Brungard passing YSU’s records

YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard always does something amazing.

Brungard has been named The Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of The Week and the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week after a record-setting 70-13 win over Duquesne at Stambaugh Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 

Brungard set school records with six touchdown passes -- all in the first half -- and eight touchdowns total. He was 20-of-23 passing for 290 yards and ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries while only playing one series in the second half.

He wass the 2025 Walter Payton Award winner as the top offensive player in the FCS and is well on his way to repeating.

Brungard and the YSU offense piled up 603 yards of total offense, inlcluding 407 yards passing a school-record seven touchdown passes.

"The whole crux of why I came back was to win a championship for this city, for this team and that's what the Lord's called me to do," Brungard said. "These individual things are cool. But I have players around me who help me do this. My whole purpose here is to win a championship. So a win's a win, and whatever comes with it. But I'm here to win as a team."

Former East Liverpool High School All-Ohioan Mason Ludwig played a big part in Saturday’s win. He got his first collegiate start filling in for left tackle Desmeal Leigh, who did not play as precautionary measure due to a minor injury.

In three games this season, Brungard has 10 touchdowns passing and four rushing.

He has completed 63-of-87 passes (72.4%) for 765 yards with one interception and is the leading rusher with 259 yards on 47 carries (5.5).

Youngstown State (2-1) will need another big game from Brungard this weekend as the Penguins play at South Dakota State on Saturday night. The Penguins have won only four of 22 games in the series.