Brookings, S.D. - The Youngstown State football team overcame a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit to grab a 17-16 lead, but a South Dakota State field goal with 31 seconds remaining was the difference in a 19-17 Penguins defeat on a sunny Saturday at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.
YSU (0-4) hung around after falling behind 10-0 in the first 8:56 of the contest and ultimately took a fourth-quarter lead with 6:17 remaining.
SDSU (3-1) took its initial possession of the game and scored a touchdown. QB Mark Gronowski connected with Jaxon Janke on an eight-yard scoring toss to cap off a six-play, 75-yard drive. Two plays following the score, QB Mark Waid was intercepted by Malik Lofton and the Jackrabbits took over at their own 41-yard line. The drive stalled at the YSU 35 and Cole Frahm came on to boot a 52-yard field goal extending the lead to 10-0.
However, the Penguins answered with their first touchdown of the contest quickly. TB Jaleel McLaughlin raced 42 yards for a touchdown and the Penguins trimmed the deficit to 10-7 with 4:03 left in the first quarter.
Neither team could find much offense following that point and the Penguins trailed 10-7 at halftime.
The Jackrabbits extended the lead on their first posssession of the second half. South Dakota State gained possession at the YSU 49-yard line following a punt and found paydirt nine plays later on a one-yard sneak by Gronowski. The extra point attempt by Frahm was pushed wide left making the score 16-7 with 8:45 left in the third quarter.
YSU then held the ball for the remainder of the period while driving deep into SDSU territory. The 18-play, 59-yard drive took 10:14 off the clock and Colt McFadden's 33-yard field goal pulled the Guins within 16-10 with 13:31 left in the contest.
SDSU had a chance to make it a two-score game, but Frahm's 43-yard field goal attempt was off the mark with 9:43 remaining.
A good punt by Nick DeSalvo pinned the Jackrabbits at their own 22 and three plays later the defense set up the offense for the go-ahead score. Zaire Jones intercepted Gronowski at the SDSU 28 and returned it to the 20-yard line setting up the YSU offense. McLaughlin had three straight rushes and capped off the quick scoring drive with a untouched scoring run behind the right side of the line from a yard out with 6:21 to tie the contest. McFadden converted the PAT kick giving the Guins a one-point lead.
SDSU and then YSU went three-and-out and the Jackrabbits took over at their 21 with 2:53 remaining. The Guins forced a 3rd-and-11 at the 20, but a 39-yard pass from Gronowski to Zach Heins moved the ball into Penguins territory. On the next play, Gronowski found Heins again for a 16-yard pickup down to the YSU 25-yard line. SDSU was able to move the ball to the YSU 12 before the Guins forced a field-goal try. Frahm connected from 29 yards out with just 31 seconds left to give the Jacks a 19-17 lead.
YSU took over at its 32-yard line, but after two short completions, Waid was hit and fumbled to end the Penguins' final drive.
For the game, McLaughlin rushed for 122 yards on 26 carries and had two touchdowns. Waid carreid 11 times for 41 yards and completed 7-of-13 passes for 55 yards. Pierre Strong led the way offensively for the Jackrabbits with 124 yards on 21 rushes. Gronowski completed 12-of-28 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown. Grant Dixon led YSU with a game-high 10 tackles while Jones added nine.
SDSU had a 300-251 advantage in total offensive yardage while YSU outrushed the Jackrabbits 196-142. SDSU passed for 158 yards with 54 coming on two completions on its final drive of the game.
The Penguins return home next Saturday to play host to South Dakota. Kickoff at Stambaugh Stadium is set for Noon.
