Is 2009 lucky 13 for YSU?

COLLEGE FOOTBALL | Saturday’s matchups

The Penguins have finished in first place in the MVC twice in 12 years.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State begins its 13th season of play in the Missouri Valley Football Conference on Saturday when the Penguins travel to Indiana State in a 12:05 p.m. kickoff in Terre Haute, Ind.

The Penguins haven’t exactly dominated play in the league over the last 12 years.

Youngstown State has finished first in the standings only twice in those 12 seasons. In 2005 they tied with Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois with 5-2 records and while the Panthers and Salukis advanced to the playoffs, the Penguins did not.

YSU’s last trip to the postseason came in 2006 when they won their only outright championship with a 6-1 record and then advanced to the NCAA FCS semifinals before losing to eventual champion Appalachian State.

The Penguins do hold one of only two national championships won by the conference and that came in their first season in the league (1997) when they finished third in the standings, made the playoffs with a 9-2 record and then ran the table beating McNeese State in the title game 10-7.

Western Kentucky, who is no longer in the conference, owns the other national crown in 2002.

The Penguins returned to the national championship game in 1999 before losing to Georgia Southern 59-24. The Penguins finished second in the conference standings that season.

In 12 seasons the Penguins have a combined conference record of 46-34. Last year they struggled to a 3-5 conference schedule, although they did win their final two conference games.

YSU qualified for the postseason three times in its first four years in the conference, but have been back just once since, in 2006.

In 2001 they tied for second with Western Kentucky, both with 8-3 overall records, but the Hilltoppers advanced to the playoffs and the Penguins didn’t.

Even in 2005 when the Penguins tied for first place with Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois, all with 8-3 overall records, the Panthers and Salukis advanced and the Penguins stayed at home.

Throughout the years there have only been two conference opponents that the Penguins have really dominated. They are Indiana State and Missouri State. The Penguins have beaten the Sycamores 12 straight times and are 10-2 against the Bears, although one of those losses came last season in Springfield, Mo.

The rest of the conference has given the Penguins a rough time, but no team has dominated the Penguins like Northern Iowa.

The Panthers hold a 10-2 record against the Penguins since they joined the conference and have won the last eight meetings. YSU hasn’t beaten the Panthers since the 2000 season at home 28-24 and their last win at the UNIDome came in 1999 29-20. Overall since 1978 the Penguins are 6-17 against the Panthers.

The Penguins are 6-6 against Southern Illinois, but five of those wins came in the first six seasons they were members and they have won just once in the last six meetings.

YSU holds a slim 7-6 advantage over Illinois State, but the Redbirds have won the last two games, while the Penguins lead Western Illinois 7-5 and have won the last five meetings.

The Penguins are 0-1 against South Dakota State and 1-0 against North Dakota State, who both just joined the conference last season.

mollica@vindy.com