YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) — Donald Barksdale returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown and Youngstown State never looked back, defeating Northern Iowa 35-22 on Saturday night.
The Penguins, ranked sixth in the Stats Perform poll, dominated the first half, gaining 280 total yards to 174 for the Panthers. In addition to Barksdale's kick return, Beau Brungard, who completed 13 of 14 passes for 158 yards in the half, had a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown. Antuan Gardner had a short touchdown run.
The 19th-ranked Panthers, who defeated then-top 5 teams Illinois State and North Dakota in their previous two games, trailed 28-0 in the second quarter before Jaxon Dailey's 24-yard touchdown pass to Kai Black made it 28-7 at halftime.
Brungard's 16-yard touchdown pass to Bryan Hunt made it 35-16 in the fourth quarter before Dailey's 17-yarder to Ayden Price got Northern Iowa to within 35-22. However, the Panthers did not see the ball again as Youngstown State burned the final four minutes off the clock.
Brungard completed 23 of 27 passes for 240 yards with two touchdowns and added 80 yards rushing for the Penguins (6-2, 4-1 Missouri Valley Football Conference). Lynn Wyche-El had 106 yards receiving that included a 42-yard touchdown.
Dailey threw for 318 yards with three touchdowns for the Panthers (3-3, 2-1).
Up next
Northern Iowa: at Southern Illinois next Saturday.
Youngstown State: vs. North Dakota on Oct. 31.
——-
Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here. Visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full college football coverage here.