COLLEGE FOOTBALL YSU set to snap losing streak

The Penguins play host to Liberty today at 6 p.m.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State will have its new scoreboard in full operation today when the Penguins play host to Liberty University at Stambaugh Stadium.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
The Penguins will also pay tribute to two of their best football teams.
The 1979 team finished 11-2 and competed in Division II, was the NCAA national runner-up, losing in the championship game, The Zia Bowl, in Albuquerque, N.M., to Delaware 38-21. Both losses that season came against the Blue Hens.
The 1994 team (14-0-1) tied its season opener against Stephen F. Austin, 10-10, then won 14 straight games, including a 28-14 victory over Boise State in the I-AA national championship game in Huntington, W.Va.
In two-game slump
The Penguins hope the excitement of the new scoreboard and the reunion of many players from those two teams will help them break out of a two-game losing streak.
YSU won its season opener against Slippery Rock, 35-13, but has suffered back-to-back losses to Florida International, 22-16 in overtime, and McNeese State, 24-20. In both games the Penguins had leads in the second half.
This will be the Penguins' final tune-up before entering Gateway Conference play.
Next week they travel to Western Kentucky and follow that up with home games against Southern Illinois (Oct. 9) and Northern Iowa (Oct. 16).
Gateway action
Gateway Conference teams were 5-3 last weekend, leaving Southwest Missouri State as the conference's only unbeaten team.
The Bears (3-0) defeated Union College (Ky.) 45-0 last week, but will have their work cut out today when they travel to Tulsa in a 6 p.m. contest. Tulsa is 6-0 all-time against the Bears.
Southern Illinois (2-1), which moved back to No. 1 in this week's Sports Network I-AA poll, will play at Delaware State at noon in the first meeting between the teams.
Indiana State (2-1), another surprise team this season, defeated Murray State 28-21 last week. The Sycamores play host to Tennessee-Martin today at 2 p.m. in the first meeting between the schools.
Leathernecks try to rebound
Western Illinois (1-2) is coming off a 40-20 thumping at the hands of Hampton last week. The Leathernecks will play host to Division II Quincy today at 7:05 p.m.
Western Kentucky (2-1), a 21-8 winner over Eastern Kentucky last week, and Illinois State (2-1), coming off a 35-31 victory over cross-state rival Eastern Illinois, both had their games today postponed.
Western Kentucky was scheduled to play Florida International, and Illinois State was scheduled to play at Florida Atlantic. Neither game has been rescheduled.
Northern Iowa (1-2), idle this week, is also coming off a loss against a good Stephen F. Austin team, 24-21. The Panthers' next game is Oct. 2 at Southern Illinois.
mollica@vindy.com