Youngstown State takes advantage of 4 Southern Illinois mistakes in 31-28 victory
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Kurt Hess threw three touchdown passes and Youngstown State took advantage of four turnovers to beat Southern Illinois 31-28 Saturday.
Hess threw two touchdown passes to Kevin Watts and one to Carson Sharbaugh in a 21-point second quarter as Youngstown State (3-1, 1-0 Missouri Valley Conference) came back. Southern Illinois (1-3, 0-1) had taken a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a 38-yard blocked punt return by Taylon Hunter and John Goode's 8-yard touchdown pass from Chris Dieker.
The Penguins led 31-14 with 8:56 left before the Salukis scored twice. After Dieker's 37-yard touchdown pass to Joe Allaria made it 31-28, an onside kick went out of bounds, and the Penguins ran out the clock.
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Dieker completed 24 of 42 passes for 258 yards but was intercepted twice. The Salukis also lost two fumbles. All four mistakes led to Penguins touchdowns.