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Youngstown -- The Youngstown State football team scored 31 straight points to overcome a 14-point deficit and defeat No. 13 Southern Illinois 31-28 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference opener for both schools on Saturday at Stambaugh Stadium.

The Penguins forced three turnovers and scored 21 points in the second quarter after falling behind 14-0 in the first 15 minutes. YSU led convincingly at 31-14 until Southern Illinois scored two touchdowns in the final 1:28.

YSU quarterback Kurt Hess attempted just 15 passes, but his arm accounted for all three of the Penguins' touchdowns in the second quarter. Two of those touchdowns went to Kevin Watts, and Carson Sharbaugh caught the other.

Youngstown State's running corps accounted for the majority of the offense, rushing for 206 yards on 56 carries. Jamaine Cook had 111 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries with all 11 SIU defenders playing within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage for much of the game.

SIU's Chris Dieker threw for 258 yards on 24-of-42 attempts, but 151 of those came in the fourth quarter against YSU's prevent defense. He accounted for three of the Salukis' touchdowns, two through the air and another on the ground, but he also accounted for three of SIU's four turnovers.

The Penguins improved to 3-1 while the Salukis lost their third straight and dropped to 1-3. SIU had won 14 consecutive conference games, and the Salukis have lost three straight for the first time since 2002.

After falling behind 14-0 on the last play from scrimmage in the first quarter, the Penguins rebounded to dominate the next 40 minutes. Once the second quarter started, the momentum started to turn almost immediately.

Starting from its own 19 at the start of the quarter, YSU drove 81 yards in nine plays to cut the score the 14-7. The Penguins did not have a third down on the drive, and Hess completed both of his attempts. He hit tight end David Rogers for a 20-yard gain on the second play of the drive, and he did not have another attempt until he hit Watts on a 15-yard strike in the end zone. The Salukis were hit with a horse-collar penalty on the drive that moved the ball into the red zone.

Thomas Sprague drilled SIU kickoff returner Steve Strother on the ensuing kickoff to jar the ball loose, and Ali Cheaib recovered at the Salukis 25. The Penguins went three-and-out, and Blose's 39-yard attempt was partially blocked.

SIU took over on its 23 after the block, but the Penguins needed to wait only two more plays for another big play. YSU linebacker David Rach knocked the ball loose from Dieker on second-and-six, and Luke Matelan recovered on the SIU 20. Six plays later, Hess found Watts again in the end zone for a seven-yard score that tied the game at 14-14 with 5:47 on the clock.

Dieker was intercepted five plays into the next drive by Brandian Ross, and the Penguins took over at the SIU 41 with 3:57 remaining in the half. A pass interference penalty on the first play of the drive put the ball on the 26, and Hess hit Carson Sharbaugh in the end zone five plays later for a three-yard touchdown. It was Sharbaugh's first career catch, and it gave Hess his first three-touchdown performance in his fourth collegiate game.

The Salukis' drives in the second quarter resulted in two fumbles, an interception and a kneel-down to end the half.

What made the second quarter even more impressive was how disastrous the first quarter was. YSU missed a field goal, had a punt blocked and returned for a touchdown and a fumble that led to another score.

The big defensive plays continued in the third quarter. After Liste pinned the Salukis at the four, Deonta Tate intercepted Dieker at the SIU 29 and returned it to the 22 with 7:37 remaining. Cook carried four times, and his final time resulted in a one-yard touchdown that made the score 28-14.

Blose kicked a 37-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter to put the Penguins up 31-14. YSU's defense forced a three-and-out, and the offense chewed 8:56 off the clock before Liste's punt was downed one the SIU one with 4:33 remaining.

SIU needed 15 plays to drive the length of the field, and Dieker ran in from the four on the 15th play of the drive to make the score 31-21 with 1:28 left. The Salukis recovered an onside kick and took over on their 45, and Dieker hit Joe Allaria on a 37-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown with 44 seconds left.

Kyle Dougherty's next onside kick attempt bounced onto the YSU sidelines, and Hess kneeled three times to run out the clock.

Allaria had nine catches for 91 yards, and Jeff Evans had 10 grabs for 100 yards for SIU. The Penguins defense limited the Salukis to 65 yards rushing on 22 carries.

Southern Illinois ended up outgaining the Penguins 323 to 300, but YSU held a 253 to 165 advantage through three quarters.

YSU gained 53 yards on a 13-play drive to start the game, but Stephen Blose's 40-yard field goal attempt was wide right. Southern Illinois missed a 52-yard field goal with the wind at its back on its ensuing drive, and YSU took over at its own 35.

After driving to SIU's 40, the Penguins had an illegal formation penalty on Nick Liste's punt that was pinned inside the five. The next attempt was blocked by Luke Thuston, and Taylon Hunter returned the loose ball 38 yards for the first score of the game.

Hess was sacked and fumbled three plays into YSU's next drive, and the Salukis needed just three plays to go up 14-0. Dieker was 3-for-3 on the drive with passes of 28 yards and six yards to set up an eight-yard touchdown completion to John Goode.

Hess was 7-for-11 with three touchdowns in the first half. Dieker was also 7-for-11 and threw a touchdown, but he had two of the Salukis three turnovers in the second quarter. The Penguins outrushed the Salukis 134 to 45 and outgained them overall 202 to 114. They held the ball for 20:48 of the 30 minutes.

Youngstown State will go on the road to start October when it plays at Missouri State on Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. Live radio coverage will be available on 570 WKBN.