MERCYHURST (0-0) vs YOUNGSTOWN STATE (0-0)
Thursday, Aug. 27 – 6:00 p.m.
Youngstown, Ohio – Stambaugh Stadium
TV: ESPN+

The Mercyhurst football team will officially begin the 2026 season Thursday evening when they travel to Youngstown State for a matchup at Stambaugh Stadium. The contest marks the second straight season the Lakers have opened their campaign against the Penguins and will also serve as the head-coaching debut of Thomas Sydeski. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.

The Lakers Are Back

Mercyhurst returns several key contributors from its 2025 squad, which finished 5-7 overall and 4-3 in NEC play. Senior wide receiver Dylan Evans returns after finishing among the NEC's top five in several receiving categories last season, recording 43 receptions for 571 yards and three receiving touchdowns. Evans also recorded a team-high 95 receiving yards on seven catches against Youngstown State last season.

Junior wide receiver Evan Van Dyke also returns after appearing in all 12 games in 2025. Van Dyke finished seventh in the NEC with 41 receptions and eighth with 395 receiving yards, while averaging 32.9 receiving yards per game. The Lakers will also look to sophomore running back Jameir Gamble, who rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown during his freshman season, as well as graduate running back Byron Cardwell Jr., who joins Mercyhurst after rushing for 267 yards and a touchdown at San Diego State in 2025.

Defensively, senior linebacker Jeff Leavell returns after leading the Lakers in 2025 with 80 total tackles, including 42 solo stops and 38 assisted tackles. Sophomore linebacker Jaiden Allos also returns after recording 29 tackles, including 20 solo stops, as a freshman. Sophomore linebacker Corey Cobb Jr. will look to build on a strong performance against Youngstown State last season, when he recorded five tackles and Mercyhurst's only sack of the game.

A Second Shot at YSU

Thursday's matchup will be the second meeting between Mercyhurst and Youngstown State. The Penguins won the first meeting, earning a 24-15 victory over the Lakers on Aug. 28, 2025, at Stambaugh Stadium.

Mercyhurst's offense produced 343 total yards in last year's matchup, with quarterback Adam Urena setting season highs with 32 completions and 48 passing attempts. Evans led the Lakers with seven receptions for 95 yards, while Van Dyke recorded six catches for 67 yards and a touchdown.

The Mercyhurst defense was led by Leavell, who recorded seven tackles, while Marshall added a season-high seven tackles. Allos also recorded five tackles and a pass breakup, while Cobb Jr. registered five tackles and a sack.

Top-10 Test Awaits and a Familiar Face

Youngstown State enters the 2026 season ranked No. 9 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll after making an FCS playoff appearance in 2025. The Penguins finished last season with a 24-15 victory over Mercyhurst before ultimately falling to Yale, 43-42, in the first round of the FCS playoffs after surrendering a 28-point second-half lead.

YSU returns 2025 Walter Payton Award winner and unanimous First-Team All-American Beau Brungard at quarterback. Brungard set Youngstown State single-season records in passing yards with 3,234 and rushing touchdowns with 27 last season while leading the FCS with 4,702 yards of total offense.

Standing across from Sydeski on Thursday will be former Lakers Head Coach Ryan Riemedio, who now calls the shots for a Youngstown State defense that will be tasked with slowing down the Lakers' offensive attack.

A New Chapter Begins 

Thursday's game will mark the beginning of the Thomas Sydeski era at Mercyhurst. Sydeski takes over as the seventh head coach in program history after serving as the Lakers' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during the previous two seasons. In 2025, Mercyhurst ranked third in the NEC in total offense and second in passing offense.

Sydeski will also look to continue Mercyhurst's strong history of head-coaching debuts, as five of the program's six previous head coaches won their first game leading the Lakers. 

Catch the Action

Fans unable to attend the game in person can watch the action live on ESPN+. Live statistics will also be available through ysusports.com.

Next Stop: New Mexico State

Following Thursday's matchup with Youngstown State, Mercyhurst will continue its nonconference schedule with a trip to New Mexico State on Sept. 5 at 9 p.m.