Offense
After scoring 28 points against Southern Illinois, YSU traveled to Terre Haute, Indiana, with a renewed sense of urgency.
The Penguins got off to a lightning-fast start, recording five consecutive touchdown drives and converting a two-point attempt to put 36 points on the board in the first half. YSU leaned on tailback Jaden Gilbert early and often, as he scored the first two touchdowns of the afternoon.
Gilbert finished the game with 15 carries for a career-high 163 rushing yards and three touchdowns, showcasing his explosiveness with scoring runs of 14, 65 and 12 yards.
Beau Brungard also had a career day, throwing for a career-high 386 yards while breaking Adrian Brown’s career rushing touchdown record with two scores on the ground. The combination of Brungard’s elite passing performance and Gilbert’s dominance on the ground made the Penguin offense nearly impossible to stop.
To open the second half, Brungard connected with Bryan Hunt for a 75-yard touchdown pass, highlighting Indiana State’s struggles to contain the multiplicity of the YSU offense. The Penguins finished with 696 total yards, the third-most in a single game in program history.
Wide receiver Lynn Wyche-El put together another impressive performance, hauling in 10 receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown.
Defense
The YSU defense got off to a sluggish start, allowing a 55-yard pass on Indiana State’s opening drive before the Sycamores found the end zone to take a 7-0 lead. After surrendering another 35-yard pass on the following drive, the Penguins settled in and forced a field goal attempt.
The defense continued to find its footing as the game progressed, but it was after Indiana State’s scoring drive in the second half that the Penguins really began to click. YSU forced six consecutive punts to close out the game while limiting the Sycamores to just 51 passing yards in the second half.
Safety Cam Smith led the team with nine tackles, while linebacker Mike Wells recorded three tackles for loss and one sack.
Special Teams
The special teams unit came up with some key plays when the defense needed them most. Ebony Curry Jr. delivered a huge momentum swing with a blocked field goal on Indiana State’s second drive, while the Penguins executed their two-point conversion to perfection.
Josh Wilkins consistently sent kickoffs into the back of the end zone, limiting Indiana State’s opportunities on kickoff returns. I also thought the punt coverage unit did a good job applying pressure and making life difficult for the Sycamores’ punter.
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