YSU-KSU renew rivalry

The Penguins are one of four Gateway teams playing Division I-A opponents.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- When the Youngstown State football team squares off against Kent State tonight at Dix Stadium, the Penguins will be one of four Gateway Conference teams to be battling Division I-A opponents.
YSU, unbeaten in its first two games, probably has the easiest task of the four as Kent State (1-1) has had only one winning season in the past 14 years.
The Penguins hold a 6-3 advantage over the Golden Flashes in the series, and YSU has won the last three games, most recently in 2000 when the Penguins prevailed 26-20, also at Kent.
At stake tonight will be the Schwebel's Challenge Series trophy, which goes to the winner of this contest and is currently in the Penguins possession. The trophy is presented by the Schwebel's Baking of Youngstown.
The 2000 game
When the teams last met in 2000, Jeff Ryan of Boardman was the quarterback and he tossed two touchdown passes as the Penguins jumped out to a 20-7 halftime lead.
Kent battled back to close to within 26-20 with a minute remaining, but YSU recovered an onside kick and ran out the clock.
Thus far this season, the Gateway Conference is 1-3 against I-A opposition as Western Illinois defeated Eastern Michigan last week 34-12.
Northern Iowa lost to Iowa State 17-10, Illinois State lost to Illinois 49-22 and Indiana State dropped a 31-7 game to Ball State in other action involving I-A opponents.
Difficult tasks
Today, the other three teams playing against I-A competition have difficult tasks.
The Leathernecks (2-0) must travel to Louisiana State in a 7 p.m. contest in Baton Rouge, La. This is the first meeting between the two teams.
Southwest Missouri State (1-0) is expected to have its hands full against Oklahoma State in a 6 p.m. contest at Stillwater, Okla. OSU won last meeting between the teams in 1996, 23-20 in overtime.
Indiana State (1-1) will face intra-state rival Indiana of the Big Ten. The two teams haven't met since 1925 when the Hoosiers posted a 31-0 victory. Game time is 7 p.m.
Other games
In other Gateway action today Southern Illinois, winners of two straight, take on Murray State of the OVC at 7 p.m. The Racers defeated the Salukis 42-24 a year ago.
Illinois State (1-1) should get back on the winning track today when it plays host to Truman State in an 8 p.m. contest. The Redbirds defeated Truman 41-9 in their only other meeting back in 1999.
Northern Iowa (1-1) and Western Kentucky (2-0) are idle this week.
mollica@vindy.com