Youngstown State's defense recorded three interceptions and eight break-ups while Jaleel McLaughlin rushed for more than 200 yards as the Penguins defeated Duquesne, 31-14, in the 2022 season opener at Stambaugh Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
McLaughlin highlighted the Penguins' offense with 203 rushing yards on 20 attempts, netting three touchdowns. On the receiving end, Bryce Oliver caught six Demeatric Crenshaw passes for 58 yards.
Sophomore linebacker Devin Johnson picked off the first two interceptions of his career, and senior Quincy Lenton led the Penguins with eight tackles, including one-for-loss. Griffin Hoak also secured an interception for YSU and had three tackles on the day.
For Duquesne, quarterback Joe Mischler threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns. Receiver Abdul Janneh had two touchdowns on the day and 121 receiving yards.
Duquesne came out quick to start the game, scoring a 45-yard passing touchdown within the first two minutes of play. YSU answered with a touchdown of its own when McLaughlin ran three yards across the goal tying the game 7-7 with 8:18 left in the first quarter.
On Duquesne's next drive, Hoak intercepted Mischler and set up the Penguins' offense at midfield. YSU came up short on a fourth-and-seven attempt on that drive, but the YSU defense forced the Dukes to punt on their next possession.
The Penguins tried to take the lead with 8:41 to play in the half on a 45-yard Colt McFadden field goal that had the distance but was wide left.
After Johnson's first interception, the Penguins were set up in Duquesne territory. The offense came alive as McLaughlin, in true-McLaughlin fashion, hurdled over a defender to get into the endzone for a 13-yard touchdown which lifted the Penguins to a 14-7 lead with 6:43 left to play in the first half.
After a missed field goal by the Dukes, the Penguins got another shot to score before halftime with 1:27 on the clock and at their own 20. McLaughlin broke a 43-yarder to the Dukes' 21 yardline with 18 seconds before the half. The Penguins took a few shots at the endzone before settling for a 39-yard McFadden field goal to take a 17-7 into halftime.
The Penguins went three-and-out to open the second half, and on Duquesne's following possession, Mischler connected with Janneh in the endzone for a 16-yard touchdown cutting the Penguins' lead to just three, 17-14, with 9:35 remaining in the third quarter.
On the following possession, Crenshaw connected with receiver Max Tomczak for a 41-yard gain, the longest catch for the Penguins on the day. The Penguins tried for a field goal on that drive but muffed the snap giving Duquesne possession at its own 34-yard line.
With 12:43 left in the game, Johnson picked off Mischler for the second time giving YSU possession at the Duquesne 41-yard line.
On the ensuing drive, McLaughlin ran the ball to get the Penguins into the red zone before Crenshaw capitalized on the short-field position with a 2-yard touchdown run to get the Penguins on the board for the first time in the second half with 9:58 left to play, increasing YSU's lead to 24-14.
Late in the fourth quarter, McLaughlin broke loose on a 54-yard touchdown scamper to put the Penguins up 31-14 with 4:48 left to play.
Youngstown State hosts Dayton, Saturday, September 10, at Stambaugh Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
