COLLEGE FOOTBALL YSU visits Indiana State where Penguins are unbeaten

YSU has won all six games played against the Sycamores in Terre Haute.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The Youngstown State football team is in a city where it never has lost in six previous games.
The Penguins (4-3, 1-1 Gateway Conference) take on Indiana State (3-4, 0-2) today at 2:05 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
This series began in 1988 with the Penguins winning 25-7 at Stambaugh Stadium. The two teams have met 12 times and the Penguins hold a commanding 11-1 series advantage.
Most of the games here have been close. The Penguins won 20-19 in 1989, 30-24 in 1992 and 14-3 in 1993.
Following a 31-0 romp in 1997, they had to eke out a 31-28 win in 1999 and won 35-21 in 2001.
Last year in Youngstown, the Penguins posted a 31-16 victory as P.J. Mays rushed for 176 yards and a touchdown and Josiah Doby scored two TDs.
The YSU defense held the Sycamores to just 68 yards rushing in that game and did not commit a turnover.
Last week
Indiana State is coming off a 22-14 loss at Northern Iowa, falling behind 19-0 before making a game out of it. The Sycamores' other Gateway loss was at home to Southern Illinois, 37-14.
YSU is coming off a 54-20 defeat at the hands of Western Illinois while the Penguins defeated Southwest Missouri State in its Gateway opener 34-7. Both games were at Stambaugh Stadium.
Today's big Gateway match-up is at Macomb, Ill., where the No. 2-ranked Western Illinois Leathernecks (5-1, 2-0) play host to undefeated Southern Illinois at 2:05.
The Salukis (6-0, 2-0) drubbed Illinois State 45-17 at home last week.
The Salukis surprised the Leathernecks a year ago, pulling off a 54-52 upset that snapped WIU's 18-game winning streak in the series. WIU leads the series 33-11-4. SIU's last win in Macomb was in 1983.
WKU on the road
Western Kentucky (4-2, 1-1) is on the road at Illinois State (3-4, 0-2 Gateway) for a 3:30 p.m. contest in Normal, Ill.
The Hilltoppers dropped their Gateway opener to Western Illinois 33-28 and last week had to kick a field goal on the game's final play to defeat Southwest Missouri State 9-6.
Western holds a 7-2 series advantage over the Redbirds, including a 9-0 win last year. It will be Homecoming for the Redbirds.
Northern Iowa (5-1, 2-0) will try to extend its winning streak to six straight today when it travels to Southwest Missouri State (3-3, 0-2) at 2:30 p.m. in Springfield, Mo.
The Panthers lead the Bears 19-4 in the series, including a 25-24 squeaker a year ago. The Bears also will be celebrating Homecoming today.