Normal, Ill. – The Youngstown State football team used three fourth-quarter touchdowns to overcome a nine-point deficit and stun ninth-ranked Illinois State, 40-35, on Homecoming at Hancock Stadium.
YSU (4-3 and 1-2 in the MVFC) trailed 28-19 entering the fourth quarter before Beau Brungard rushed for two scores and threw for another to beat the Redbirds (4-3, 1-2).
Brungard had a Master Class performance rushing for 200 yards on 30 carries (both career highs) while throwing for 328 yards by completing 23-of-34 passes and two scores.
The Penguins took a 6-0 lead in the first quarter on two Andrew Lastovka field goals. Lastovka made kicks from 32 yards and 23 yards in the opening frame as YSU dominated early after the game was moved up two hours.
YSU went in front 12-0 at the 8:49 mark of the second quarter when Brungard powered in from two yards out on fourth and goal to cap an impressive 13-play, 92-yard march that took 7:27 off the clock. YSU went for two to make it a two-touchdown cushion, but Fresh Walters was
Just over two minutes later, Redbird QB Tommy Rittenhouse connected with Javon Charles for a 13-yard scoring toss. To end the half, the Redbirds took advantage of a YSU giveaway to grab a two-point lead. Following an interception of Brungard, ISU moved 47 yards in just 18 seconds to go on top for the first time in the contest.
Rittenhouse's second touchdown toss of the game when to Wenkers Wright from 12 yards out with just 31 seconds left in the half.
YSU dominated the first quarter with 100 yards on 20 plays while limiting the Redbirds to just nine total yards on eight snaps. On ISU's second play from scrimmage, DB Dyane Hogde, an Illinois native, intercepted a Rittenhouse pass to set up a Lastovka field goal.
In the first half, YSU had 240 yards of total offense to ISU's 125. The Penguins rushed for 125 yards while throwing for 115.
The lead grew to 21-12 just 17 seconds into the second half. On the opening kickoff, Wright returned it 53 yards to the YSU 37-yard line. The opening play from scrimmage saw Rittenhouse find a wide-open Eddie Kasper for a 37-yard scoring toss.
YSU answered back when Brungard connected on a 36-yard touchdown toss to creep within two points. It was the second straight game that Solomon recorded a scoring reception.
Late in the third the Redbirds answered with another Rittenhouse scoring throw. This time he found Luke Mailander for an 18-yard touchdown to make the contest a 28-19 decision.
YSU again crept back to within two points when Brungard scored on a one-yard run with 11:52 remaining in the contest. It was the second score of the contest and 30th of his career for the junior signal caller. DJ Harris had an impressive interception of a Rittenhouse pass at the YSU two and returned it 19 yards to give the Guins possession.
Five plays after the interception, Brungard found Fresh Walters on a deep throw for a 56-yard score as the Guins jumped in front 33-28 with 8:06 left in the game. Following a three-and-out, highlighted by a sack by Ebony Curry Jr., the Penguins tacked on another score. Brungard added his third touchdown run of the game when he found room on the right side and scored from 48 yards to push the lead to 40-28 with 5:51 left.
After Illinois State scored with 3:12 left to pull within five, YSU ran out the clock to secure the much-needed win.
The Penguins return home to face Murray State next Saturday at Stambaugh Stadium. Kickoff for the Homecoming game is set for 2 p.m.
