Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes. YSU running back Tyshon King breaks for a long touchdown early in the game on Saturday against Southern Illinois at Stambaugh Stadium.

YOUNGSTOWN — For the first time since 2018, Youngstown State is not 0-2 through its first two Missouri Valley Football Conference games.

Fueled by a fast start and a stingy defensive effort that limited Southern Illinois to 100 total yards, the Penguins bounced back from last week’s loss to Northern Iowa and made a statement on Saturday night, knocking off the No. 5/6 Salukis 31-3 at Stambaugh Stadium.

“We let one slip (last week), but I’m proud of our kids because they were able to put that last game behind us and focus on what we needed to do,” head coach Doug Phillips said. “I told you all along it’s about what we do — offensively, defensively and special teams.”

It was YSU’s first win over a top-five ranked team since 2017, when the Penguins beat No. 5 South Dakota State.

The Penguins (3-2, 1-1 MVFC) couldn’t have asked for a better start.

On the game’s opening drive, the Penguins marched 75 yards in seven plays and capped off the drive with a gashing 40-yard touchdown run by Tyshon King right up the middle of the field.

Then, YSU got a defensive stop, and despite getting pinned inside their own five-yard line, again moved the ball right down the field, capping off a 96-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run by Dra Rushton.

“It was important because the defense was playing their tails off,” senior right guard Ryan Johnson said of the offense’s fast start. “We like to play complementary football, so it was our job to go out there and score points. It was nice that we were able to do that early.”

It’s the kind of rhythm and consistency the Penguins have wanted to see from their offense, and it was on full display against the Salukis (4-1, 1-1 MVFC).

YSU almost had touchdowns on each of its first three drives but a touchdown run by King was called back for a penalty, and quarterback Mitch Davidson was picked off by SIU’s Mark Davis in the end zone two plays later. Davidson bounced back from the turnover, however, and finished 14-for-18 for 156 passing yards.

After finding success on the ground early, YSU was patient and stuck to its guns, continuing to use the run game to keep SIU’s defense at bay.

Coming in, SIU led the nation in rushing yards allowed, limiting opponents to just 54.8 yards per game on the ground. The Salukis also hadn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in seven straight games dating back to last season.

By halftime, YSU had already almost doubled that mark with 110 yards on the ground. The Penguins finished with 167 total rushing yards, led by 117 yards on 22 carries from King. Rushton chipped in 52 yards and two scores of his own.

“We knew we had to run the ball — running the ball means you gotta be patient at times and stick to it,” Phillips said. “We threw for 300 last week. This week — guess what — running the football when you get to the third and fourth quarter, you just have kept at it. I don’t know how many TFLs or stops they had for no gain, but we stuck with it and finally broke through.”

Instead it was YSU’s run defense that rose to the occasion, limiting the Salukis to six measly yards on the ground.

“Relentless defense — that’s the goal and that takes one of 11,” Phillips said. “If you’re fortunate enough to take the field and be part of that 11, it’s about you being focused and playing for your players — the guy to your left and the guy to the right. That’s the brotherhood. To be able to keep that focus for 60 minutes, I think that’s what we saw (Saturday). That’s what we have to continue to improve on and do that week in and week out.”

Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes. YSU’s Chris Fitzgerald (9) and Dawan Martin (91) sack SIU QB Nic Baker during the first half on Saturday night at Stambaugh Stadium.

All night long, the Penguins’ defense made stop after stop and limited the effectiveness of Salukis scrambling quarterback Nic Baker, who tallied just 94 total passing yards, an interception and under a 50 percent completion percentage.

YSU harassed Baker in the backfield with pressure from its front-seven, sacking him seven times. Junior defensive end Dylan Wudke led the Penguins with 2.0 sacks, while junior defensive tackle Anthony Johnson had 1.5.

“We know (Baker) likes to hold it,” Wudke said. “He’s also shorter, so he can’t really see and he likes to scramble out. So each guy was just rushing in their lane and keeping the quarterback contained and just getting after him.”

After the defense forced back-to-back turnovers on downs in the fourth quarter, the Penguins’ offense put the game on ice with King’s second touchdown run of the game, which gave them a 21-point lead.

YSU put an exclamation point on the night with one last score from Rushton with 3:29 to go in the fourth quarter.

“Ultimately, it’s about winning the football game and doing what we needed to do to win the football game,” Phillips said. “I’m proud of our kids, proud of our offensive line and our coaches for getting our kids in the mindset ready to play a game under the lights in the ‘Ice Castle.'”

nmadhavan@tribtoday.com