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Macomb, Ill. - The Youngstown State football team built an 11-point second-half lead, but Western Illinois rallied to score the final 14 points for a 27-24 win over the Penguins on Saturday night at Hanson Field.

YSU (1-5) committed three turnovers and allowed WIU (1-5) to return a punt and kickoff for a touchdown in the tough defeat. 

Western Illinois jumped out to a 7-0 lead following some outstanding special teams. After a punt was downed at the YSU four-yard line, the Guins went three-and-out and were backed up at their two-yard line. Paddy Lynch's punt was returned 36 yards for a touchdown by Michael Lawson to give the Leathernecks an early 7-0 lead.

Later in the first period, Jaleel McLaughlin broke free on a 73-yard scoring run with just 3:02 remaining. YSU moved 87 yards in just five plays to tie the ballgame. 

The final 2:04 of the first half featured 20 points after the first 27:56 saw just 14 points scored.

The Penguins took advantage of a 19-yard punt return by Jake Coates to get good field position. YSU moved 50 yards in eight plays as Christian Turner scored from three yards out with 2:03 left in the first half.

WIU answered quickly going 75 yards in just 38 seconds. QB Connor Sampson found Tony Tate on a crossing route and he took it 43 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was pushed left allowing the Penguins to maintain a 14-13 lead.

YSU had an impressive drive to end the first half that went down to the final play. Waid hit Coates on a 28-yard pass down to the WIU two-yard line with 10 seconds left. With four seconds left, YSU had the ball at the one and after two WIU timeouts, the Penguins decided to go for a touchdown instead of a 19-yard field-goal try. Waid found London Pearson in the flat as time expired as the Penguins extended the lead to 21-13.

YSU had 178 yards rushing in the first half and 253 yards of total offense on 40 plays. Waid was 8-of-12 for 75 yards and a touchdown. WIU had 190 yards passing on 14-of-20 passing by Sampson and 220 yards of total offense in the opening half.

The Penguins went in front 24-13 on a 33-yard field goal by Colt McFadden just over three minutes into the second half. However, that would be the final points of the contest for the Penguins.

On the ensuing kickoff following the field goal, Tate caught a line-drive kick and returned it 95 yards for a touchdown. Following a failed two-point conversion, YSU led 24-19 with 11:25 left in the third.

The YSU defense was able to keep the Leathernecks off the scoreboard until the fourth quarter. WIU intercepted a Waid pass at the YSU 35-yard line with just over seven minutes left. Two plays later, Sampson found Tate for a 28-yard touchdown pass and the subsquent two-point conversion made the score 27-24 Western. It was Tate's third touchdown in the game.

The Penguins had one final possession, but Waid was intercepted with 1:41 remaining. Waid completed 20-of-28 passes for 186 yards. McLaughlin finished with 122 yards rushing. Coates became the school's all-time leader in punt return yards gaining 30 yards on three punt returns. Sampson was 21-of-34 for 301 yards and two touchdowns for the Leathernecks.

Defensively, Keyon Martin had a career-high nine tackles, including seven solo stops to pace YSU. 

YSU is scheduled to play its final road game of the spring next Saturday at Missouri State. Kickoff for the contest is set for 3 p.m. Eastern time.