YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The final three and a half minutes of Saturday in Youngstown featured three lead changes between No. 15 Illinois State and host No. 3 Youngstown State, but it was the Redbirds (8-3, 4-3 MVFC) who got the last laugh as a 2-yard touchdown run by ISU quarterback Beckham Pellant gave the Birds a 34-33 win over the Penguins (8-3, 6-2 MVFC) at Stambaugh Stadium on a cold, windy and rainy night.
How It Happened:
• The Penguins put the first points of the day on the scoreboard, as quarterback Beau Brungard ran it in from three yards out on a scramble to cap off a 15-play, 65-yard scoring drive that made the score 7-0 with 6:35 left in the first quarter.
• That would be the lone score of the first quarter, but the Redbirds would tie the game 47 seconds into the second quarter as Victor Dawson bowled his way into the endzone from seven yards out to tie the game at 7-7 with 14:13 on the clock in the second quarter … the touchdown run capped off a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive that took 7:15 off the clock.
• The Redbirds would take the lead at 13-7 after a 20-yard touchdown run by Seth Glatz capped off a 9-play, 74-yard drive for the Redbirds that took 4:40 off the clock with 3:09 left before halftime.
• Youngstown State put up three points just before halftime on a 26-yard field goal by Andrew Lastovka to make the score 14-10 in favor of the Redbirds at the break.
• On their first drive of the third quarter, the Penguins took the lead at 17-14 on a 4-yard touchdown run by Brungard, his second of the game.
• The Penguins later extended their lead to 24-14 with 2:19 left in the third quarter on a 7-yard touchdown run by Jaden Gilbert and Lastovka connected on a 45-yard field goal with 13:40 left in the game to widen the YSU lead to 27-14.
• ISU would answer with a quick scoring drive that was capped off by a 27-yard touchdown pass from Pellant to Mar'Quan Gary and with the extra point by Michael Cosentino, the YSU lead was cut to six at 27-21 with 11:31 to play in the game.
• The Redbirds would then take the lead with 3:32 left in the game on a 7-yard touchdown run by Glatz and the extra point put ISU up 28-27.
• However, that lead was short lived as a 59-yard touchdown pass from Brungard to Bryan Hunt just over a minute late put the Penguins back in front at 33-28 and a missed 2-point conversion kept the advantage at five points for YSY with 2:21 to play.
• However, the Redbirds were not deterred as they marched down the field and Pellant ran it in from two yards out on third and goal to put ISU back in front at 34-33 with just nine seconds remaining.
• YSU had one more chance at the comeback, but Brungard was picked off by Tye Niekamp to end the game as the Redbirds took a knee in victory formation to seal it.
Game Notes:
• The win for the Redbirds is just the third for head coach Brock Spack in Youngstown during his 18 year tenure as head coach.
• Glatz rushed for a career-high 176 yards on 25 carries (7.0 yards per carry) and also added five receptions for 35 yards to finish the game with 211 all-purpose yards to lead the way for the Redbird offense.
• The 100-plus yard rushing performance was his first as a Redbirds and just the second of the season for a Redbird back.
• The touchdown for Dawson was his 10th of the season, doubling his rushing touchdown output from a year ago.
• Glatz's fourth rushing touchdown of the season and the second multiple rushing touchdown effort of his career at ISU.
• Mason Kaplan led the way for the Redbird defense with 9 tackles, while Tye Niekamp added 8 stops and the game-sealing interception.
Next Up:
Illinois State returns home next Saturday for the regular season finale against nationally ranked South Dakota (8-3, 5-2 MVFC). Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. CT on Jay and Lori Bergman Field at Hancock Stadium, and the Redbirds will honor their 21 seniors in a pre-game ceremony on Senior Day.
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