Springfield, Mo. – The Youngstown State football team scored 28-third-quarter points to turn a one-point halftime deficit into a victory as the Penguins cruised to a 37-10 victory over Missouri State in both school’s Gateway opener on Saturday night.
    The eighth-ranked Penguins (4-1 overall and 1-0 in the Gateway) opened league play with a victory for the eighth time in 10 years, including three wins over the Bears (1-4 and 0-1).
    YSU fell behind 10-9 after playing a sluggish first half, but came out of the locker room impressive in the third.
    The 28 points in the third stanza tied the school mark for a period which came way back in 1978. YSU had 28 points in the third against Ashland on Sept. 23 of that season.
    The onslaught started after a key penalty turned the Guins’ first possession of the half around.
    After the Penguins were initially stopped on their first possession of the half, punter Joe Bishop was roughed on a fourth-and-18 play at the YSU 14. After retaining possession, tailback Marcus Mason burst up the middle untouched on a 42-yard touchdown jaunt to put YSU in front 16-9.
    Following the ensuing kickoff, cornerback Jason Perry intercepted his second pass of the game and this team returning it 40 yards for a touchdown.
    It was the second consecutive week in which Perry’s interception was a game changer. Last week in the win over UC Davis, Perry returned an interception 78 yards for the score.
    Quarterback Tom Zetts went to work to close out the period. Zetts connected with tight end Max King on a nine-yard score before hooking up with T.J. Peterson on a 48-yard toss.
    Missouri State took the game’s initial possession and took a 3-0 lead on 26-yard Nathan Stokes field goal. The Bears went 71 yards on 14 plays, but the Penguins defense stiffened to allow just three points. MSU had a first down at the YSU nine-yard line, but could not get any closer.

    The Penguins answered with a five-plus minute drive of their own. Zetts completed three passes and Mason did the rest capping the 10-play, 71-yard march on a two-yard scoring run. After a missed point-after attempt by Brian Palmer, YSU led 6-3 with 3:56 left in the quarter.

    Perry’s 23-yard interception return to the Bears’ 33-yard line set up the Guins’ second score. YSU was not able to manage a first down after three plays, but Palmer came on to convert 44-yard field goal 7:55 left in the second for a 9-3 advantage.

    Missouri State grabbed a 10-9 lead when Michael Cooper scored on a one-yard run with just 30 seconds remaining. The Bears moved quickly covering 47 yards on six plays scoring just before the break.

    Youngstown State returns to action next Saturday against Indiana State (0-5 and 0-1) at Stambaugh Stadium. Kickoff for the contest versus the Sycamores is set for 4 p.m.