Fargo, N.D. – The Youngstown State football team dropped a tough 38-30 decision to top-ranked North Dakota State on Saturday afternoon at the Fargodome.
The Penguins (5-4 overall and 2-3 in the MVFC) and Bison (9-0 and 6-0) combined for 68 points in the high-scoring affair that came down to the final possession.
QB Beau Brungard stepped up against one of the top defenses in the FCS on Saturday. Brungard accounted for three touchdowns, running for two and passing for another. In the game, he had 15 carries for 50 yards while completing 19-of-30 passes for 203 yards. PK Andrew Lastokva made three field goals in the contest, all longer than 40 yards.
At halftime, YSU trailed by eight. On its first possession of the second half, the Penguins kicked a 42-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 28-23. NDSU scored on its next drive to take a 35-23 lead with 6:22 remaining in the third quarter.
Earlier in the fourth quarter, YSU took advantage of a Preston Zandier interception to stay in the ballgame. With 13:54 left in the game, Brungard scored on a two-yard run to make it a 35-30 contest.
With 6:20 left, the Bison kicked a short 21-yard field goal to make the contest 38-30.
YSU took over at its 20-yard line with 1:03 remaining in the game with one final opportunity, however a turnover on the first play sealed the Bison victory.
The first half featured a wide range of momentum swings.
YSU forced a three-and-out to open the contest and then moved inside the NDSU 10 on the ensuing drive. But a penalty moved the ball back to the 29-yard line and Lastovka booted a 47-yard field goal to give the Guins a 3-0 advantage.
Late in a fast-moving first quarter, NDSU took its first lead of the contest at 7-3 when Barika Kpeenu scored on a one-yard plunge.
While the first quarter took 30 minutes in real time to play, the second quarter was twice as long.
At the NDSU, 10-yard line, Brungard couldn't find an open receiver, but found some daylight along the nearside to give the Guins a 10-7 lead at the 10:43 mark.
YSU was backed up following a punt and a deflected Brungard pass was intercepted at the Penguins' 19-yard line by Donovan Woolen. Four plays later, DJ Scott scored from three yards out and the Bison went back in front 14-10.
On the ensuing kickoff, Wilson fumbled at the goal line and NDSU was able to recover at the YSU nine-yard line. Two plays later, Kpeenu scored on a four-yard rush giving the Bison 14 points in 45 seconds and 21-10 lead.
The Penguins offense had another impressive drive capped off when Brungard found a wide open Alex McDonald for a 16-yard score with 1:49 left.
However, on the ensuing kickoff Jackson Williams fielded the ball in the end zone on the near side, cut to the far side and after breaking a tackle went 100 yards for a touchdown and a 28-17 lead with 1:32 left in the opening half.
YSU was able to march into field goal position thanks to a 39-yard run by Jaden Gilbert on third-and-11. With eight seconds left in a wild first half, Lastokva calmly drilled a 49-yarder to make the score 28-20 at the intermission.
In the first half, the Penguins had 220 yards of total offense (116 passing and 104 rushing) while the Bison were limited to 120 (46 rush and 74 pass).
The Guins return home to play Southern Illinois next Saturday at Stambaugh Stadium. Kickoff for the contest is set for 2 p.m.
