YSU FOOTBALL Penguins eye sixth win today

The series between Youngstown State and Western Illinois is tied at 10-10.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown State and Western Illinois football teams will meet today for the 21st time, and the series is even at 10-10.
YSU, ranked 15th and 17th in the two Division I-AA national polls, sports a 5-1 record, including 2-0 in the Gateway Conference.
The Leathernecks are 2-4, 0-2, coming into today's 4 p.m. kickoff at Stambaugh Stadium.
This series began in 1969 and the first 12 meetings ended in 1984 with the Penguins holding a 7-5 advantage.
The series resumed in 1997 when YSU joined the Gateway Conference and Western Illinois has held the edge since then, 5-3.
Last season, the Penguins snapped a three-game losing streak to the Leathernecks with an impressive 34-9 victory in Macomb, Ill. It was the Penguins' first win in Macomb since 1982.
The last time the teams met at Stambaugh Stadium, the Leathernecks jumped out to a 27-0 lead and went on to a 54-20 victory.
The Penguins are trying for their first 3-0 start in the Gateway since 2000 when they won four straight.
Undefeated at home
YSU is unbeaten at home this year in three games and has won its last four straight home games dating to last season.
The Penguins have posted two shutout victories, 42-0 at Liberty and 45-0 at Indiana State last week. The last time they had two shutout wins in the same season was 1997.
YSU coach Jon Heacock is 2-2 against the Leathernecks, while WIU coach Don Patterson is 3-3 against the Penguins.
With the 2-0 start, the Penguins have equaled their conference victory total of each of the last two years.
The Penguins, Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky share first place in the Gateway with 2-0 records.
Other loop games
The Salukis, 4-1 overall, will play host to Illinois State (3-3, 0-2 Gateway) today at 7 p.m. in Carbondale, Ill.
SIU has won two straight from the Redbirds, including a 41-14 romp last year. The Salukis also lead the overall standings 34-30-3.
Western Kentucky, 4-1, will be at home today against Missouri State (3-2, 1-1) in Bowling Green, Ky., at 5 p.m.
The Hilltoppers lead the series against the Bears, 6-2, and have won six straight, including a 28-24 win last season.
The final league match-up will include Northern Iowa (3-2, 1-1) entertaining winless Indiana State (0-6, 0-2) today at 5:05 p.m. in the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
The Panthers lead the series 17-4 and have won 13 of the past 14 meetings, including a 58-6 win last season.
mollica@vindy.com