Box Score
East Lansing, Mich. – The Youngstown State football team turned in a gutsy performance, but dropped a 42-14 decision to Big Ten member Michigan State on Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium in front of 70,103 fans.
The Penguins fall to 1-1 on the year while the Spartans improve to 2-0.
Youngstown State recorded 304 total yards, including 167 on the ground and 137 through the air. The Penguins ran 77 plays and won the time of possession battle, 32:31-26:40.
Redshirt freshman Demeatric Crenshaw rushed for 69 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown while senior Christian Turner ran for 48 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown run. Crenshaw complete 10-of-23 passes for 81 yards and had one interception.
C.J. Charleston and Luke Hensley led the YSU receiving corps with three receptions each. Henley posted 20 receiving yards while Charleston had 18.
Leading the Penguins defensively was Jordan White with nine tackles, including six solo stops. D'Marco Augustin recorded eight tackles.
Michigan State scored four touchdowns in the game's first 20 minutes to jump out to a 28-0 lead before the Penguins got on the board.
Michigan State scored on the first play from scrimmage on a 75-yard pass from Payton Thorne to Jayden Reed to take a 7-0.
The Spartans extended the lead to 14-0 when Thorne rushed in from 10 yards out at the 7:54 mark of the first quarter.
To start the second quarter, the Penguins drove to the Spartan 29-yard line keyed by a 16-yard run by Christian Turner. On the next play Crenshaw was intercepted by MSU's Xavier Henderson at the Spartans two-yard line.
Three plays later, Thorne hit Reed for an 85-yard touchdown pass to take a 21-0 lead with 12:52 left in the second quarter.
The Penguins got on the board on the ensuing possession to cut the lead to 28-7 with 4:10 left in the second quarter. YSU drove75 yards in 12 plays that was capped by a six-yard touchdown run Crenshaw on fourth-and 1.
The Spartans answered with an 11-play, 68-yard drive to push the lead to 35-7 with 17 seconds left before halftime on a six-yard touchdown run by Kenneth Walker.
Youngstown State took the opening possession of the second half 75 yards in 10 plays to get within 35-14 with 10:54 left in the third. Christian Turner scampered in from 26 yards to cap the four-minute, six-second drive.
After forcing the Penguins to punt, Thorne hit Nailor on a 16-yard touchdown pass to push the lead to 42-14 with 4:32 left in the third. The scoring drive went 50 plays in six plays.
Youngstown State is idle next week and opens Missouri Valley Football Conference play in against Western Illinois, Saturday, Sept. 25. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium
