YSU and rival in need of a win

By Pete Mollica

The Penguins and Missouri State are near the bottom of the conference standings.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Youngstown State will try to buck the odds today when the Penguins are the opponent for Missouri State’s homecoming. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m.

In the eight Missouri Valley Football Conference games played this season the road team has lost five times. Two of the road victories have come at Indiana State where the Sycamores have lost 26 straight games and 43 of their last 44.

The other road team victory came last week right at Missouri State, where the Bears lost 33-21 to Western Illinois.

YSU is 0-3 on the road this season and is coming off a 14-7 loss at Southern Utah last week.

The Penguins have had great success against the Bears holding an all-time mark of 11-1 going into today’s contest. Last year the Penguins posted a 49-21 win at Stambaugh Stadium.

Missouri State’s only victory in the series came in 2004, a 34-28 decision in Springfield.

In last year’s victory YSU’s tailback Kevin Smith scored three touchdowns and rushed for 102 yards, while wide receiver Ferlando Williams added two scores, one on a run and the other on a pass from quarterback Tom Zetts.

Smith, now a senior, has been injured since fall camp and has not dressed for a game this season.

The Penguins may also be without junior starting quarterback Brandon Summers, who sprained his knee last week and is questionable for today. Redshirt freshman Paul Corsaro, who played the final three quarters last week, will be the starter if Summers can’t play.

Missouri State is still looking for its first home victory of the season. The Bears are 0-2 at Plaster Field, including a season-opening 35-27 loss to Division II Washburn.

Today’s contest will be the 700th in the Penguins’ history and it’s also coach Jon Heacock’s 48th birthday.

The Penguins (2-4, 1-1 MVC) have lost two consecutive games. They haven’t lost three in a row since 2004.

Injuries have taken their toll on the YSU depth chart. Last week four players made their first career start, bringing this season’s total to 22.

There is a full slate of games in the conference today, with only South Dakota State (3-3, 2-1) being idle.

Illinois State (2-2, 1-0), the only team without a conference loss this year, will be on the road today at Northern Iowa (3-2, 1-1) in a 5:05 p.m. kickoff at Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Panthers have won four straight in the series, including a 23-13 victory last season. The Redbirds’ last win at the UNI-Dome came in 2002.

Western Illinois (3-2, 1-1) will be on the road at North Dakota State (3-2, 1-1) in a 4 p.m. kickoff at Fargo, N.D. Last year the Bison posted a 41-28 win in the only other meeting between the teams.

Southern Illinois (2-2, 1-1) will play host to Indiana State (0-5, 0-1) in a 2:30 p.m. kickoff at Carbondale, Ill. The Salukis routed the Sycamores 72-10 a year ago, but still hold just a 23-22 edge in the overall series although they have won the last five meetings.

mollica@vindy.com