The Penguins play three of their last five games on the road, starting Saturday.

& lt;a href=mailto:mollica@vindy.com & gt;By PETE MOLLICA & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- With five Gateway Conference games remaining, Youngstown State coach Jon Heacock knows what has to be done.
The Penguins (4-3, 1-1 Gateway) are in a must-win situation for the rest of the year if they are to have any chance of winning the conference title or making the I-AA playoffs.
Saturday, the Penguins visit Indiana State (3-4, 0-2) at 2:05 p.m. at Memorial Stadium in Terre Haute, Ind.
Road warriors
The task won't be an easy one for YSU, which plays three of its remaining five games on the road, including back-to-back trips to Northern Iowa (Nov. 1) and Southern Illinois (Nov. 8).
This has been the first time in several seasons the Penguins have not been ranked in the polls, but Heacock isn't concerned about that.
"The only ranking that really means anything is the final one that the NCAA puts out," he said.
"Our conference is pretty tough this season," he added. "I don't know how competitive the other conferences are, but they can't be any tougher than the Gateway this year.
"We have to keep things in perspective here," said Heacock. "Who we are and where we are. We're just going to keep working as hard as we can every day and see where it gets us."
The Penguins have won 11 of the previous 12 meetings with Indiana State, but half of those games have been decided by a touchdown or less. YSU has never lost in Terre Haute and has won the last six meetings overall. Indiana State's lone win came in 1995, 13-6 at YSU.
Home debacle
Last Saturday, the Penguins suffered their worst home loss since 1968, 54-20 to No. 2 Western Illinois.
Junior quarterback Matt Rycraft came off the bench and sparked the Penguins to a brief comeback.
Rycraft set a school rushing record for a quarterback, gaining 152 yards on 21 carries, and he scored two touchdowns. He also passed for 85 yards and a third score.
Since freshman Tom Zetts' injury in the season opener, Rycraft has been the backup to sophomore Aaron Marshall, who has started the last 14 games.
But, Heacock said he has not made a decision on who will start Saturday.
Injuries
At least two other starters will not play Saturday because of injuries. Senior defensive back Sherod Holmes and redshirt freshman guard Pat Walker are both out and senior tailback Josiah Doby is questionable.
Redshirt freshman Jason Perry will start in place of Holmes, while Walker's loss will mean the Penguins will again have to shift around the offensive line. Center Brent Steiner will move to right guard and Ryan Jewell will play center.
Five turnovers doomed YSU last weekend. The Penguins have 17 turnovers this season and are minus-six overall.
"At this point in the season, even one turnover is too many," said Heacock. "We have to play mistake-free football the rest of the way."
& lt;a href=mailto:mollica@vindy.com & gt;mollica@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;