Brungard, Penguins dominate
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Columbiana County has four representatives on the Youngstown State cheerleading squad this season. They include (from left) Beaver Local’s Randalynn Moore, Beaver Local’s Jalynn Moore, United’s Rachael Rhodes and Lisbon’s Adyson Andric. (Photo by John Butera)
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State scored on its first five possessions and rolled past Mercyhurst 43-10 Thursday night at Stambaugh Stadium in the season opener for both teams.
The Penguins piled up 484 yards of offense, including 252 rushing, while limiting the Lakers to 241 yards. After allowing 63 yards on Mercyhurst’s opening drive, YSU’s defense surrendered just 178 yards over the final 55 minutes and recorded two interceptions.
Reigning Walter Payton Award winner Beau Brungard led the Penguins on both sides of the offense, completing 20 of 29 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 119 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. It marked the 11th time in his career he has rushed and passed for at least 100 yards in the same game.
Jaden Gilbert rushed for 89 yards and a touchdown on five carries and added three receptions for 31 yards and a touchdown. Lynn Wyche-El caught six passes for 41 yards and a touchdown, while Bryan Hunt had four receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown.
Carsten Marshall led YSU with seven tackles. Cam Smith added five tackles, while Darvens Tunis and Roderick Owens Jr. had interceptions.
Mercyhurst took a 3-0 lead on Rocco Marcantonio’s 24-yard field goal, capping an 11-play, 63-yard opening drive that reached the YSU 2.
The lead lasted less than six minutes. Brungard capped a 12-play, 72-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run to put the Penguins ahead 7-3.
Gilbert then broke a 50-yard run on the first play of YSU’s next possession. Four plays later, Brungard connected with Wyche-El on a 12-yard touchdown pass. The Penguins added a successful 2-point conversion for a 15-3 lead.
Gilbert’s 24-yard touchdown run extended the lead to 22-3 with 5:13 left in the half, and Brungard added a 9-yard touchdown run with 23 seconds remaining to make it 29-3 at halftime.
YSU continued its offensive surge after halftime. Brungard completed 5 of 6 passes for 49 yards on an 11-play, 77-yard drive that ended with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Hunt, giving the Penguins a 36-3 lead.
Brungard later threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Gilbert with 9:52 remaining in the game.
Mercyhurst’s Alex Gevaudan threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Shalik Hampton with 1:50 remaining.
Youngstown State travels to Kentucky on Sept. 5 for a 1 p.m. game against the Wildcats in Lexington. The game will air on SEC Network Plus.