Youngstown, Ohio --Â An electric, four-touchdown third-quarter led the Youngstown State football program past Valparaiso, 52-10, in the Penguins' season-opener at Stambaugh Stadium Thursday evening.
YSU's 28 third-quarter points matched the Penguins' record for most points scored in the third quarter of a game. This impressive quarter was fueled by three fumble recoveries that set up scoring drives.
Running back Tyshon King led the Penguins on the ground rushing for 111 yards on 11 carries and finding the endzone twice.
Senior quarterback Mitch Davidson delivered a touchdown both in the air and on the ground and  completed 11-for-19 passes with 130 passing yards.
Senior wide receiver Bryce Oliver led YSU with 65 receiving yards on five catches while C.J. Charleston delivered a touchdown and had 47 receiving yards on four catches.
Linebacker Alex Howard led the Penguins defensively, making nine tackles including three-for-loss. Howard also made an impressive two sacks on the evening. Greg Benton Jr. also delivered a sack and made six tackles.
For the Beacons, running back Ryan Mann rushed for 40 yards and a touchdown while quarterback Mikey Appel passed for 155 yards in the game.
The third-quarter began for the Penguins when Michael Voitus blocked a Valpo punt. Jaylen Castleberry recovered the ball at the Valparaiso seven-yard line and sprinted into the endzone. Castleberry's score, which gave the Penguins a 24-10 lead, was the first blocked punt returned for a touchdown since 2007.
The first of three third-quarter fumble recoveries came when Devin Johnson came away with the ball to set up a scoring drive for YSU that culminated with a Davidson one-yard rushing touchdown to extend the Penguins' lead to 31-10.
The second came when the Beacons muffed a punt and Preston Zandier recovered the fumble at Valpo's seven-yard line. King picked up his second-rushing touchdown of the game on the possession when he rushed for a one-yard score with 5:56 remaining in the quarter to make YSU's lead 38-10.
Deamontae Diggs delivered a strip-sack on Appel before Dylan Wudke recovered the ball at YSU's 43-yard line to set up another scoring possession for the Penguins. On the first play of the drive, Da'Shaun Whatley let loose and sprinted 54 yards down the field to bring the Penguins lead to 45-10 headed into the final quarter of play.
The Penguins held the Beacons scoreless through the second half and added an additional touchdown in the fourth quarter to make the final score 52-10. The final YSU touchdown of the evening came when quarterback Beau Brungard darted right to pick up the five-yard score.
The Penguins delivered the first score of the game when King sprinted down the field for a 62-yard touchdown to set up an early 7-0 lead at the 10:03 minute of the first quarter.
After Valpo and YSU exchanged possessions, the Beacons capitalized on a short field with a field goal with 12:58 remaining in the first half to make the score 7-3.
YSU answered with a strong, 80-yard drive that culminated with a 17-yard touchdown when Charleston spun into the endzone to make the score 14-3 at the 8:50 mark of the second quarter.
The Penguins increased their lead to 14 with a successful field goal during a possession highlighted by a 31-yard connection from Davidson to Oliver.
With 35 seconds remaining in the half, Valpo cut the Penguins lead to a touchdown, 17-10, when Appel connected with Davis for a long, 53-yard gain that set up a 2-yard rushing touchdown by Mann.
The Penguins will travel to face Ohio State on Saturday, September 9 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Kickoff against the Buckeyes is set for noon on Big Ten Network.
