Youngstown State throttles Valparaiso 52-10 behind 28-point third quarter
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YOUNGSTOWN -- Sometimes, it just takes a spark.
Special teams delivered that needed boost for Youngstown State on Thursday night.
After an inauspicious first half that saw YSU take just a one-score lead into the intermission, the Penguins parlayed a punt block into 28 unanswered points in the third quarter to blow the game open en route to a 52-10 victory over Valparaiso at Stambaugh Stadium.
"It started with special teams," YSU coach Doug Phillips said. "I thought our special teams really created. It started with that blocked punt."
Up 17-10 out of the break, Youngstown State (1-0) forced a quick three and out to begin the second half. Michael Voitus blocked the ensuing Valpo punt, and Jaylen Castleberry -- recently put on scholarship -- scooped it for a touchdown. That set off a 28-point avalanche that sent YSU into the fourth quarter up 45-10.
"At first, it was a little shaky, and then we came out in the second half and that blocked punt, I think that got everybody clicking on special teams, defense and offense. It just got us clicking," receiver CJ Charleston said.
On Valpo's next drive of the third quarter, YSU defensive back Jordan Trowers was disqualified for a borderline targeting penalty, but the Penguins responded with a strip sack by Devin Lee, which was recovered by Devin Johnson.
The Penguin offense responded in kind with a 1-yard Mitch Davidson touchdown run to cap a 7-play, 32-yard drive.
Valpo (0-1) muffed the ensuing kickoff, and Preston Zandier recovered for the Penguins. King capped off a 5-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown that put YSU up 38-10.
Another strip sack, this one by Deamontae Diggs and recovered by Dylan Wudke, gave YSU possession at its 46, and redshirt freshman Da'Shaun Whatley took the Penguins' first play from scrimmage 54 yards to the house to extend the lead to 45-10.
As a team, the Penguins ran for 302 yards. Whatley had five runs for 59 yards and that touchdown, while Cephus Harris added seven attempts for 56 yards.
"I thought our running game (was strong)," Phillips said. "We played a lot of different running backs. ... You saw a lot of different guys touching the football today, and I think that's great for our program."
Beau Brungard added a 5-yard scramble for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter to bring the score to 52-10. YSU last scored 50-plus in a game on Oct. 26, 2019, a 59-14 victory over Western Illinois.
Making his debut and a surprise start in a Penguin uniform, Tyshon King made his presence known early. On YSU's second drive of the game, he busted loose for a 62-yard touchdown that put the Penguins up 7-0. He tallied 101 yards and that score on seven first-half carries and finished with 111 yards and two scores on 11 carries.
He started in place of Dra Rushton, who Phillips noted is nursing a lower leg injury but was held out for mostly precautionary reasons. Rushton went through warm-ups before being held out of the game.
"He's been healthy, and he's close," Phillips noted.
After holding Valpo to a field goal on the ensuing drive, YSU extended its lead out to 14-3 as Charleston hauled in a screen on a play action pass and took it 17 yards to the end zone. Charleston, who missed the 2022 season with a leg injury, finished the first half with four receptions for 47 yards and that score.
Perhaps to a bit of frustration, however, YSU missed its chance at a haymaker late in the half. Driving into Valpo territory, the Penguins were forced to settle for a 30-yard field goal by Andrew Lastovka. On Valpo's ensuing drive, a busted coverage allowed Solomon Davis to haul in a 53-yard gain to the YSU 2 yard line, and then the Beacons drew to within 17-10 on a 2-yard run from Ryan Mann with 31 seconds left in the second quarter.
"In my presser (Tuesday) I said I wanted to see a struggle," Phillips said. "I wanted to see how our kids react to things that might not be going right. ... You have to learn about your team, and how do you learn if everything's just going as planned? So these early games, to just go out and have everything go well, that's not going to teach you anything about your team. So to see how our kids responded coming out after halftime (was good)."
Youngstown State's run defense was especially impressive. Tasked with the goal of holding teams to under 100 yards rushing, the Penguin defense kept Valpo to just 40 yards on the ground. The Penguins racked up five sacks and were led by Alex Howard's nine tackles and two sacks.
Davidson finished 11-for-19 for 130 yards and a touchdown, while Bryce Oliver caught five passes for 65 yards.
As a whole, YSU outgained Valpo 471-195, including a 302-40 advantage on the ground. YSU averaged 7.4 yards per carry. The Penguins also were efficient on third downs, converting six of 11, though the last third down ended with a quarterback kneel.
The Penguins did struggle with penalties, however, as they were flagged eight times for 91 yards.
Youngstown State visits Ohio State next Saturday.
jwhetzel@tribtoday.com