Box Score
Terre Haute, Ind. - The Youngstown State football team dropped a 24-17 decision to Indiana State on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.
With the defeat, YSU falls to 5-6 overall and 1-6 in the MVFC. Indiana State improves to 4-7 and 2-5 in the MVFC.
Quarterback Joe Craycraft completed 11-of-33 passes for 181 yards and a score. He rushed for 123 yards on 11 carries in the game.
Both defenses had the upper hand for most of the first half as the Penguins trailed 17-10 at the break.
The Sycamores took a 3-0 lead when Jerry Nunez kicked a 41-yard field goal on Indiana State's first possession of the game.
In the second quarter, ISU extended its lead to 10-0 on a 33-yard touchdown run by Nick Sims.
Following the second Indiana State score, the Penguins put together their best drive of the game. YSU moved 70 yards in 11 plays before Colt McFadden was called upon to kick a 22-yard field goal.
However on their next possession, Craycraft was intercepted at the YSU 13-yard line. On the next snap following the pick, Michael Haupert took a wildcat snap around the right side and found the end zone to make the score 17-3 with 2:43 left before halftime.
But Craycraft showed some moxie on the next drive taking a quarterback draw 80 yards for a touchdown just 22 seconds after the Sycamores score.
The flurry of offense by both sides late in the second quarter helped the first half stats tremendously. YSU finished with 193 yards on 30 plays while Indiana State had 203 yards on 35 snaps. The Sycamores dominated time of possession 18:22 to 11:38. Freshman C.J. Charleston caught three passes for 62 yards in the his first half. Charleston caught five passes for 105 yards in his YSU debut.
Indiana State took a 24-10 lead to the fourth quarter on the strength of a 10-yard touchdown run by Dominique Dafney.
The Penguins pulled within a touchdown when facing a 2nd-and-29, Craycraft connected with Ryan Emans on a 45-yard touchdown pass with 10:05 left in the game.
YSU had one final late drive reaching Sycamores territory, but turned the ball over on downs at the ISU 37-yard line with 40 seconds left.
The Penguins close out the season next Saturday against Illinois State. Kickoff at Stambaugh Stadium is set for noon.
