The Sycamores went in to Saturday's game against 24th ranked Youngstown State University at Memorial Stadium with one thing to prove: that they have gone from pretenders to contenders. After traveling to Western Kentucky University last weekend and coming away with their first win over a NCAA FBS division opponent since 2001, the Sycamores needed to prove that they were not a fluke, and that is just what they did.

On the Sept. 17 game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, sophomore running back Shakir Bell ran for 221 yards and two touchdowns, which propelled him to fifth place on the all-time list for number of yards rushed in a game in Sycamore history.  Bell finished Saturday's game against the Penguins with 256 yards and four touchdowns with a 12.2-yard average.  His efforts propelled him to the number one position on the all-time rushing list for the Sycamores with 225 of the 256 amassed in the first half of play.

"Shakir was outstanding," Trent Miles, ISU football head coach said.  "He is an outstanding individual and player, but those guys up there blocking and those receivers blocking down field for him did a great job also.  They were able to come out and set a tone offensively and then defensively. I thought we came out and set a great tone."

Senior quarterback Ronnie Fouch threw 17 passes completing 11 of them for 189 yards and 1 touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Leonard Riston.

On the Sycamores' first possession of the game, they were on the scoreboard in just one play as Bell ran for 69 yards.  The next time the Sycamores had the ball, Bell would have another rushing touchdown and two carries. Bell had 100 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter, giving the Sycamores the lead with 11 minutes to go in the quarter. The defense was dominant in the first quarter forcing Youngstown State to punt on their first three possessions.

"Our defensive tone early help set the stage for the offense to be able to do what they did, so we kind of fed off each other there and jumped out," Miles said.

The Sycamores scored again following an 11-yard touchdown pass from Fouch to Riston with 4 minutes remaining in the quarter.  The Penguins would retaliate with seconds to go in the quarter, and the quarter would end with the Sycamores up by 14 (21-7).

Bell continued his dominance going into the second quarter with a 61-yard touchdown run with just 15 seconds off the clock and a 51-yard run with four minutes remaining in the quarter.  The Penguins continued to remain close, and the Sycamores would go in to half time with a 34 to 21 lead.

The third quarter was controlled by each teams' defenses as they held the opposing team from scoring. 

With 13 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Penguins found the end zone on a one-yard touchdown.  The Sycamores extended their lead with a 22-yard field goal from sophomore place kicker Cory Little, but, with just 1:21 to go in the game, Youngstown State quarterback Kurt Hess found a receiver in the end zone to make it a two point game, 35 to 37.

Youngstown State had one last chance with an onside kick. However the kick would not travel 10 yards, and by rule, the Sycamores would get the ball with one minute remaining, allowing them to just run out the clock.

The Sycamores' win over Youngstown State gives them their first win over a ranked opponent since 2004. It also gives the Sycamores their first three- game win streak since 1996.

The Sycamores move 3-1 for the season. They travel to South Dakota State this weekend to face off with the Jackrabbits. That game is a scheduled  for a 2:05 p.m. kickoff.