Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard takes off up the sideline during his 50-yard run during YSU’s Red-White spring football game. Brungard had a strong showing as the Red team won 37-13.

YOUNGSTOWN — Big plays were on display in Youngstown State’s annual Red-White spring game.

The intrasquad scrimmage, which the Red team won 37-13, capped off spring football for the Penguins, who will tie up some loose ends in the near future before some time off in May.

YSU will return in June for summer workouts, and fall camp begins July 31.

Here are some observations from Saturday morning’s action:

Passing game was crisp

Mitch Davidson and Co. picked up where they left off in November, and backup Beau Brungard was sharp, too.

Davidson led touchdown drives on each of his first two series, the first a 7-yard pass to Bryce Oliver on a crossing pattern, the latter a quick hit to tight end Jake Benio on a play-action at the goal line.

In the first of those two drives, Davidson also hit Latrell Fordham for 18 yards and Oliver for 29 yards. In the second drive, he had a completion to Max Tomczak, but the chunk play came on a double pass for 33 yards. Davidson threw a lateral to Brandon Alexander, and Alexander, a quarterback during his time at Alliance High School, hit Dra Rushton over the top.

Brungard followed suit with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Benio that capped an 11-play, 64-yard drive that included three separate completions to Willie Deal, a redshirt freshman from Harper Woods, Mich. He later hit Ursuline grad Dante Walker for a gain of 26 and Luke Hensley for a gain of 16.

Bungard also had a 16-yard touchdown pass to Tomczak, which drew a huge celebration from the Red team and a number of flags from the game’s officials.

“We wanted to see the ball distributed to a variety of receivers, which we thought we did,” YSU coach Doug Phillips said.

He later added, “We have a lot of receivers that were on both sides of the (game), and we have to find ways to get them the football.”

Brungard shows

explosive capabilities

This won’t come as a shock to those that have watched him before, but Brungard made as many plays with his feet as he did his arm.

On the first touchdown drive he led, Brungard, who didn’t wear a non-contact jersey and was able to play full tackle football, also had a 26-yard run. In his next series, Brungard took off for a 50-yard gain down to the 1-yard-line, setting up a 1-yard Walker touchdown run.

“It was impressive to see how Beau ran the football,” Davidson said after the game.

Phillips added, “I thought he did (look explosive). We took the black (non-contact) jersey off them (Brungard and fellow reserve quarterback Max Blanc), because sometimes those guys don’t get the opportunities in spring ball to utilize their legs. That’s one thing that’s a threat for him is he can run the football, so making it live for him probably gave him a little advantage.”

Given his sheer athleticism and knack for making plays, it would not be surprising to see Brungard used in ways similar to Demeatric Crenshaw last year after Davidson took starting duties. Crenshaw was inserted into games in short-yardage situations to give the Penguins more of a dual-threat capability vs. Davidson’s pure pocket abilities.

Whatever the case, it would be to YSU’s benefit for Brungard to see the field in some sort of capacity.

RB2 coming into focus

As anticipated, Dra Rushton saw limited action — just two series.

That gave plenty of opportunities for the youngsters that make up the rest of the running back room, which has two seniors — Rushton and Caleb Mitchell — and then two sophomores and three redshirt freshmen.

Da’Shaun Whatley popped for a 17-yard run on the second play of the day before exiting the game with what Phillips said was a high ankle sprain.

Meanwhile, fellow redshirt freshman Cephus Harris III made a number of plays. Those included a 20-yard run and later on the same drive, a 38-yard scamper to paydirt. Harris also caught a 2-point pass after that touchdown, but it was called back for a hold.

Later in the day, Mitchell, of Steubenville, had a 40-yard rumble to the end zone.

And, Walker had a few nice receptions on the day.

“We wanted to see our running backs. I needed to see Cephus Harris get those carries. Da’Shaun Watley had a high ankle sprain early, but I thought that first run he had was very explosive. So for us, finding that running back, we know what Dra can do. Now we have to find that (No. 2),” Phillips said.

Getting defensive

On the flip side, the defensive units did earn plenty of early stops. The front unit was able to apply pressure at various points of the day, racking up five sacks. Sir Jerome Treadwell and Hunter Allen headlined those from the usual contributors.

Later, linebacker Greg Benton Jr. stopped Harris in the backfield for a safety, which ended the first half.

Finally, Valley Christian grad Jordan Trowers broke up a would-be huge gain from Davidson to Oliver.

Punters fare well

And with those plays, YSU’s specialists had some opportunities to work. Lakeview grad Brendon Kilpatrick had a tremendous day, highlighted by a punt from about his own 40 that was downed at the 1-yard-line, setting up that safety, and Hubbard’s Kyle Walker also had a few nice boots.

YSU begins fall camp July 31. The season begins with a Thursday night home game against Valparaiso on Aug. 31.