By William Staten The Jambar
After a 27-20 loss against No. 2 South Dakota State University dropped the Youngstown State University football team to No. 11 in rankings, the Penguins returned home Sept. 26 to Stambaugh Stadium to face another top-10 opponent — No. 8 University of South Dakota.
Youngstown State started the game with a seven-play drive consisting of runs capped by senior Lynn Wyche-El who rushed 10 yards for an opening-drive touchdown.
The Coyotes responded with a touchdown of their own from South Dakota senior Jackson Proctor, who ran seven yards into the endzone to tie the game 7-7.
Proctor, a transfer who played three seasons at Dartmouth College before a stint at Northern Illinois University, is the backup quarterback for South Dakota behind freshman Austyn Modrzewski. Proctor was used as a secondary running back and did not attempt a pass against Youngstown State.
Both teams traded punts to end the first quarter after two incompletions for the ’Guins and three short runs by Coyotes senior Charles Pierre Jr. stalled respective drives.
In the second quarter, fifth-year senior Beau Brungard broke free for several double-digit gains before he scored a two-yard rushing touchdown to go up 14-7. Wyche-El followed with a 41-yard rushing touchdown after the Coyotes punted from a second three-and-out. Senior Andrew Lastovka missed the extra point, which set the score to the score 20-7.
South Dakota set up an 11-play drive by the Coyotes, which boiled over with a passing touchdown by Modrzewski. South Dakota’s defense answered the offense by holding the Penguins to a field goal to end the half down nine points.
The Coyotes continued to strike back with a six-minute touchdown drive, which was finished off by Proctor for his second rushing score of the day.
After Youngstown State received the ball following the touchdown, South Dakota’s defense forced the ’Guins offense into a three-and-out.
South Dakota senior Graydon Rollins tackled junior Keyondray Jones-Logan four yards behind the line of scrimmage, which forced a lengthy third down. Afterwards, junior Darvens Tunis intercepted Modrzewski for a 19-yard return to South Dakota’s 25-yard line.
Brungard sprung forward for 17 yards before the Coyotes stalled the Penguins again at the three-yard line. Head coach Doug Phillips opted to kick a field goal and extend the lead for a score of 26-21.
The fourth quarter started with several chunk plays by Brungard and the Penguins offense, including a 28-yard pass to fifth-year senior Fresh Walters originally called incomplete by game officials. The call was overturned after it was shown Walters was in-bounds for the catch.
Brungard ended the drive with a pass to fifth-year senior Alex McDonald for McDonald’s second touchdown of the season to extend the ’Guins’ lead 33-21.
Modrzewski was intercepted on the next drive by Youngstown State senior Cam Smith. The Penguins offense used the turnover and Brungard scored another rushing touchdown to lead the Coyotes 40-21.
With five minutes left in the game, Modrzewski was sacked by junior Jordan Pritchard-Sewell where Modrzewski lost control of the football. Pritchard-Sewell recovered the ball but also fumbled, senior Dev Holman recovered it again at South Dakota’s five-yard line, and sealed the game for the Penguins.
After a holding penalty and a short pass, Brungard rushed seven yards into the end zone for his third rushing touchdown of the game.
South Dakota, now in time, scored a touchdown before the Penguins kneeled out the remaining time to set the final score 47-28.
Several starters on the Penguins’ defensive line did not play in the game. Phillips said depth was something the team could rely on.
“I don’t know if anyone recognizes the names that played defense today, but we had a lot of new faces,” Phillips said. “At one point, you’re going to have to rely on the depth … and to know that those guys that are second-year players got in there.”
Youngstown State moved up to No. 8 in the rankings after the win. The Penguins will travel to Carbondale, Illinois, to face No. 21 Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the ’Guins’ third consecutive ranked matchup.