YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Youngstown State had been the hard-luck team of the Missouri Valley Football Conference in October with three losses to nationally ranked teams by a combined 11 points.
Saturday at Stambaugh Stadium was nothing but hard times for the Penguins, courtesy of a overwhelming Illinois State performance.
Unstoppable on the ground behind tailbacks James Robinson and Markel Smith, the 16th-ranked Redbirds dismantled No. 19 Youngstown, 35-0, before a sparse homecoming crowd that numbered far below the announced tickets sold attendance of 12,723.
ISU attempted only 12 passes and amassed 299 rushing yards while improving to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the MVFC.