Normal, Ill – The Youngstown State football team made a late charge, but fell to Illinois State, 23-16, Saturday afternoon at Hancock Stadium.
The Penguins fall to 3-7 overall and 2-4 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference while the Redbirds improve to 6-3 overall and 3-2 in the MVFC.
Beau Brungard threw for 157 yards and complete 19-of-32 passing with a touchdown while Max Tomczak caught eight passes for 73 yards and a touchdown.
Tyshon King led the Penguins with 59 yards on the ground and a touchdown.
Defensively, DJ Harris led the Penguins with 13 tackles while Jaylen Castleberry had 10 tackles, including a sack.
The Penguins made a big play on the Redbirds' first possession of the game. Castleberry sacked ISU quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse in the endzone on the Redbirds second play from scrimmage to take a 2-0 lead.
Illinois State took the lead late in the first quarter after a 33-yard FG by Ian Wagner at the 2:03 mark.
ISU extended the lead to seven, 9-2, after Rittenhouse connected with Wenkers Wright on a three-yard touchdown pass with 11:44 to go before halftime.
The Redbirds went up by two touchdowns to open the third quarter. Rittenhouse capped a five-paly 75-yard drive with a 11-yard TD run to go up 16-2.
YSU countered with an 11-play, 75-yard drive to get within seven, 16-9, when King dove in from one yard out at the 7:37 mark of the third.
The Redbirds answered on the ensuing possession to regain a 14-point lead, 23-9, with 3:38 left in the third. Rittenhouse connected on a four-yard TD pass to Javon Charles.
Youngstown State continued to battle as Brungard hit Tomczak with a seven-yard touchdown pass to get back within seven 23-16, with just over four minutes left in the game.
Youngstown State plays its final road game of the season when it visits Southern Illinois Saturday, Nov. 9. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in Carbondale, Ill.
