CARBONDALE, Ill. (Interstat) — Youngstown State defeated Southern Illinois 28-16 in an NCAA Football Championship Division game Saturday at Saluki Stadium. The visiting Penguins improved to 4-2 this season, while the Salukis fell to 3-3. Youngstown State combined an efficient passing game with a steady rushing attack and a defense that made timely stops. Southern Illinois moved the ball through the air but could not keep pace after the Penguins took control in the second half. The game featured a combined 44 points and a late defensive stand by the Penguins.

Beau Brungard paced Youngstown State, completing 20 of 29 passes for 219 yards and one touchdown while carrying 16 times for 69 yards and another score. The 6-foot, 210-pound quarterback was the top star for the Penguins. He scored on a 1-yard run in the third quarter and later threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Austin Bray. Brungard entered the game after a recent performance against South Dakota in which he completed 13 of 17 passes for 159 yards and ran 28 times for 170 yards with four total touchdowns. Bray finished with five receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown. Jaden Gilbert added seven carries for 35 yards and a touchdown and three receptions for 14 yards. Lynn Wyche-El scored on a 1-yard run and had five receptions for 53 yards. Lorenzo Jenkins caught two passes for 26 yards. Bryan Hunt had one reception for 18 yards and made one tackle. Jeremiah Sanders caught one pass for 8 yards. Tahir Mills ran three times for 17 yards and caught one pass for 8 yards. Fresh Walters returned a punt 10 yards. Aidan Stephens returned a kickoff 10 yards. Donald Barksdale returned a kickoff 22 yards. Evan Anderson punted twice for 80 yards. Andrew Lastovka handled the kicking duties for the Penguins.

DJ Williams led Southern Illinois, completing 19 of 35 passes for 288 yards. The 6-foot-2, 202-pound quarterback from Harvey, Illinois, also ran 19 times for 8 yards, caught two passes for 11 yards and accounted for two touchdowns. Kyle Thomas was his top target with eight receptions for 155 yards. Markell Quick caught four passes for 52 yards. Tae Marrero Jr. had two receptions for 43 yards and returned a punt five yards. Allen Middleton caught three passes for 27 yards. Chandler Chapman ran 11 times for 49 yards. Edward Robinson added four carries for 23 yards. Quade Chatmon had one carry for 19 yards. The Salukis moved the ball effectively at times but could not turn enough of those gains into touchdowns.

Youngstown State’s defense was led by Graydon Rollins, who made nine tackles, recorded half a sack and added one quarterback hurry. Lemondte Chambers made eight tackles. Jordan Pritchard-Sewell and Ebony Curry Jr. each had seven tackles. Pritchard-Sewell added one sack and one quarterback hurry, while Curry recorded two sacks. Carston Marshall contributed five tackles and one sack. Raleigh Collins III had five tackles and one quarterback hurry. Dominic Julius made five tackles. Stanley Clyne had four tackles and an interception. Dev Holman and Cam Smith each had four tackles. Darvens Tunis and Conlan Greene each made three tackles. Roderick Owens Jr., Michael Wright Jr. and Ajayi Ajaga each had two tackles. Caleb Taylor, Solomon Farrell, Jussiah Williams-West and Danny Inglis each had one tackle.

Southern Illinois’ defense was paced by Ben Fiegel, who made 11 tackles. Matthew McClelland had eight tackles and an interception. Vinny Pierre Jr. made seven tackles. Andrew Behm had six tackles. Charles Whelpley had five tackles. Chris Presto had four tackles. Lance Bassett had three tackles and one sack. Cameron Cason and Naz Hill each had three tackles. The Salukis forced an interception and generated pressure at times, but Youngstown State’s balance kept the chains moving.

Southern Illinois opened the scoring in the first quarter on Seth Adams’ 44-yard field goal. Youngstown State answered in the second quarter when Wyche-El scored on a 1-yard run. Southern Illinois reclaimed the lead on Williams’ 1-yard touchdown run. Adams missed a 48-yard field goal attempt late in the second quarter. In the third quarter, Brungard scored on a 1-yard run, then connected with Bray on a 20-yard touchdown pass. Youngstown State extended its lead in the fourth quarter on Gilbert’s 6-yard touchdown run. Southern Illinois capped the scoring on Williams’ 14-yard touchdown run, but a pass attempt on the two-point conversion failed. The Penguins then ran out the clock to secure the road victory. The Penguins’ win was their fourth of the season against two losses.

Youngstown State carried a 3-2 record into the game after a recent home win over South Dakota. Southern Illinois also was 3-2 after a road win at Murray State. The Penguins had also beaten Duquesne and Mercyhurst, while losing to South Dakota State and Kentucky. The Salukis had beaten Southeast Missouri State and Samford, while losing to Illinois and West Florida. Both teams now turn their attention to conference play.

Youngstown State is scheduled to visit Indiana State in its next game. The Penguins also have upcoming games against Northern Iowa, North Dakota, Murray State and Illinois State. Southern Illinois is set to visit South Dakota next. The Salukis later face Illinois State, Northern Iowa, Indiana State, South Dakota State and North Dakota. The Penguins will aim to carry momentum into their next matchup, while the Salukis seek a bounce-back performance.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Southern Illinois 56, Youngstown State 44. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Southern Illinois with a 61.3 percent probability to win. Southern Illinois had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -4. The over/under line was 64.5.