Game in Beehive State is a first

By Pete Mollica

Today’s contest will be played on natural turf, a surface YSU last won a non-conference road game on in 2002.

CEDAR CITY, Utah — The Youngstown State football team is making its first appearance here today when the Penguins meet Southern Utah in a 3 p.m. kickoff at the Eccles Coliseum.

The Penguins (2-3) and the Thunderbirds (2-3) are meeting for only the second time. The first meeting was last season in Youngstown when the Penguins had to rally for a 23-22 victory at Stambaugh Stadium.

YSU is coming off a last-second defeat to Liberty University 31-28 on Matt Bevins’ 24-yard field goal, while Southern Utah picked up its first road victory since 2004 when it defeated Texas State 34-20 in San Marcos, Texas.

In last year’s meeting the Thunderbirds scored first and held a 7-3 halftime lead. The Penguins came back with two third quarter field goals by Brian Palmer and a two-yard touchdown run by Ferlando Williams to take a 16-15 lead after three quarters.

Southern Utah scored first in the final quarter to regain the lead 22-16, but the Penguins drove 65 yards on nine plays with Williams running over from three yards out to regain the lead 23-16 with 5:26 remaining.

The Thunderbirds weren’t finished as they drove down to the YSU 17 yard line with just over a minute remaining, but Steve Pulver’s field goal attempt off a poor hold sailed wide left and the Penguins were able to run out the clock to preserve the one-point victory.

The game today will be played on natural turf and the Penguins last won a non-conference road game on grass back on Oct. 12, 2002 when it beat Florida Atlantic 24-17.

Palmer, the senior kicker from Mineral Ridge, leads all active NCAA FCS kickers with 135 extra-points made and 144 attempts. He is also third in field goal percentage at 80 percent (36-of-45). He also has made a school record 14 straight field goals dating back to last season.

The Penguins come into the contest hoping to regain their success in the running game. Two weeks ago the Penguins rushed for 340 yards with two players, Jabari Scott and Kamryn Keys, both going over the 100 yard mark. Last week the Penguins were held to 93 yards rushing by Liberty.

The Missouri Valley Football Conference action gets into full swing this weekend with three conference matchups on the schedule.

Conference leading Southern Illinois (2-1, 1-0) will visit North Dakota State (2-2, 0-1) in a 2 p.m. kickoff in Fargo, N.D. This is only the second meeting between the teams with the Salukis winning the other lone contest 9-0 in 2005.

Western Illinois (2-2, 0-1) will visit Missouri State (1-2, 0-0) for a 3 p.m. kickoff in Springfield, Mo. The Leathernecks hold a 14-12-1 advantage in the series including a 31-10 victory a year ago.

Illinois State (1-2, 0-0) and Indiana State (0-4, 0-0) will play their conference opener today in Terre Haute, Ind. at noon. The Redbirds hold a 29-28-2 advantage in the series and rolled over the Sycamores 69-17 last year.

South Dakota State (3-2, 2-1) will step out of the conference today to play host to McNeese State in a 3 p.m. kickoff in Brookings, S.D. In the only other meeting between the teams the Jackrabbits posted a 20-17 win back in 2006.

mollica@vindy.com