Youngstown State University
Duquesne
Penguins Return Home for a Matchup Against Duquesne
9/8/2026 1:00:00 PM | Football
Youngstown State vs. Duquesne
Sept. 9, 2026 | Stambaugh Stadium
Youngstown, Ohio | 2 p.m.
Broadcast Information
TV – ESPN+ (Drae Smith, Chris Sammarone)
Radio Network – 570 AM WKBN (Bob Hannon, Steve Leslie, Tony Perorazio, Mike Orto)
Internet Radio – 570wbkn.iheart.com
App Audio - iHeartRadio App
Penguins
2026 Record: 1-1
Last Game: Kentucky 45, YSU 13
Head Coach: Doug Phillips (Seventh Season)
X: @ysufootball
Dukes
2026 Record: 0-1
Last Game: Air Force 34, Dukes 0
Head Coach: Jerry Schmitt (22nd Season)
X: @DuqFB
Series History
All-Time Series: YSU leads 6-1
Last Meeting: DUQ 28-25 (2024)
In Youngstown: 6-1
| Opponent | Date | Location | Video | Audio | Live Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Saturday Sept. 12 | 2 PM |
Stambaugh Stadium Youngstown, Ohio |
ESPN+ | 570 WKBN | Live Stats |
No. 10 Youngstown State entertains Duquesne on Saturday afternoon at Stambaugh Stadium. Kickoff for the contest against the Dukes is set for 2 p.m. The game is available on ESPN+, WKBN 570 AM and iHeart Radio.
• YSU (1-1) suffered a 45-13 setback to Kentucky out of the SEC last Saturday in Lexington at Kroger Field. The Wildcats jumped out to a 28-0 second quarter lead before the Penguins held tough for remainder of the contest. Scoring touchdowns for the Guins were Jaden Gilbert and Lynn Wyche-El.
• UK took a 14-0 first-quarter lead and increased it to 28-0 advantage in the second quarter. Just before halftime, Beau Brungard connected with Wyche-El on a six-yard scoring toss to make it a 28-6 game at the intermission. After the Wildcats went on top 35-7, Gilbert scored on a nine-yard run to make it a 35-13 ballgame. Kentucky added 10 points in the fourth quarter for the final margin. • Brungard completed 23-of-35 passes for 243 yards and a score. It marked the 17th time in his career that he has thrown for more than 200 yards in a contest. For his career, he has 2,743 yards rushing on 462 attempts and scored 48 touchdowns. Throw the air, Brungard is 543-of-801 (67.8 percent) for 5,958 yards and 42 scores.
• Gilbert and Wyche-El have both scored touchdowns in each of the first two games this season. Gilbert has two rushing and one receiving score while Wyche-El has hauled in TD passes in each of the first two games.
• Defensively against the Wildcats, LBs Danny Inglis and Graydon Rollins each were credited with six stops to lead the unit.
• Duquesne (0-1) opened the season with a 34-0 loss at Air Force last Saturday. The Falcons dominated in time of possession holding onto the football for more than 40 minutes while rushing for 431 yards. With limited offensive opportunities, the Dukes were held to 107 yards of total offense.
• The Dukes won the most recent meeting in the all-time series, 28-25, in 2024. The Penguins built a 17-7 first half lead, however, Duquesne scored 21 unanswered points to go ahead 28-17. YSU scored late to get within a field goal, but the Dukes ran out the clock for the win.
• The Guins open MVFC play next Saturday, 9/19 with a trip to South Dakota State. The contest in Brookings, S.D., is set for 6 p.m. Central/7 p.m. Eastern time at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.
First Time Starters
Through two games, YSU has had 12 different players make their first career start. Against Mercyhurst starting for the initial time were: Jeremiah Sanders, Bryan Hunt, Cam Smith, Jordan Pritchard-Sewell, Raleigh Collins III, Dev Holman, Maximillian Johnson and Evan Anderson. At Kentucky, those Penguins making their first career starts included Darvens Tunis, Roderick Owens Jr., Lynn Wyche-El and Lachlan Amore. Of the 12 first-time starters, seven are on defense, three are on offense and two are on special teams.
