The Youngstown State football team defeated Indiana State, 48-42, in a thrilling offensive battle at Stambaugh Stadium on Saturday.

The Penguins improve to 3-3 overall and pick up their first Missouri Valley Football Conference win, 1-2, while the Sycamores fall to 1-5 with a 0-3 MVFC record.

Senior running back Jaleel McLaughlin broke into the top-five NCAA career rushing leaders. His 200-yard day brings him to 7,434 total career yards which ranks fifth in NCAA history. McLaughlin also found the endzone twice on the day including a 68-yard rushing touchdown.

The Penguins and Sycamores combined for more than 1,000 yards of total offense as YSU recorded 536 yards on 80 plays.

Junior quarterback Mitch Davidson threw for a career-high 223 yards on 14-of-25 passing and added touchdowns through the air and on the ground.

Bryce Oliver led the Penguins' receivers with a career-high 143 yards on seven catches, including a 50-yard touchdown. Latrell Fordham, who had 139 return yards and 46 receiving yards, set the YSU record for longest kickoff return in school history with a 98-yard return for a touchdown.

Jordan Trowers led the Penguins with five tackles, and James Jackson had three sacks in the second half.

Indiana State quarterback Cade Chambers passed for 311 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Justin Dinka rushed for 159 yards and a touchdown while receiver Dante Hendrix recorded 117 yards on five catches. Wide receiver Dakota Caton had two touchdowns on the day with 83-yards on just three catches.

Dinka scored on the opening play of Indiana State's drive, rushing 75 yards to the endzone to gain a 7-0 lead.

YSU had a quick answer as Davidson found Oliver deep downfield for a 50-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7-7 with 11:37 to play in the first quarter.

On the next Penguins scoring drive, Davidson hit Oliver again with a 57-yard bomb to put the Penguins at the one-yard line. Dra Rushton finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge at the 5:44 mark of the first quarter to give YSU the lead, 14-7.

With 1:22 remaining in the first quarter, Caton scored on a 53-yard touchdown pass from Chambers to tie the game at 14-14.

The Penguins had a fast answer when Fordham ran the kickoff back 98 yards for a touchdown, giving the Penguins back the lead, 21-14, with 1:02 to play in the first quarter.

The Sycamores tied the game, 21-21, when Chambers scrambled into the end zone for a two-yard touchdown at the 12:08 mark in the second quarter.

On the Penguins' following possession, McLaughlin let loose, sprinting 68 yards to the end zone putting YSU up by a touchdown, 28-21, with 10:17 remaining in the half.

After YSU stopped Indiana State on fourth-and-one, Davidson ran it 12 yards into the end zone on the Penguins' next drive, giving Youngstown State a 14-point advantage, 35-21, heading into the final minutes before halftime.

With 1:35 to play before intermission, the Sycamores found the end zone on a 12-yard touchdown catch by Caton, making the score 35-28 headed into halftime.

The Penguins opened the second half with a 13 play, 75-yard drive capped by a McLaughlin 10-yard touchdown carry that put the Penguins up 42-28 at the 9:44 mark of the third quarter.

The Sycamores fumbled the ensuing kickoff setting up the Penguins at their own 48-yard line. Youngstown State capitalized with a 33-yard Colt McFadden field goal extending the Penguins lead to 17 points, 45-28, with 6:15 remaining in the third quarter.

Indiana State scored 14 straight points to cut the Penguins advantage to three, 45-42.

Dinka scored an 18-yard touchdown on a Crawford pass and Indiana State recovered an onside kick at the YSU 45-yard line with 3:15 left in the third quarter.

Crawford finished the Sycamores' drive with an 11-yard touchdown rush at the 2:25 mark of the third quarter.

Both offenses stalled in the fourth quarter until the Penguins scored on a 42-yard McFadden field goal with a 1:42 to play in the game, putting the Penguins up six, 48-42. Indiana State's final drive came up short, highlighted by a third-down sack by James Jackson.

The Penguins return to the road Saturday as they head to Western Illinois on October 22. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at Hanson Field in Macomb, Ill.