Box Score
Fargo, N.D. - The Youngstown State football team opened spring play with a 25-7 defeat to No. 1 North Dakota State on Sunday afternoon at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.
The contest was the first game as head coach for Doug Phillips who took over the program in February 2020 before finally getting to coach his first game in February 2021.
The Penguins (0-1) trailed by just 11 points entering the fourth quarter against the top-ranked Bison (2-0). A second touchdown by Jalen Bussey with 7:10 remaining put NDSU up 25-7 and the Guins could get no closer.
Quarterback Mark Waid guided YSU's lone touchdown drive of the contest. Waid marched the Penguins 75 yards on 15 plays and capped the drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jake Coates. It was the first touchdown pass of Waid's career and first touchdown reception of Coates' career. For the game, Waid was 4-of-11 for 45 yards and a touchdown. Joe Craycraft was 8-of-11 for 75 yards.
The first half saw both defenses flex some muscle as YSU trailed 11-0 at the break.
The Penguins were held to one first down and 41 total offensive yards in the first half. Poor field possession plagued the Guins and YSU attempted just four passes.
NDSU jumped out an 8-0 lead with 4:20 left in the first on a 15-yard run by Kobe Johnson. The only scoring of the second quarter was a 28-yard field goal by Jake Reinholz with 9:05 remaining in the period.
The YSU defense held the Bison to just 140 yards in the opening half, 53 of which came through the air.
Bussey opened the scoring in the second half on a 22-yard scoring run with 8:29 left in the third quarter to give the Bison an 18-0 lead. However, the Guins answered as Waid moved the Penguins down for a score on a drive that took 8:11 off the clock.
For the game, YSU had 171 yards of total offense, 120 of which came through the air. NDSU finished with 317 yards in the contest, including 243 on the ground. Defensively, Grant Dixon and Griffin Hoak each had eight tackles. James Jackson finished with six stops while Vinny Gentile was credited with five.
The Penguins play their spring home opener on Saturday when they play host to UNI (0-1). Kickoff at Stambaugh Stadium is set for Noon.