Gilbert Key Dual Threat
After a standout 2025 campaign, TB Jaden Gilbert continues to be one of Guins' key offensive weapons in 2026. The Honorable-Mention All-MVFC selection was a force both on the ground and through the air, appearing in all 13 games while making 12. He finished last season with 665 rushing yards on 95 carries, finding the end zone three times. He started the 2026 season off with five carries for 89 yards and a touchdown, while having a long run of 50 yards vs. Mercyhurst. He caught two passes for 31 yards and touchdown as well. At Kentucky, he scored on a nine-yard touchdown run. He caught five passes and had five rushing attempts vs. the Wildcats.
Wells Highly-Touted
Defensive end Michael Wells is in his fifth year with the Guins. Wells is coming off an explosive 2025 season playing in all 13 games with 10 starts. He was credited with 50 total tackles – 25 solos - 25 assists. He had 15 TFLs, highlighted by an impressive 10.5 sacks with 11 QB hurries, four pass breakups, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. He is on the watch list for the 2026 Buck Buchanan award; he is the first defensive player to be on the list for Youngstown State since Derek Rivers in 2016. At Kentucky, he had three tackles and a pass breakup. In the opener against Mercyhurst he had four tackles, highlighted by 2.5 TFLs and one quarterback hurry.
Brungard's Offensive Return
QB Beau Brungard is off to strong start to the 2026 season. After two games, Brungard has thrown for 475 yards, completing 43-of-64 passes for 475 yards and four touchdowns. On the ground, he has 148 yards on 33 carries and a pair of touchdowns. In the season-opening win over Mercyhurst, Brungard accounted for five touchdowns. He completed 20-of-29 passes for 232 yards with three touchdowns passes. He also rushed for 119 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns runs. It marked the 11th time Brungard rushed and passed for at least 100 yards in the same game. At Kentucky, he threw for 243 yards on 23 completions with a TD pass.
Receivers Showing Their Stuff
After two games, the Penguins are relying on new faces in the pass game. Four of the top seven pass catchers were not with the program in 2025. Leading the way has been play maker Lynn Wyche-El. Through two games, Wyche-El has caught 13 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns. He had a TD reception in each of the first two games. WR Bryan Hunt has five catches after two games, while Lorenzo Jenkins and Dorian Williams each have caught three balls. TB Jaden Gilbert has five receptions, TB Antuan Gardner has three receptions while WR Jeremiah Sanders has three catches.
Lastovka Leads Specialists
Senior PK Andrew Lastovka is in his fourth season as a starter with the Guins. He has played in 40 games, making 44 field goals and 147 PATs. In 2025 he was 57-of-58 on PATs in 13 games. In MVFC games he was 10-of-13 on FG attempts and 35-of-36 on PATs. Lastovka's longest career field goal came from the 2024 season finale against UNI when he made a 51-yard field goal. His percentage is 75.9 for field goals made. He's made final-play game-winning kicks against Illinois State (2023) and Towson (2025) during his career.
PBUs on the Up Tick
The Penguins' defense has broken up 11 passes after eight quarters. In 2025, the Guins averaged 3.5 per contest. Through two games, YSU is averaging 5.5 PBUs a contest. Dev Holman leads the defense with three, Raleigh Collins III and Brandon Chambers Jr., have two apiece. In total, seven different players have a PBU.
LBs Bring Experience
LBs Carston Marshall and Graydon Rollins headline a deep linebacking group. After two games, Marshall leads the group and team with 12 total stops. Coming off an explosive year playing in all 13 games making 11 starts at linebacker, Marshall was credited with 71 total tackles – 30 solo and 41 assists. He had seven TFLs, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles, also had 1.5 sacks and a QB hurry. Rollins had an impressive '25 season, playing in all 13 games, starting six contests. He was credited with 38 total tackles (12 solos and 25 assists), had four TFLs and 2.5 sacks. Rollins has eight tackles on the season, including six last time against Kentucky. LB Danny Inglis had a breakout game against the Wildcats with six tackles.
