Box Score
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - In just the two teams' third meeting all-time and the first since 1962, the Youngstown State football team dropped a hard-fought contest to North Dakota on Saturday afternoon at the Alerus Center, 24-21.
With the loss, the Penguins fall to 2-6 overall and 1-5 in Missouri Valley Football Conference play, while the Fighting Hawks improve to 4-5 on the season and 2-4 in the league.
YSU held a 21-10 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining in the final quarter of play, however UND stringed together 14-unanswered points en route the 3-point victory.
A trio of Penguins found the endzone on the day, each with a rushing touchdown. TB Jaleel McLaughlin got YSU on the scoreboard first, scoring his ninth rushing touchdown o the season at the 10:38 mark of the first quarter on a 5-yard touchdown run. Fellow TB Christian Turner scored next for the Penguins, crossing the goal line on a 1-yard carry as time expired at the end of the first quarter. With the YSU offense on the 1-yard line early in the fourth quarter, QB Demeatric Crenshaw powered his way into the endzone on a designed sneak play for the Penguins' final score of the game.
McLaughlin led all rushers with a game-high 122 yards rushing on 18 attempts to accompany his lone touchdown. Not done, out of the backfield, the senior tailback added seven receptions for 39 yards to lead the Penguins' offense. Adding to the YSU rushing fleet, Turner logged 29 yards on seven attempts.
In his first start since leaving the game with an injury against Indiana State on Oct. 23, Crenshaw totaled 75 yards on 17 passing attempts. Showing his mobility, Crenshaw added 60 yards on the ground on 18 rushes.
For the game, the Penguins had 278 yards (203 rushing) of total offense on 62 total plays while the Fighting Hawks finished with 354 yards.
On the defensive side, LB Grant Dixon led the way with nine solo stops for YSU and DB Jordan White hauled in the Penguins' lone interception of the day.
In the first quarter, YSU capitalized on a pair of 9-plus play, 75-yard touchdown drives to take the early lead over UND, 14-7. Following a scoreless second quarter, the Penguins would carry the 7-point lead into halftime.
Penalties plagued the Fighting Hawks' opening possession out of the halftime locker room and the stalled 10-play, 51-yard drive resulted in a field goal.
On the Penguins' ensuing possession Crenshaw and company marched 65 yards on 10 plays as YSU scored its final touchdown of the afternoon on a QB keeper to take a 21-10 advantage with 10:05 left to play in the contest.
UND would go on to score 14-unanswered points on its next two possessions to hand YSU its sixth loss of the 2021 season.
The Penguins return home to take on North Dakota State next Saturday. Kickoff at Stambaugh Stadium is set for Noon.
