YSU defeats Western Illinois

MACOMB, ILL. — Zak Kennedy’s third field goal of the game lifted Youngstown State to a 23-21 win over Western Illinois on Saturday in a matchup of FCS-ranked teams.

Kennedy’s 30-yarder came with 2:07 left in the third quarter. The Cardinal Mooney High School graduate also had field goals of 46 and 40 yards. His final kick came on the end of a 62-yard drive that followed Nikko Watson’s 2-yard touchdown run that had given the Fighting Leathernecks a 21-20 lead.

The Leathernecks (4-4, 3-2 Missouri Valley) struggled against the nation’s second-best passing defense with Trenton Norvell completing only 8 of 29 passes for 154 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He was sacked four times. Watson had two touchdown runs.

Hunter Wells was 16 of 26 for 152 yards and an interception for the Penguins (4-4, 2-3). Ricky Davis completed both of his passes, including a 48-yard score to Andre Stubbs for game’s first score. Stubbs finished with 129 yards on six receptions.