YSU renews CAA rivalry

The Penguins, who visit Northeastern today, have played many times against CAA members.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

BROOKLINE, Mass. — Youngstown State and the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) go back a long way and today the Penguins renew that rivalry when they take on Northeastern University in a 1 p.m. kickoff at Parsons Field.

The CAA only goes back to 2007, but before that for over 60 years it was called the Atlantic 10 Conference.

This will be the 10th meeting between YSU and Northeastern, but the two teams have only met once since the Huskies joined the CAA in 1993. That meeting was in 2005 at YSU with the Penguins coming away with a 35-16 victory.

The last time the Penguins played a CAA opponent was in 2006 when they defeated James Madison in the opening round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs in Youngstown, 35-31.

Overall the Penguins have played against 10 members or former members of the CAA and the overall record against those teams, many of which were not CAA members at the time of the meeting, is 29-16. In games played against CAA member schools the Penguins are 8-10.

Through the years the team the Penguins have had the most trouble against was Delaware where they are just 1-6 against the Blue Hens. The only other team to hold the edge over the Penguins is Richmond, who won the only meeting with the Penguins back is 2000 in the opening round of the playoffs 10-3.

The last time the Penguins won a road game against a CAA team was back in 1999 when they defeated Villanova 28-21 in the regular season final en route to a runner-up finish in the national playoffs.

The Penguins are 6-3 overall against Northeastern, but just 1-3 at Parsons Field. The Penguins only win here came in 1990 when they posted a perfect 11-0 record and beat the Huskies 37-3, which was one of the few one-sided contests between the teams.

While the Penguins are warming up for their Missouri Valley Football Conference opener next week, conference action officially begins today.

Indiana State (0-3) and No.18 ranked South Dakota State (1-0) open up the league schedule today in Brookings, S.D.

All of the other MVFC teams are in action, and four teams play their home openers (Illinois State, North Dakota State, Southern Illinois, Western Illinois).

The Redbirds (0-2) will host Austin Peay, while the Bisons (0-2) are home to Wagner, the Salukis (0-1) entertain Southwest Baptist and the Leathernecks (1-1) play host to Stephen F. Austin.

Northern Iowa (1-1) is at home with Saint Francis while Missouri State (1-1) takes on Murray State.

Two Valley Football players, QB Pat Grace of UNI and LB Derek Domino of South Dakota State, earned national player of the week honors.

Three MVFC teams are ranked in the Top 25 this week, including UNI (No. 4 in the FCS coaches poll and No. 3 in the Sports Network poll), Southern Illinois (8/9), and South Dakota State (21/18). Four other league schools (Missouri State, North Dakota State, Western Illinois and Youngstown State) received votes in The Sports Network rankings.

mollica@vindy.com