Finally, a complete contest

That old saying "better late than never" certainly applies to the Youngstown State football team.
The Penguins, who have struggled all season on offense, defense and special teams, finally put it all together Saturday in a 45-20 win over Indiana State.
True, the Sycamores are not one of the elite teams of the Gateway Conference, but the Penguins are just happy to have some company down there in the cellar.
With 418 total yards the Penguins easily had their best offensive showing of the year and junior tailback Josh Cayson proved that he's still the team's No. 1 ground gainer.
Defense allowsToo much yardage
Still, the Penguins defense gives up entirely too much yardage. Allowing 351 yards against Indiana State was entirely too much.
The Sycamores don't have much of a running game, so everybody knew they would throw and they did, for 230 yards.
Receivers are left too wide open, especially in crucial third down situations.
But the bottom line is that the defense found a way to hold off the Sycamores and get the win. Now they have to do it two more times and both will be on the road.
Saturday the Penguins travel to Macomb, Ill., to face Western Illinois, a place where they have never had much success.
Since 1997, when the Penguins joined the Gateway Conference they have never beaten Western Illinois in Macomb.
Macomb not fun place to visit
If you've never been to Macomb, Ill., you are lucky. First of all it's in the middle of nowhere and you can't get there from anywhere.
Once you do get to Macomb, you wish that you were somewhere else. I've always wondered how in the world they get players to come there to play and over the years they've had their share of great ones.
The Leathernecks are having one of their rare off years on the field, but they are always tough at home. If the Penguins are ever going to win at Macomb, this might be the year.
The season finale is at Southwest Missouri State in Springfield, Mo.
This is a much better trip at least you get to see houses and people while driving from the airport.
It is also a good place for the Penguins since they have never lost in Springfield. In fact the Penguins have never lost to the Bears in eight meetings.
Press box servicesare the best
I'd be remiss not to mention the outstanding job that Youngstown State athletic department does every home game in the press box.
The Penguins may be in last place in the conference standings, but they are in first place by a mile in pre-game meals for the media.
I've been to every Gateway stadium and I've also been to games at Ohio State, Penn State and Notre Dame, and nowhere does the media get a feast like they put on in Stambaugh Stadium.
Visiting press are amazed. "You guys get this every week," they ask.
Of course the university could not provide such outstanding service without the help from a lot of people and businesses.
The Youngstown State Food Services is there to provide a hot meal at every game. Those meals include chicken, hot sausage, pasta and much more.
Then for the junk food junkies there is the vast array of pizza. I've been to many places where they might bring in four of five pizzas for the entire meal.
At YSU there are 18-20 pizzas from Belleria, Inner Circle, Papa John's and Pizza Hut.
If that's not enough how about three or four buckets of wings from Buffalo Wild Wings and maybe some sandwiches from Subway.
Belleria's Frank Fratarolli serves as the press box host each week during the home games.
The Penguins might be 3-6 on the field, but they are 9-0 up in the press box.
XPete Mollica covers YSU athletics for The Vindicator. Write to him at mollica@vindy.com.