YSU trails North Dakota State 21-17 at halftime

The Youngstown State football team trails No. 1-ranked North Dakota State 21-17 at halftime of Saturday's Missouri Valley Football Conference game at the Fargodome.

Trailing 14-3, YSU made it 14-10 with 8:07 left in the second quarter on a 12-yard pass from Kurt Hess to Jelani Berassa, who broke open on a slant over the middle for the touchdown.

YSU's defense appeared to get its first stop of the game when safety Jeremey Edwards intercepted Brock Jensen in the end zone but YSU DL Josh Fenderon was flagged for roughing the passer. D.J. McNorton then scored on a 2-yard TD run on third down with just under two minutes left to make it 21-10.

The Penguins answered with 17 seconds left when Jordan Thompson took an option pitch 38 yards down the right sideline to the NDSU 1. Kurt Hess then fake the option pitch, keeping it himself for the last yard.