YOUNGSTOWN — With a ton of returners offensively and a new defensive coordinator overseeing things on the other side of the ball, Youngstown State concluded spring practice with the annual Red-White Game on Saturday at Stambaugh Stadium.

Despite missing several key starters who missed the spring after undergoing surgery in the winter, the White team (defense) overcame three touchdowns by the Red team (offense) to secure the 29-23 victory.

Salem High School graduate Ross Davidson contributed to the win with an interception against YSU true freshman quarterback Shane Cole in the second half.

The first-team offense opened the scrimmage with a long, methodical drive that ended with Walter Payton Award-winning quarterback Beau Brungard completing a 3-yard touchdown pass to Ohio State transfer Dorian Williams.

From there, the defense got on the board with back-to-back three-and-outs, as the defensive reserves stood tall against backup quarterbacks Malachi Lewis and Zeb Kinsey, a Toronto High School graduate.

Brungard returned to lead another drive, but this time, the defense got off the field and held the first-team offense to a field goal, which Andrew Lastovka converted from 36 yards out to give the Red team a 10-9 lead.

After another pair of stalled drives from the offensive reserves, the first quarter ended with the Red team ahead 10-9.

The defense continued to impose its will to start the second quarter, as the first-team unit stopped a drive near midfield and another three-and-out by the defensive reserves put the defense ahead 13-10.

Nearing the end of the half, Brungard orchestrated his third scoring drive of the afternoon, finding Jeremiah Sanders, who made an acrobatic, diving 3-yard touchdown reception towards the sidelines. After a failed two-point try, the Red team led the White 16-13.

The White team then earned its first and only touchdown of the day on the ensuing drive, as defensive lineman Justin Thomas picked up a fumble by Kinsey and rumbled in from 20 yards out when the ball slipped out of Kinsey’s hands as he dropped back to pass.

By halftime, the White team led 25-16, as the defense minimized big plays and forced the offense to have to work its way down the field in order to score.

The first-teamers didn’t play during a 20-minute, running-clock second half, as the reserves had their opportunity to shine.

Cole had the reserve unit’s only touchdown of the period, leading the offense down the field, before capping the drive off with a 2-yard touchdown run by Da’Shaun Whatley.