Honestly, if you weren't at Plaster Stadium on September 28, 2024, you missed one of the gutsiest displays of Missouri Valley football we've seen in years. It wasn't just another game. It was the end of an era. With Missouri State officially packing its bags for Conference USA and the FBS in 2025, this was the final time these two would ever meet as conference rivals. And man, did they leave it all on the field.
The Youngstown St vs Mo State rivalry has always been a weird one. On paper, Youngstown State has historically dominated, leading the all-time series 17-7. But stats are liars. Especially in the MVFC, where the "any given Saturday" mantra isn't just a cliché—it's a survival tactic. This specific game was a microcosm of everything that makes FCS football great: massive momentum swings, a quarterback duel for the ages, and a game-winning touchdown with only eight seconds left on the clock.
The Game That Broke the Script
You've gotta look at the box score to believe the discrepancy here. Youngstown State absolutely hogged the ball. They held it for over 40 minutes. Usually, when a team has the ball for 40 minutes out of a 60-minute game, they win by three touchdowns. The Penguins ran 76 plays. Missouri State ran 49. It was a methodical, grinding attack against a lightning-strike offense.
The Penguins jumped out early. Beau Brungard, who is basically a human highlight reel at quarterback, capped off an 8-minute, 15-play drive with a 9-yard touchdown run. It was classic Youngstown: "We are going to run it down your throat and there's nothing you can do about it." But Missouri State didn't blink. They didn't have to. Jacob Clark, the Bears' signal-caller, decided to treat the YSU secondary like a 7-on-7 drill.
Jacob Clark vs. Beau Brungard: A Tale of Two Styles
While Brungard was doing his best Lamar Jackson impression—rushing for 110 yards and two scores—Jacob Clark was surgically dismantling the defense from the pocket. Clark finished 21-of-25. That's an 84% completion rate. You don't see that often when a guy is throwing for 325 yards and three touchdowns.
- Beau Brungard (YSU): 110 rushing yards, 180 passing yards, 2 rushing TDs.
- Jacob Clark (MSU): 325 passing yards, 3 TDs, 0 interceptions.
The scoring was frantic. Missouri State would score in 50 seconds; Youngstown would take 6 minutes. By the time we hit the fourth quarter, Missouri State had a 31-17 lead. Most people thought it was over. But if you know anything about the Penguins, you know they don't quit.
Ethan Wright punched one in from 3 yards out to make it 31-24. Then, with about 5 minutes left, Brungard broke loose for a 44-yard touchdown run that tied the game at 31. The YSU sideline was losing it. The momentum had completely shifted.
The Final Eight Seconds
This is where the Youngstown St vs Mo State matchup turned into a movie. With the game tied and the clock winding down, Missouri State had one last chance. They didn't play for overtime. Jacob Clark led a 5-play, 53-yard drive in under a minute.
It ended with a 5-yard bullet to tight end Lance Mason. There were eight seconds left.
The stadium erupted. It was a heartbreaking way for Youngstown to lose, especially after controlling the clock for 40 minutes, but it was a perfect encapsulation of Missouri State's high-octane potential as they transition to the FBS level.
Why This Rivalry Matters More Than the Stats
Look, Youngstown State fans will tell you they’ve had the better program historically. They have the four national championships from the Jim Tressel era. They have the 17-7 lead in the series. But Missouri State has been the "giant killer" lately. Before this 38-31 victory, the Bears had won two of the last three meetings.
The Missouri Valley "Gauntlet"
People outside the Midwest don't realize how brutal the MVFC is. It’s basically the SEC of the FCS. When these two teams meet, it’s not just about a win; it’s about playoff survival.
In 2021, Demeatric Crenshaw (then YSU's QB) rushed for 195 yards against the Bears—nearly a school record. In 2023, the Penguins hammered the Bears 44-28 behind Mitch Davidson's 390 passing yards. The games are almost always high-scoring and unpredictable.
The "Big Move" Impact
Missouri State's move to Conference USA changes the landscape of this matchup forever.
- Recruiting: The Bears are already using the FBS jump to pull in talent that might have previously looked at Youngstown State.
- Scheduling: We might not see these two play again for a decade. Once a team moves up, those non-conference games get booked years in advance.
- Revenue: The financial gap is about to get much wider.
What Most People Get Wrong About YSU vs MO State
A lot of casual fans see the final score of a game like the 2024 matchup and think YSU's defense was just bad. That’s not really the case. Honestly, the Penguins played a "perfect" game in terms of strategy. They kept the Missouri State offense off the field for two-thirds of the game.
The problem? Missouri State’s efficiency was through the roof.
When you average nearly 10 yards per play, you don't need the ball for long. Missouri State was playing "strike" football while Youngstown was playing "siege" football. In the end, the strike won out.
Nuance in the Numbers
If you look at the total yardage—464 for Mo State and 424 for YSU—the game looks dead even. And it was. The difference was turnover luck and red zone efficiency. Missouri State went 3-for-3 in the red zone. Youngstown State went 4-for-5. That one missed opportunity for YSU was literally the difference in the game.
What’s Next for Both Programs?
Since this was their final conference meeting, both schools are heading in wildly different directions. Youngstown State is left trying to maintain its status as a powerhouse in an MVFC that still features North Dakota State and South Dakota State. Meanwhile, Missouri State is trying to prove they belong at the "big table" of FBS football.
If you’re a fan of either team, here are the real-world implications:
For Youngstown State Fans
You've gotta be happy with Beau Brungard. He’s a special talent. The concern is the secondary. Allowing an 84% completion rate is a recipe for disaster in the MVFC. The Penguins need to figure out how to generate a pass rush without selling out their coverage.
For Missouri State Fans
The Jacob Clark-to-Lance Mason connection is elite. As the Bears move to Conference USA, they have the offensive firepower to compete immediately. The worry is the defense. Giving up 244 rushing yards is a red flag, especially when you move up to a level where offensive lines are even bigger and more athletic.
Practical Next Steps for Following the Rivalry
Since the conference tie is severed, the way you follow these teams changes.
- Check the 2026-2027 Non-Conference Schedules: Athletic directors often try to schedule "regional" games to save on travel costs. Keep an eye out for a "home and home" series announcement.
- Watch the Transfer Portal: You’ll likely see players from YSU looking to "move up" to Missouri State now that they are FBS, or vice versa if a Bear player wants more playing time in a familiar conference.
- Monitor the MVFC Standings: With Missouri State gone, there is a power vacuum in the middle of the conference. Can Youngstown State reclaim its spot in the top three?
The 2024 game was a hell of a way to say goodbye. It wasn't clean, it wasn't always pretty, but it was exactly what a college football rivalry should be. One team dominated the clock, the other dominated the big play, and it all came down to a tight end catching a ball in the corner of the end zone with the sun setting over Springfield. You can't ask for much more than that.
Actionable Insights:
- Review the 2024 Game Film: If you have ESPN+, go back and watch the fourth quarter of the Sept 28, 2024 game. It is a clinic on two-minute drill execution.
- Track Missouri State's FBS Transition: Follow their 2025 season openers against big-name opponents to see how the talent level from the YSU game translates to the higher level.
- Watch the YSU Rushing Stats: See if Beau Brungard continues his 100-yard-per-game pace; if he does, he's a legitimate Walter Payton Award candidate.
