Penguins have nothing to lose

By Pete Mollica

Indiana State holds the nation’s longest losing streak of 23 games.

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown State football team hasn’t won since September.

It could be worse. Today’s opponent, Indiana State, hasn’t tasted victory since 2006.

The Penguins and Sycamores will clash today in a Missouri Valley Football Conference game at Stambaugh Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

Sixteen YSU seniors will be playing their final home football game. They will be honored in a pre-game ceremony along with their families.

YSU comes into the contest with a six-game losing streak, the second-longest single season loss streak in school history. YSU’s record was set in 1970 when the Penguins posted an 0-9 record, their only winless season.

On the other hand, the Sycamores have had two winless seasons in the last three years. And in the season they didn’t lose them all, they won once.

The Sycamores hold the nation’s longest losing streak of 23 games. Their last win, came in the team’s homecoming game in October 2006, a 28-27 win over Missouri State, Before that, the Sycamores had lost 24 straight. They’ve lost 47 of their last 48 games.

The closest Indiana State has come to a victory this season was in Week 4 when it dropped a 24-21 decision at home to Southeast Missouri State.

The Sycamores have given up 50 points or more on five occasions and are allowing the opposition 46.4 points and 416.8 yards per game. They’ve only scored six offensive touchdowns this season.

While the Penguins have struggled, they’ve been nowhere near as bad as their opponents. YSU has averaged 20.4 points a game, while they have allowed 40-plus points in four games. One of their losses was by a single point and two others were by a touchdown or less. YSU’s only two wins came back-to-back in weeks three and four beating Division II Central State 38-0 and following that up with a conference victory over North Dakota State 32-24.

The Penguins have had success playing on Senior Day. They’ve won four straight dating to 2004. Prior to last Saturday’s 54-44 loss to Illinois State, the Penguins had won 48 straight games when scoring 30-or-more points.

In conference action today, No. 4 ranked Northern Iowa (7-2, 5-1), which holds a half-game lead over Southern Illinois and South Dakota State in the standings, is home to Missouri State in a 5:05 p.m. kickoff in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

The Salukis (6-2, 4-1) and ranked No. 9 will be at home to No. 17 ranked Western Illinois (5-3, 3-2) in a 3 p.m. kickoff at Carbondale, Ill. If the Salukis win their final three games, they would claim the MVFC’s automatic bid.

In another game, the Jackrabbits (5-4, 4-1) will play host to Illinois State (3-5, 2-3) in a 2 p.m. contest in Brookings, S.D.

mollica@vindy.com