YSU can’t slow down rebuilt Kentucky
Trending
The Youngstown State football team faced a tall task on Saturday.
The Penguins traveled to Lexington, Ky., to face a Kentucky in first-year head coach Will Steins debut.
YSU couldn't stop the Wildcats' firepower, giving up 506 yards of total offense in a 45-13 loss.
Beau Brungard had a solid day for the Penguins (1-1) in the team's first road game of the season. He completed 23-of-35 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown, and he added 29 yards rushing on 12 attempts.
But Southeastern Conferences talent plays in the SEC for a reason.
Kenny Minchey, Brungard's counterpart, threw for 301 yards and four touchdowns in an 18-of-27 day throwing.
The Wildcats (1-0) had early success on the ground, and they finished the game with 205 yards rushing. They primarily split the workload between three runners.
Jason Patterson registered a game-high 78 yards rushing on 11 carries, CJ Baxter had 48 yards on nine attempts and scored both of Kentucky's rushing scores and Martels Carter Jr. finished with 37 yards via five carries.
Meanwhile, YSU couldn't get the running game going to balance out Brungard's play. The Penguins only ran for 59 yards on 28 attempts, with Jaden Gilbert being the leading rusher at running back with 20 yards on five attempts.
Lynn Wyche-El, a Grand Valley State transfer, had a breakout game for the Penguins. The fifth-year receiver amassed seven catches for 111 yards and a touchdown.
Kentucky opened the game with a seven-play, 75-yard drive, which concluded with a 15-yard touchdown run by Baxter.
YSU went three and out on its opening possession, and the Wildcats put together another seven-play scoring drive. This time, the 'Cats went 60 yards before Baxter scored from 5 yards out on a run for his second score of the day.
The Penguins turned the ball over on downs on their next possession. They needed 11 plays to go 34 yards, but they gave the ball back to the Wildcats at the Kentucky 41 following an incomplete pass from Brungard to fifth-year receiver Bryan Hunt.
Kentucky got the ball back with 32 seconds left in the first quarter, and they added another scoring drive early in the second. The Wildcats had their third seven-play series in as many attempts, and they capped the drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Minchey to Mikkel Skinner, putting the home team up 21-0.
It appeared the Penguins finally got the Wildcats off, but a muffed punt was recovered by Kentucky's Ty Bryant. The Wildcats took over at the YSU 28-yard line, and they made it a 28-0 game when Minchey found Willie Rodriguez for a 2-yard TD pass with 1:51 left in the half.
But the Penguins needed less than 90 seconds to get on the scoreboard.
Brungard led the Penguins on a 12-play, 75-yard drive. With the ball on the Kentucky 6, Brungard found Wyche-El for the team's first score, cutting the deficit to 28-7 just before the break.
YSU had to punt after receiving the second-half kickoff. But Brock Coffman gave the Wildcats good field position with a 20-yard return to the YSU 46. Minchey added another touchdown when he connected with Prince Jean for a 26-yard score.
The chemistry between Brungard and Wyche-El was on display later in the third quarter. Wyche-El had catches of 18 and 15 yards to set up another YSU scoring drive.
With 3:45 left in the third, Gilbert ran left for a 9-yard touchdown to make it a 35-13 hole.
Minchey added his fourth touchdown 59 seconds into the fourth quarter when he completed a 37-yard pass to Kenny Darby. And the Wildcats closed the scoring with a Adam Zouagui 28-yard field goal over three minutes later.
Up next
The Penguins will return to Stambaugh Stadium on Saturday, as Duquesne comes to town.
YSU is 6-1 all-time against the Dukes since the series began in 2013. The last time Duquesne and YSU faced off, the Dukes held on for a 28-25 win in Youngstown.
Duquesne will be coming off a 34-0 loss to Air Force in Colorado.
Kickoff for this weekend's game is set for 2 p.m.