By Keon Edington / The Jambar
The No. 18 Youngstown State University football team fell to No. 1 North Dakota State University, 38-30, in another hard-fought Missouri Valley Football Conference matchup Nov. 1 — ending a two-game win streak.
Inside the Fargodome in Fargo, North Dakota, junior Beau Brungard led the way for the Penguins with two passing touchdowns and one on the ground. Brungard finished the game with a total of 253 yards combined.
Head Coach Doug Phillips said the team’s errors led to the loss and it needs to get back on track.
“When you play North Dakota State on the road inside the Fargodome, you can’t beat yourself,” Phillips said. “When you make those mistakes, you gotta respond.”
The Penguins jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with a field goal from junior Andrew Lastovka.
The Bison took control late in the quarter as senior Barika Kpeenu rushed up the middle to the 33-yard line. Then, the team tacked on another run for a touchdown that put North Dakota State up 7-3 with only 41 seconds left in the first quarter.
To start the second quarter, Brungard showcased his rushing ability with a 10-yard rush for a touchdown with 10:43 remaining, which gave the Penguins a 10-7 lead.
After a four-and-out by the Bison offense came and went, an interception thrown by Brungard to sophomore Donvan Woolon gave the ball back to the Bisons.
North Dakota State capped off the four-play drive with a rush from sophomore DJ Scott for a touchdown to put the Bison up, 14-10.
The following kickoff, junior Kylon Wilson fumbled the ball, and North Dakota State junior Keegan Huber recovered it.
The Bison took it and ran with it, as Kpeenu rushed for his second of three touchdowns with 4:17 left. Youngstown State got the ball the following drive and after three passes, Brungard connected with junior Alex McDonald for a touchdown, inching the ’Guins closer with a score of 21-17.
The momentum swung back in North Dakota State’s favor, as sophomore Jackson Williams broke through three defenders and returned the kickoff for a touchdown, to put the Bison up 28-17 with a minute left.
The Penguins marched down the field and added on three points as the game headed to halftime, 28-20. Youngstown State added another three points to start off the half, 28-23. On the following drive, Payton threw a 31-yard pass to senior Bryce Lance, as Kpeenu added on another touchdown to put the Bison up 35-23.
As the fourth quarter got underway, senior Cole Payton threw an interception to senior Preston Zandier, to give the Penguins a chance to get back in the game. Brungard rushed 2-yards for a touchdown, putting the Penguins within five points, 35-30, early in the quarter.
The Bison took time off the clock and hit another field goal to put the score at 38-30.
With only a minute remaining, the Penguins would get the ball back at the 20-yard line after the Bison went three-and-out. Brungard’s pass toWilson was fumbled and recovered by North Dakota State, effectively ending the game.
As the Penguins failed to convert on downs, Phillips said that weakness needs to be cleaned up.
“Offensively, we had an opportunity twice to go down and tie the game, but we didn’t get that,” Phillips said. “Those are the areas we gotta continue to grow and continue to get better.”
Youngstown State falls to 5-4 overall on the season and sits at seventh place in the MVFC. The Penguins return home at Stambaugh Stadium for their next game against No. 16 Southern Illinois University.
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Nov. 8. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and 570 WKBM radio.
