YSU’s defensive struggles continue in 38-31 loss to Missouri State
Youngstown State’s defensive woes continue to plague the Penguins.
Despite rallying from a 14-point deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter, YSU gave up a late touchdown with eight seconds left on Saturday, falling to Missouri State 38-31 in its Missouri Valley Football Conference opener.
The Penguins’ defense gave up 464 total yards, including 325 to Bears quarterback Jacob Clark and Missouri State’s high-flying passing attack.
The Bears moved the ball in chunks against a Penguins defense that has struggled to stop the big play, as they finished Saturday’s game averaging 9.5 yards per play.
With Missouri State’s success against YSU’s defense, the Penguins needed their offense to try to match the Bears in terms of points and production, and YSU couldn’t have asked for a better start.
After receiving the opening kickoff, YSU went on an eight-minute, 15-play drive for 75 yards that ended with a 9-yard touchdown run by quarterback Beau Brungard.
Following a pair of touchdowns by the Bears, YSU tied the game at 14 with an 8-yard touchdown run. But Missouri State scored twice to end the first half, as the Bears took a 24-14 lead into halftime.
The Penguins made it a one-possession game near the end of the third quarter, as Andrew Lastovka kicked a 38-yard field goal, capitalizing on a forced fumble and recovery by safety Makai Shahid.
But, YSU looked like it had run out of gas early in the fourth quarter, as Missouri State took a 31-17 lead on a Jmariyae Robinson touchdown run.
But the offense kept the Penguins alive with a 3-yard touchdown run by Ethan Wright on the ensuing drive.
YSU’s defense finally put together a stop, as it forced the Bears into their second punt of the game, which turned into a 44-yard touchdown run by Brungard five plays later to tie the game with just under six minutes left.
The Penguins had their own chance to take the lead late.
After forcing a Bears punt, YSU got the ball inside its own 5-yard line with 3:36 to go.
Six plays later, the Penguins could only move the ball 13 yards and punted it back to the Bears with about a minute left.
Set up by a 38-yard carry on a keeper by Clark, Missouri State scored the go-ahead, game-winning touchdown on a 5-yard play-action pass from Clark to Mason Lance with eight seconds left.
Brungard completed 18-of-31 of his passes for 180 yards and an interception. He also added 110 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries on the ground. Meanwhile, Wright had 76 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, while Tyshon King ran for 56 yards and a score on 11 carries.
The loss is YSU’s third straight, as the Penguins fall to 1-4 to open the season.
YSU returns home to host Indiana State next Saturday, before the Penguins face a daunting stretch to close the season against five straight ranked teams.
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