Columbus, Ohio -- The Youngstown State football team lost its first season opener since 1995 after dropping a 38-6 decision to 11th-ranked Ohio State in front of 105,038 at Ohio Stadium. It is the largest crowd to see Youngstown State play and the 18th largest at Ohio Stadium.

    Senior Tom Zetts completed 10-of-18 passes for 86 yards in three quarters, and Jabari Scott led the Penguins with 26 yards rushing.

    Senior Louis Irizarry led the Penguins with four receptions for 19 yards.

    Defensively for the Penguins limited the powerful Buckeye rushing attack to 147 yards but allowed 270 yards through the air. Sophomore linebacker Rashon Simons posted a team-high 12 tackles while senior Vince Gliatta added nine tackles with a sack and forced fumble.

   After the Penguins went three-and-out on the game's first possession, the Buckeyes drove 70 yards on nine plays to take a 7-0 lead on Todd Boeckman's three-yard touchdown pass to Dane Sanzenbacher with 9:36 left in the first quarter. On the second play from scrimmage, Boeckman hit Brian Robiskie for a 41-yard gain and then connected with Robiskie on a seven-yard pass to the YSU six.

    A partially-blocked punt by Ohio State's Tyler Moeller set up the Buckeyes second touchdown - a one-yard run by Chris Wells - on the first play of the second quarter.

    Trailing 14-0 in the second quarter, the Penguins got on the scoreboard after a Brian Palmer 21-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 14-3. The Penguins drove 81 yards in nine plays and had first-and-goal on the Ohio State four-yard line but stalled and had to settle for the field goal.   

    Ohio State went ahead, 21-3, on Brandon Saine's one-yard dive with under a minute left in the second quarter. The Buckeyes responded to YSU's field goal by driving 75 yards on 10 plays.

    Midway through the third quarter, Gliatta sacked and forced a fumble by Boeckman and freshman Jon Penick recovered at the Ohio State 27. Three plays later, Stephan Blose converted his first career field goal - a 42-yarder - to bring the score to 24-6 with 6:44 remaining in the third.

    The Buckeyes added two more fourth quarter touchdowns to take a 38-6 lead midway through the stanza.

    Youngstown State hosts South Dakota State, Saturday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. in the 2007 home opener at Stambaugh Stadium.