Two-time defending FCS champion SDSU defeats YSU 63-13 | News, sports, jobs

Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes. YSU quarterback Beau Brungard is tackled while carrying the ball Saturday against South Dakota State in Brookings, SD

South Dakota State showed on Saturday why it has now won 32 straight games against FCS opponents and each of the last two FCS national championships.

The Jackrabbits flexed their muscles early and often as they earned a dominant 63-13 victory over Youngstown State in Brookings, South Dakota.

SDSU totaled 557 yards, including 404 yards rushing. It is the first time YSU has allowed a team to rush for more than 400 yards since North Dakota State ran for 454 yards against the Penguins in 2021.

South Dakota State’s Angel Johnson returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for the team’s first score, as the Jackrabbits scored touchdowns on each of their first four possessions and on eight of their 10 total drives.

The only possessions SDSU didn’t score came on the final possession of the first half, when it barely ran the ball with 14 seconds left, and then late in the fourth quarter, when it went for three-pointers in the second and third quarters came -team offense.

After a slow start that started with a three-pointer on the first possession, YSU began to find some rhythm on offense.

The Penguins gained 54 yards in 13 plays before settling for a 39-yard field goal from Andrew Lastovka to secure their first points of the game.

Then, just before halftime, YSU had its best performance, marching 91 yards for its first touchdown in 2:38. Quarterback Beau Brungard completed two long third-down passes on the drive to set up his 4-yard touchdown run, including completions of 32 and 41 yards to Latrell Fordham and Max Tomczak, respectively.

The Penguins trailed 35-10 at halftime, but the Jackrabbits picked up right where they left off in the second half, scoring on each of their first three possessions.

SDSU backup quarterback Chase Mason led the Jackrabbits’ strong running game, rushing for 161 yards and two touchdowns on five carries. The Jacks had four different players rush for at least 50 yards.

South Dakota State was explosive and powerful on the ground all day, averaging 16.2 yards per carry.

YSU’s final points came on Lastovka’s second field goal (31 yards) of the game with about three minutes left.

Brungard completed 16 of 27 of his passes for 169 yards and one interception. He also led the Penguins with 59 rushing yards. Tomczak finished the game with six catches for 78 yards.

The Penguins fall to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. YSU returns home to Stambaugh Stadium over the next two weeks to host two top-10 teams from South Dakota and North Dakota.