YSU FOOTBALL Panthers looking to be the spoiler

Northern Iowa leads the overall series, 12-6.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Today is homecoming at Youngstown State University and that usually means a victory by the Penguins' football team.
YSU (2-4, 0-2 Gateway) will square off against Northern Iowa (1-4, 0-2 Gateway) at 4 p.m. today at Stambaugh Stadium in the 64th homecoming game.
Throughout the years the Penguins have been successful in homecoming games, posting a 47-15-1 overall record, and are 18-5 since moving up to Division I-AA.
Last year the Penguins saw an 11-game homecoming win streak snapped by Illinois State, 35-25.
A first
This will mark the first time the Panthers have been the homecoming opponent. Northern Iowa leads the overall series, 12-6, including a 47-9 rout a year ago in the UNI-Dome at Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Youngstown State will also introduce the new athletic hall of fame inductees at halftime.
The nine new members will be inducted at a pre-game brunch. They are Donna Djorovic (basketball), Mona Jackson (track), Reggie Kemp (basketball), Angelo Pezzuolo (football), Chris Sammarone (football), Randy Smith (football), Lester Weaver (football) and Denise DeBartolo York and John York (contributors).
A conference matchup will determine first place and possibly the eventual champion.
Big clash
Top-ranked Southern Illinois (5-1, 2-0) will play host to No. 4 Western Kentucky (4-1, 2-0) at 7 p.m. at Carbondale, Ill.
Oddly enough, both victories for each team have come against YSU and Northern Iowa.
Western Kentucky leads the series with SIU, 8-4, and has won six of the last eight meetings. However, Southern Illinois won last year's game in Bowling Green, Ky., 28-24.
Indiana State and Southwest Missouri State, both 4-2 overall and 1-1 in the Gateway, will square off in Terre Haute, Ind., today at 7 p.m. in Memorial Stadium.
Both teams finished in the cellar of the conference standings a year ago but have been a big surprise this season.
The series
The Bears lead the overall series, 11-7, including a 45-10 victory over the Sycamores last year in Springfield, Mo.
The final conference matchup will be in Macomb, Ill., where Western Illinois (3-3, 1-1) plays host to Illinois State (3-2, 1-1) at 2:05 p.m. at Hanson Field.
The Leathernecks, who lead the series 45-37-3, have won three in a row from the Redbirds and 11 of the past 14. Last year WIU posted a 24-20 victory in Normal, Ill.
mollica@vindy.com