COLLEGE FOOTBALL YSU seeks ray of light in the Sunshine State

A win over Florida Atlantic would snap the Penguins' poor streak in Florida.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
MIAMI -- The state of Florida hasn't been kind to Youngstown State. The Penguins hope to rectify that situation today.
YSU will clash with Florida Atlantic tonight at 7 in Pro Player Stadium, home of the NFL's Miami Dolphins.
The Penguins (3-2) have a two-game winning streak on the line, while the Owls look to snap a five-game losing streak.
0-for-Florida
Youngstown State is winless in four previous games in Florida, including a 44-32 loss to Daunte Culpepper and Central Florida in 1998.
YSU's other losses in Florida were to Tampa (49-0) in 1970 and Pensacola Navy (17-14 in 1967 and 21-6 in 1969).
Tonight's game will be a homecoming for 11 members of the YSU squad, all natives of the Sunshine State.
They are seniors Jerald Burley (Fort Lauderdale) and Guy Mazard (Miami); juniors Luis Gonzalez (Miami) and Larry Williams (Miami); sophomores Mike Roberts (Plant City) and Norris Kennedy (Lake Wales); and freshmen Mike Andrews (Oldsmar), Tyler Morton (Palm Harbor), Justin Reams (Miami), T.J. Peterson (Fort Lauderdale) and Damian Wright (Plantation).
Tonight's game will be Youngstown State's first meeting with Florida Atlantic, which is just in its second season in I-AA.
The Penguins have fared well against first-time opponents. In 38 games since 1980, they have posted a 33-5 record against new opposition. Most recently was last season when the Penguins defeated Elon 45-7 at Stambaugh Stadium.
In the conference
Three Gateway Conference games are on tap today.
Red-hot Southern Illinois, coming off a 54-52 upset of previously unbeaten Western Illinois last week, will play host to Northern Iowa tonight at 8.
The Salukis (3-3, 1-0 Gateway), who ended an 18-game losing streak to the Leathernecks, are hoping for another big game from junior tailback Muhammad Abdulqaadir, who had gained over 1,000 yards in five games.
Northern Iowa (3-2, 0-1) was upset 31-12 by Western Kentucky last week. The Panthers lead the series 12-8 and won last year in the UNI-Dome, 19-14.
Western Illinois (4-1, 1-1) tries to get back on track when it plays host to Illinois State (3-2, 1-0 Gateway) tonight at 7:05. The Leathernecks lead the series 43-37-1 and won last year's match-up 33-23.
Indiana State (2-4, 0-1) plays host to Southwest Missouri State (3-3, 0-2) at 7:30 in Terre Haute, Ind. The Sycamores won last year's game 25-19 but trail in the series, 6-10.
Western Kentucky (3-3, 2-1) will play a non-conference game tonight against Florida International at 8. It will be the first meeting between the teams.
mollica@vindy.com