Leigh on Senior Bowl List
OT Desmeal Leigh has been named to the Panini Senior Bowl Top 300 list. It marks the second straight year that the Penguins have a player named to the preseason list. Last year, WR Max Tomczak was a candidate to participate in the all-star game. Leigh is one of just two FCS players to appear on the list. He has started 39 straight games at left tackle for YSU during his career.
Top GPA In The MVFC
For the first time in program history the Penguins led the Missouri Valley Football Conference in GPA for an academic year. In 2025-26, the Guins' student-athletes accumulated a GPA of 3.36 to take the top spot. YSU beat out North Dakota State (3.31), South Dakota State (3.30) and North Dakota (3.28) in the league's annual rankings.
Yurcich and Offense Success
Since joining the Penguins coaching staff in 2025, OC Mike Yurcich has made a significant impact on the Guins' offense. Under Yurcich, YSU has recorded 11 games with 30 or more points, including seven games with 40-plus points. The top five scoring performances came against Robert Morris (56), Murray State (51), Southern Illinois (48), Indiana State (48), and most recently, Mercyhurst (43).
Lastovka Among Active leaders
YSU PK Andrew Lastovka ranks highly among FCS career leaders entering the contest against Duquesne. Lastovka has made the most (44) and attempted the most (58) field goals of any active FCS kicker during his 40-game career. He ranks second in the FCS in PAT attempts (150) and PATs made (146).
Brungard Shows Off Skills
QB Beau Brungard is set to make his 27th straight start at QB on Saturday. Against Mercyhurst he accounted for five touchdowns - three passing and two rushing. He also threw for more than 200 yards while rushing for over 100. He now has 48 rushing touchdowns in his YSU career. At Kentucky, Brungard threw for 243 yards, completing 23-of-35 passes. In 12 games in 2024, Brungard rushed for 998 yards on 159 carries and scored 16 times, passed for 2,141 yards and completed 209-of-314 passes for 12 touchdowns. He made a huge jump in 2025, leading the FCS with 4,702 total offensive yards while rushing for 1,468 yards and 27 touchdowns. He completed 277-of-403 passes for 3,234 yards with 26 TDs. He added another score on a 50-yard touchdown reception against Murray State.
O-Line Features Experience
YSU's offensive line returned four of five starters from last season's squad. This year's unit features six players with multiple-game starting experience. Desmeal Leigh has the most starting experience on the team with 40 starts. Shane Keenan has started 24 contests at both tackle and guard the past two years. Van Keen has started 18 contests at center and has a total of 22 career starts. Guard Isaac Perkins started 10 contests last year in his first year with the program and now has 12 starts at YSU. Prior to coming to Youngstown State, he started 15 games at Colgate. In 2025, Matthew Keeley made four starts at center while Nick Nielsen has started at tackle on six occasions. Both started the first two games this year.
O-Line Unit Also Has Depth
The offensive line from last year's campaign has mostly returned for another year. An impressive group of 15 Penguins were part of the program and have returned for the 2026 season. That group features: #70 Robert Hayes, #56 Naim Jackson, #64 Matthew Keeley, #67 Van Keen, #62 Shane Keenan, #55 Rex Lahr, #54 Clay Lawrence, #78 Desmeal Leigh, #72 Mason Ludwig, #71 Dallas McCracken, #76 Nick Nielsen, #66 Max Patterson, #63 Isaac Perkins, #74 Ethan Ray and #77 Najwan Smithwick.
2025 Brungard Awards
QB Beau Brungard is coming off an extraordinary record-breaking 2025 season. Not only was he the Walter Payton Award recipient, Brungard was the Walter Camp Foundation Player of the Year, FCS ADA Offensive Player of the Year, Unanimous first-team All-American: Walter Camp, FCS ADA, AFCA, Stats Perform, SI.com, Associated Press, Phil Steele. He was also the MVFC Offensive Player of the year. He led the FCS in total offensive yards (4,702), total points responsible for (326) and tied for first in total touchdowns (28) and total points (168).
Up Next:
The Penguins open Missouri Valley Football Conference play at South Dakota State next Saturday, 9/19. Kickoff for the contest at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium is set for 6 p.m. Central/7 p.m. Eastern time.
