Monday, October 20, 2003
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.