By William Staten / The Jambar
Five touchdowns were scored by fifth-year senior Beau Brungard in the Youngstown State University football team’s season opener against Mercyhurst University at 6 p.m., Aug. 27 at Stambaugh Stadium. The quarterback accounted for 451 yards of total offense in the 43-10 victory over the Lakers.
In Mercyhurst’s opening drive, the Lakers drove down the field and kicked a field goal after a touchdown was called back as an incomplete pass, 0-3.
Brungard responded with a drive down the field and several designed runs that led to a rushing touchdown by the quarterback. Mercyhurst punted on its next drive before senior Jaden Gilbert broke free with a 50-yard run to end the first quarter.
To start the second quarter, Mercyhurst sacked Brungard before fifth-year senior Lynn Wyche-El caught a touchdown from Brungard to go up 14-3. On Mercyhurst’s next possession, junior Darvens Tunis intercepted Mercyhurst junior Alex Gevaudan and stopped the Lakers from a potential score.
The Penguins capitalized on the interception and mounted a 10-play drive that ended with a 24-yard touchdown by Gilbert. Youngstown State forced a three-and-out defensive play against the Lakers shortly after, which set up the ’Guins for another long drive that ended in another rushing touchdown from Brungard to end the first half.
The third quarter began with another long drive by Youngstown State, which ended with a touchdown from Brungard to fifth-year senior Bryan Hunt. Both teams traded punts before freshman Roderick Owens Jr. intercepted Gevaudan to put the Penguins in scoring position. Brungard was intercepted three plays later by Lakers sophomore Jaiden Allos.
Mercyhurst punted for the fourth time in the fourth quarter and set up a drive down the field where Brungard threw a touchdown to Gilbert for the quarterback’s fifth touchdown of the night.
After the drive, Youngstown State pulled its starters from the game. Gevaudan threw a touchdown before the game ended with a final score of 43-10.
In a postgame press conference, head coach Doug Phillips said the defense’s performance aligned with what the team focused on during training camp.
“That’s what we stressed,” Phillips said. “We stressed all summer. If our defense can hold teams to field goals in the redzone, and if our offense can score touchdowns in the redzone, those are differences in the ball game.”
Gilbert said the offense achieved its goals in the game and showed off its potential.
“The end goal was to get the victory,” Gilbert said. “We all knew what [the team] was capable of, and we displayed that tonight.”
The Penguins will travel to Lexington, Kentucky, to face the University of Kentucky at 1 p.m., Sept. 5.