with 27 seconds left to put YSU on top 39-35. 

Tailback Jamaine Cook rushed for a career-high 212 yards on a career-best 43 carries.

YSU kicked off and pinned Illinois State at its own 31-yard line. Illinois State moved 69 yards in three plays for the game winner. On second down, Brown hit Marvon Sanders for a 33-yard gain to the 40 setting the touchdown as Brown's pass snuck through three Penguin defenders and into the hands of Walker who caught the ball at the two and feel into the end zone.

YSU trailed 35-17 with with 6:02 left in the third quarter following a blocked punt return for touchdown by the Redbirds.

The Guins chipped away first pulling within 35-24 with 3:10 left in the quarter on a seven-yard pass from Hess to Cook.

YSU moved within three points when Cook scampered in from 16 yards with 6:33 left in the fourth quarter and Hess connected with Kevin Watts for the two-point conversion.

The defense held ISU, but Steven Fetzer's punt was downed at the Penguin four with 3:17 to go.

YSU moved 96 yards in 12 plays as Hess found paydirt on a third-and-five carry with 27 seconds to go setting up the finale.

Hess completed 19-of-38 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns. Dominique Barnes caught eight passes for 113 yards to lead the Guins.

Brown was 29-of-37 for a career-high 390 yards and five touchdowns. Sanders finished with 14 catches for 108 yards while Walker had nine receptions for 206 yards and three scores.

The 43 attempts by Cook tie for the second most in school history behind Tamron Smith (46) and Monquantae Gibson (43).

The game began on a sluggish note as both teams tried to find some offensive rhythm early.

Five plays after recovering a fumble in YSU territory, Brown connected with Matt Younger on a 28-yard score with 18 seconds left in first quarter to put the Redbirds in front 7-0.

Hess tossed a 15-yard scoring pass to a wide open David Rogers with 9:39 left in second quarter tying the contest at seven. It was the first career touchdown reception for Rogers.

On a third-and-four from the YSU 44, Brown caught the Penguins in a blitz and hit Walker down the sidelines for a touchdown pass with 5:28 left in the second quarter as the Redbirds went on top 14-7.

Illinois State called three straight timeouts with nine seconds left before Stephen Blose calmly drained a 38-yard field goal with just over five seconds left before halftime. Blose, who made his 10th consecutive field goal tying for the second-longest streak in school history, hit a line-drive through the uprights to cap an important 16-play drive.

The YSU defense was strong in the first half allowing just 10 yards on nine carries. Illinois State had 163 yards of total offense, 153 of which came through the air. YSU had 195 yards, 130 coming via the rush. Cook had 80 yards on 19 carries in the opening half.

With the loss, YSU slips to 3-7 overall and 1-6 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Illinois State improves to 5-4 overall and finishes league play with a 4-4 record.

The Penguins play their final game of the season next Saturday when they play host to Indiana State. Kickoff at Stambaugh Stadium is set for 1 p.m.

More Details to Come