By Kevin Skolny / The Jambar
After a tough loss against the University of Pittsburgh, the Penguins looked to turn the season around Sept. 28 at Robert W. Plaster Stadium against Missouri State University.
However, despite late touchdowns by sophomore quarterback Beau Brungard and senior tailback Ethan Wright, the Penguins fell 38-31.
The ‘Guins traveled to Springfield, Missouri to open up conference play for both teams.
The Penguins opened the game with a 15 play, 75-yard drive capped off by a nine-yard touchdown run by Brungard.
The eight-minute drive set the tone early for the ‘Guins, but Missouri State answered back, as senior running back Jacardia Wright scored on a 27-yard touchdown run for the Bears.
This would only be the beginning of the offensive bout, as Missouri State would go on to score 17 in the second quarter alone. Senior quarterback Jacob Clark threw two passes to cover 95 yards in just 51 seconds, scoring on a 57-yard touchdown to sophomore Jayden Becks.
Clark, the transfer from the University of Minnesota, would finish his day completing 21 of 29 passing attempts, for 325 yards and three touchdowns. Alternatively for the Penguins, Brungard finished the game with 180 passing yards on 18 of 31 completions, including an interception.
Brungard, for the third time this year, led the team in rushing yards, picking up 110 on the ground with two touchdowns on 16 attempts, his longest being a 44-yard rush late in the fourth to even the game at 31.
However, the Bears would respond with the ball at their own 47 yard line. Senior Jacob Clark would find junior Dash Luke for a quick gain and ran for 38 yards to bring the ball to the Penguins’ seven yard line.
With 18 seconds left on the clock, Clark would find junior Lance Mason in the endzone, giving the lead to the Bears, 38-31.
The Penguins had a chance to make magic happen on the kickoff return, but would fumble the ball to Missouri State, where Clark would seal the game with a quarterback kneel.
The Penguins fall to 1-4 and 0-1 in Missouri Valley Football Conference, while the Bears move to 3-2, with a 1-0 record in conference play.
Youngstown State will look to earn its first conference win, as it faces Indiana State University in front of the Homecoming crowd at 2 p.m. Oct. 5 inside Stambaugh Stadium.
The game will also be streamed on ESPN+.