Youngstown State preparing to take on Illinois State this Saturday on Homecoming
The Youngstown State University football team hosts Illinois State on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff for the Homecoming contest at Stambaugh Stadium is set for 2 p.m. Eastern Time. The game is available on ESPN+, WKBN 570 AM and iHeartRadio.
The Penguins (3-3 overall, 1-2 in MVFC) suffered another tough road setback falling 34-31 at South Dakota last Saturday at the DakotaDome. YSU overcame a 31-10 deficit to force a tie late. However on the final play of the game South Dakota kicked a field goal for the win. YSU’s last three conference road losses have all come by three points.
YSU and South Dakota traded field goals in the first quarter before the Coyotes built a 17-3 halftime lead behind two touchdowns of more than 30 yards. On its first drive of the second half, USD pushed its lead out to 24-3 with 9:20 left in the third quarter.
The Guins offense awoke when QB Mitch Davidson hit WR Joey Farthing on a 65-yard touchdown pass. However, the Coyotes answered back two plays later on a 56-yard pass from Aidan Bouman to Carter Bell.
Following that TD, the Guins scored 21 straight points to pull even. Davidson connected with Max Tomczak on a 65-yard score in the third. In the fourth, Dra Rushton scored on a one-yard plunge and Davidson found Bryce Oliver for a six-yard touchdown tying the contest with 5:48 left.
With just three seconds remaining, USD’s Will Leyland came on and kicked a 41-yard field goal on the last play for the win.
What we know about Illinois State
Illinois State (4-2, 2-1) drilled Indiana State 44-7 last Saturday at Hancock Stadium. After the Sycamores took a 7-0 lead on a pick-six, the Redbirds finished the game scoring the last 44 points. QB Zack Annexstad passed for four touchdowns and rushed for a team-high 79 yards in the game.
The Illinois State defense held Indiana State to just 168 yards of total offense and 11 first downs on the afternoon.
YSU has won the past two meetings to pull even in the all-time series. Each program has won 15 games in a series that dates back to 1979.
Last year, the Guins rallied for a 19-17 win when Davidson connected with Oliver for a touchdown pass with five seconds left on windy and chilly November afternoon in Normal, Ill.
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This story was originally published October 20, 2023 at 12:05 PM.