Liberty the foe tonight at YSU

By Pete Mollica

The Penguins have a winning history against the Flames, who have won eight consecutive games.

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State has posted a 21-2 record at home since the start of the 2005 season.

Today the Penguins (2-2) will take a two-game home winning streak against unbeaten Liberty University (3-0) in a 6 p.m. kickoff at Stambaugh Stadium.

Today’s game will mark the ninth in the series between the Penguins and Flames, with the Penguins holding a 6-2 edge, including victories in the last four meetings.

YSU has won nine straight regular season games at home against non-conference opponents. Their last defeat came in 2004 against Florida International, 22-16 in overtime.

Liberty comes into the contest with an eight-game winning streak, the second longest active streak in the FCS. They are also the defending champions of the Big South Conference.

In YSU’s six victories over the Flames they have scored at least 27 points, including a 42-0 rout the last time the two teams met in 2005 in Lynchburg, Va. The series began in 1988.

While Liberty was idle last week, the Penguins were impressive with a 32-24 victory over then-No. 2 ranked North Dakota State.

YSU lost another starter on defense when senior cornerback Jarvis Richards suffered a season-ending knee injury. Injuries have forced the Penguins to move people around and play a lot of young players. In four games the Penguins have used 17 players who were making their first career starts.

Last week redshirt freshman Kamryn Keys led the team with 146 yards rushing on 21 carries. He was the first YSU freshman since Adrian Brown in 1996 to rush for more than 100 yards in a game.

Also, senior placekicker Brian Palmer converted two field goals to run his school record consecutive streak to 14 straight, including his last 11 in 2007.

There will be just one matchup this week in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, but it will be a big one.

Last season’s two top teams in the conference standings, Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois, will clash today in Carbondale, Ill., at 7 p.m. The Panthers (2-1, 1-0 MVFC) holds a 15-11 series edge over the Salukis (1-1, 0-0). Last year UNI posted a 30-24 win, the Salukis’ only conference defeat.

Winless Indiana State (0-3) will play host to Southeast Missouri State in a 12:05 p.m. kickoff in Terre Haute, Ind. This series is deadlocked at 3-3 with SEMO winning last year’s contest, 13-10. It is also the home opener for the Sycamores, where they last tasted victory on Oct. 21, 2006.

South Dakota State (2-2, 2-1) will travel to Nacogdoches, Texas, for a 7 p.m. meeting with Stephen F. Austin. It is only the second meeting between the teams with Jackrabbits winning last year’s contest, 45-0.

North Dakota State, Illinois State, Missouri State and Western Illinois are all idle this weekend.

mollica@vindy.com