James Madison is test after YSU rest

Today's survivor will meet the winner of the Eastern Illinois-Illinois State game next Saturday.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State returns to the postseason tonight for the first time since 2000 when the Penguins play host to James Madison University at Stambaugh Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 7:36 p.m. and the game will be nationally televised on ESPN2.
The Penguins, seeded No. 4 in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Series, has won three straight games and enters the postseason as the outright Gateway Conference champion.
The Penguins (9-2) had their first off week of the season last Saturday and historically the program has followed an off-week strong, posting an 18-3 record.
Dukes rolling
James Madison (9-2) has won eight of its last nine games, including a 38-3 win at Towson last Saturday. The Dukes posted a 7-1 mark in the Atlantic 10, winning the South Division title.
The Dukes did not qualify for the playoffs last year after winning the national championship in 2004.
YSU is playing in the program's first playoff contest since November 2000. The Penguins lost 10-3 at Richmond, which is also a member of the Atlantic 10.
Despite a two-game playoff losing streak, the Penguins are one of the most successful teams in the FCS postseason.
Overall, the Penguins are 23-6, posting a .793 winning percentage. At Stambaugh Stadium they are 12-1 with a 12-game winning streak. The last playoff game played at Stambaugh Stadium was in 1999 when the Penguins slipped past Florida A & amp;M, 27-24, on the way to their sixth national title game before losing in the championship game to Georgia Southern, 59-24.
Two other Gateway Conference teams are in action today in the playoffs.
Illinois State (8-3) will visit Eastern Illinois (8-4) of the Ohio Valley Conference in Charleston, Ill., at 2 p.m.
Salukis in action
Southern Illinois (8-3) will play host to Tennessee-Martin (10-2) which won the automatic bid in the OVC in a 2:30 p.m. kickoff.
Other playoff action includes top seeded Appalachian State (10-1) playing host to Coastal Carolina (9-2) at 3:30 p.m. in a game televised on ESPNU.
Montana State (7-4) plays host to Furman (8-3) at 3:30 p.m., while No. 3 seed Massachusetts (10-1) entertains Lafayette (6-5) at noon, Hampton (10-1) hosts New Hampshire (8-3) at 1 p.m. and No. 2 seeded Montana (10-1) will host McNeese State (7-4) at 2:30 p.m.
The winner of the YSU-James Madison game will meet the winner of the Eastern Illinois-Illinois State game next Saturday. The game will be at Stambaugh Stadium if the Penguins win.