Defense Keys 47-28 Win Over No. 8/12 South Dakota

Saturday, September 26

Youngstown, Ohio

2 p.m.

Youngstown State University

3-2 , 1-1

South Dakota

3-2 , 0-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
South Dakota	7	7	7	7	28
Youngstown St.	7	16	3	21	47

Cam Smith celebrates an interception against South Dakota

Defense Keys 47-28 Win Over No. 8/12 South Dakota

9/26/2026 5:35:00 PM | Football

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Youngstown, Ohio – The Youngstown State defense forced three turnovers that led to 17 points, and the offense posted 502 total yards as the No. 11 Penguins knocked No. 8/12 South Dakota, 47-28, on Saturday afternoon at Stambaugh Stadium.

Youngstown State improves to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference while the Coyotes fall to 3-2 overall and 0-1 in the MVFC.

Youngstown State's defense recorded a pair of interceptions, recovered a fumble, posted two sacks and allowed just 332 yards in total offense. Graydon Rollins led the Penguins with a career-high 17 tackles while Cam Smith had five tackles and an interception.

The Penguins rushed for 343 yards led by Beau Brungard's 170 yards and three touchdowns while Jaden Gilbert had 65 yards on 11 carries and Lynn Wyche-El tallied 62 yards and two scores.

Brungard also completed 13-of-17 passing attempts for 159 yards and threw a touchdown pass to Alex McDonald.

The Penguins scored 24 straight second-half points to turn a tightly-contested two-point edge into a 26-point insurmountable lead.

Leading 23-21 after the Coyotes scored on the opening drive of the second half, the Penguins capitalized on an interception by Darvens Tunis with a 21-yard field goal by Andrew Lastovka to extend the lead to 26-21.

Following a USD punt that pinned the Penguins back at their own six, Youngstown State marched 94 yards in eight plays to extend the lead back to double digits, 33-21, with 11:54 to go in the game.

Gilbert closed out the third quarter with an 18-yard run, and Brungard ran for 12, hit Wyche-El for 18, and ran for another 12 to get to the USD 32.

Brungard connected with Fresh Walters for a 28-yard reception to the USD four and hit Alex McDonald for a four-yard touchdown pass for a 33-21 lead with 11:58 left in the game.

Cam Smith recorded his first YSU interception and set up the offense at the USD 41 yard line.

Six plays later, Brungard scampered in from nine yards out to give the Penguins a 40-21 advantage with 5:55 remaining.

The defense forced its third turnover of the game on Jordan Pritchard-Sewell's strip-sack Austyn Modrzewski that set the Penguins up at the USD five. After a loss of two, Brungard scampered in from seven yards out for his third rushing touchdown of the game.

The Penguins won the toss and accepted to receive the kickoff. An 18-yard rush by Brungard and a 33-yard scamper by Gardner set a up a 10-yard scoring run by Wyche-El to cap seven-play, 75 yard drive to give the Penguins a 7-0 lead with 12:08 left in the opening quarter.

On first-and-goal from the 10, Wyche-El was strung out to the left sideline but escaped two South Dakota defenders and sprinted into the endzone for the game's first score.

South Dakota answered with a score on its opening drive, going 64 yards in nine plays capped by a seven-yard touchdown run by Jackson Proctor at the 7:20 mark of the first quarter.

The Penguins were forced to punt on their next possession, but punter Evan Anderson's 40-yard punt pinned the Coyotes back at their own one. Youngstown State's defense forced a three-and-out and the offense took over at its own 48.

Brungard rushed for 48 yards on seven carries and capped the 52-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown rush to put the Penguins up 14-7 at the 13:54 mark of the second quarter.

After the defense forced another punt, Wyche-El scored his second rushing touchdown of the game on a 41-yard jaunt on fourth-and-1 from the South Dakota 41. The score capped an eight-play, 85-yard drive for a 20-7 lead with 7:43 to go before halftime. The extra point attempt was no good

The Yotes trimmed the Youngstown State lead down to six, 20-14, with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Modrzewski to Tysen Boze, but the Penguins answered with a 23-yard field goal from Lastovka to take a 23-14 lead into the lockerroom.

The Penguins ran for 237 yards in the first half, led by Brungard's 104 yards while Wyche-El had 56, Gilbert rushed for 39 and Gardner had 38. The Penguins outgained the Coyotes, 322-157, in the first 30 minutes.

The Coyotes made it a one-score game, 23-21, after taking the opening possession of the second half 71 yards in 10 plays and capped by a 22 yard touchdown run by Jackson Proctor at the 8:43 mark of the third quarter.

Youngstown State visits Southern Illinois, Saturday, Oct. 3. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Ill.