Normal, Ill. – The Youngstown State football team used some late-game heroics to rally for another wild win in Illinois as the Penguins beat Illinois State 19-17 on a windy Saturday afternoon at Hancock Stadium.
The Penguins improve to 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the MVFC to keep their playoff hopes in tact while Illinois State falls to 5-4 and 3-3.
YSU never led until the final five seconds of the game when Mitch Davidson found Bryce Oliver on a 12-yard touchdown pass on third down. The Penguins marched 80 yards on eight plays after Illinois State decided not to attempt a long field goal with the wind at their back and a punt ended up for a touchback.
The defense pitched a shutout in the second half to keep the Guins in the game and set up the wild final drive.
ISU jumped out to a 7-0 victory scoring a touchdown on its first offensive snap of the game. Taking over at the YSU 42, quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse, a surprise starter, took the snap around the right side of the line and raced untouched to the end zone.
YSU answered back on its next drive to tie the contest when Davidson scored on a two-yard run. YSU drove into the wind going 75 yards in eight plays to knot the game up at seven.
The Redbirds went on top 10-7 later in the period on a 43-yard field goal by Ian Wagner.
In the second quarter, Colt McFadden tied the contest drilling a 38-yard field goal just 53 seconds into the quarter.
ISU took advantage of a Penguins' special teams turnover to go on top 17-10 late in the second quarter. After the YSU defense had stopped a Redbird drive, the Penguins fumbled the ensuing punt and ISU made them pay scoring with 1:54 left in the half on a one-yard keeper by Rittenhouse.
McFadden cut the deficit to 17-13 late in the second quarter booming a 48-yard field goal with just 34 seconds left in the frame.
Neither team could get into position to score, but the Guins defense held and set up a late game-winning march.
Davidson completed 10-of-19 passes for 143 hard-earned yards while accounting for both touchdowns.
The Penguins play their final road conference game of the season when they visit Missouri State. Kickoff for the contest against the Bears at Plaster Field is set for 3 p.m. Eastern time.
