Towson, Md. – Andrew Lastovka kicked two field goals in the final two minutes as the No. 24 Youngstown State football team overcame an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Towson 31-28 on Saturday night at Johnny Unitas Stadium.
YSU (3-1) trailed 28-17 before scoring the game's final 14 points to nip the Tigers (2-2).
Behind by 11 after Towson scored with 12:09 left in regulation, the Guins countered with a must-have 11-play, 75-yard march that QB Beau Brungard capped off with a two-yard score at the 6:21 mark. On the two-point try, Brungard found Max Tomczak to get the Penguins within a field goal.
The defense forced a quick three-and-out and after a YSU nine-play march stalled at the Tiger 30-yard line, Lastovka tied the score with a 48-yard field goal with 1:37 left in the contest.
Towson took over at its 25-yard line but five plays netted no yards, but elapsed a minute off the clock. On 3rd-and-10, Connor Johannesen and Collin Vaughn sacked Andrew Indorf to get the ball back for YSU. The Guins took over at their 36-yard line with 37 seconds left, needing just a field goal for the come-from-behind win.
Brungard found Mike Solomon caught a four-yard pass, Tomczak helped YSU pick up a first down on 3rd-and-6 and move the ball into Tiger territory. After a spike to kill the clock, Brungard found RK Dandridge for a 25-yard pick up to the Towson 28-yard line and YSU called it's final timeout with three seconds left.
Lastovka calmly drilled a 42-yard kick as time expired to set off the celebration.
For the game, Brungard completed 24-of-41 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown. He added 100 yards on 18 carries and two scores. Tomczak caught seven passes for 116 yards to highlight the effort by the receivers. Ky Wilson had a monster night on kickoff returns with 142 yards, including a long of 76 yards that helped YSU tie the game on the first drive of the second half.
YSU jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter as Brungard scored on a one-yard rush capping off an 11-play, 80-yard drive that came following a missed field goal that doinked off the left upright.
Towson scored the next two touchdowns, both in the second quarter, to take a 14-7 advantage into the locker room.
On the first drive of the second half, YSU started at the Towson 23-yard line following the big return by Wilson. The Guins cashed in on fourth-and-goal from the two-yard line when Brungard found Alex McDonald for his first career score.
The Tigers took the lead right back at 21-14 before Lastovka's first field goal of the game was good from 27 yards late in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth, Towson took its biggest lead of the contest before the Guins rallied for the victory.
The Penguins have a bye next Saturday before returning home to start MVFC play against South Dakota State on Oct. 4. Kickoff for the contest at Stambaugh Stadium is set for 6 p.m.
