By Zach Flesch / The Jambar
In the first home games of the 2025 season, Youngstown State University defended its 2-0 record against Mercyhurst University on Aug. 28, and Robert Morris University on Sept. 6 inside Stambaugh Stadium.
Over two games, junior Beau Brungard rushed for over 400 yards, threw for over 230 yards and recorded seven total touchdowns.
Against Mercyhurst, he rushed and passed for more than 100 yards, and the defense caused four turnovers to lead the ’Guins to a 24-15 win over the Lakers.
Senior Dathan Hickey led the Penguins with 13 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, while junior Carston Marshall and senior Dayne Hodge each tallied 10 total stops.
Sophomore Jaden Gilbert ran for 34 yards with a touchdown and caught five passes for 34 yards, while senior Max Tomczak led the Penguins in receiving with 43 yards.
The offense took the opening possession 69 yards in 12 plays, capped by a one-yard plunge by Gilbert to take a 7-0 lead at the 9:24 mark of the first quarter.
Mercyhurst answered and tied the game at 7-7 with 1:08 left in the opening quarter. The Lakers marched 81 yards in 14 plays. Lakers sophomore Evan Van Dyke barreled in from a yard out to knot the game.
After connecting with senior Mike Solomon to convert a fourth-and-4 from the Mercyhurst nine-yard line, Brungard soared over the goal line to regain the lead 14-7 with 11:17 to go before halftime.
Junior Justin Wimpye picked off Mercyhurst graduate student Adam Urena on the second play of the second half to give the Penguins great field position at the Lakers’ 32-yard line.
In the fourth quarter, the Lakers cut the Penguins’ lead to nine at 24-15, with 6:59 left in the game.
Hickey’s interception at the 20-yard line stopped the Lakers from scoring with 2:02 left in the fourth quarter, and the Penguins were able to run out the clock.
After the game, Hickey was named Stats Perform’s National Defensive Player of the Week, along with Missouri Valley Football Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week.
Brungard set the Youngstown State and Missouri Valley Football Conference single-game rushing record by a quarterback with 264 yards to lead the YSU football team to a 56-17 victory over Robert Morris.
The previous conference record of 245 yards was held by former Western Kentucky University quarterback Donte Pimpleton against Illinois State University in 2001.
Brungard’s performance also earned him the recognition of Stats Perform’s Football Championship Subdivision National Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 8.
After the game, Brungard said the opportunity to play at a high level against RMU was a great feeling, but attributed the rest of the offense to his career day.
“It’s a great feeling when you can play like that and get a lead like that, it’s awesome,” Brungard said. “I have the best [offensive] line in front of me, the best receivers blocking and the best running backs blocking as well. They just make my job easy, so all the credit to them.”
Offensively, the Penguins amassed 593 total yards, including 424 yards on the ground — which ranks 10th in school history.
The Penguins’ defense allowed just 233 total yards, including 41 rushing yards. Junior Michael Wells recorded five tackles, two tackles for loss and a fumble recovery.
With the win, the Penguins improve to 2-0 overall on the season.
Youngstown State will face Michigan State University on Sept. 13. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.
