End of the line for 14 seniors; YSU needs win

Defending champion Western Kentucky hasn't lost to YSU in Gateway Conference games.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State's 14 seniors will end their careers with the Penguins today when they take on Western Kentucky at 1 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.
The Penguins, hampered by injuries the entire year, are 5-6 overall and 2-4 in the Gateway Conference and need a victory to avert their first losing season since 1995.
The Hilltoppers (7-3, 4-2) come into the game needing a victory to have any chance of defending their I-AA national championship.
The 14 seniors are tailbacks Mike Burns, Josiah Doby, Joe Patoray and Darius Peterson, offensive tackle Josh Davis, linebacker Justin Dellarose, fullbacks Chris DiMauro and Keland Logan, defensive tackle Steve Durbin, quarterback Luis Gonzalez, defensive backs Sherod Holmes, Waymann Peters and Scott Thiessen, and offensive guard Will Sanders.
The Penguins have not beaten the Hilltoppers since they joined the Gateway. WKU won the last two meetings, 24-14 in 2001 and 13-7 last season in Bowling Green, Ky.
YSU's last win over the Hilltoppers came in 1990 in Bowling Green, 17-14. WKU leads the all-time series 8-4.
Elsewhere
The biggest game in the Gateway will be in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where Northern Iowa (8-2, 5-1) plays host to Southern Illinois (10-0, 6-0) at the UNI-Dome at 6:05 p.m.
The winner of this game will receive the league's automatic bid to the I-AA playoffs, but the loser also figures to get into with an at-large bid.
Northern Iowa leads the all-time series 12-9, but SIU defeated the Panthers 42-13 last season. The home team has won six straight meetings in this series.
Another Gateway playoff contender, Western Illinois (7-3, 4-2) faces a must-win situation when it plays host to Southwest Missouri State (4-6, 1-5) at 2:05 in Macomb, Ill.
WIU leads the series 11-10-1 and won last year's contest, 28-23. The visiting team has won five straight in this series.
The final conference matchup will be in Normal, Ill., where Illinois State (5-6, 2-4) takes on Indiana State (3-8, 0-6).