Western Illinois running back Travis Glasford tied the Gateway Conference record with five touchdowns to lead the second-ranked Leathernecks over the Youngstown State football team 54-20 on Saturday afternoon.

Glasford, who rushed for 198 yards on 35 carries, scored on runs of two, eight, 19, 26, and 45 yards. Quarterback Russ Michna was 11-of-18 for 156 yards and threw one touchdown pass while Reggie Gray had seven reception for 156 yards and a touchdown.

YSU quarterback Matt Rycraft rushed 21 times for 152 yards and two touchdowns while adding another through the air to lead the Penguins.

With the loss, Youngstown State falls to 4-3 overall and 1-1 in the Gateway while WIU improves to 5-1 and 2-0 in the conference.

Western Illinois jumped out to a 27-0 lead in the first half after scoring on five of their first eight possessions and forcing four YSU fumbles.

"We give Western Illinois a lot of credit," YSU Head Coach Jon Heacock said. "They deserve to be No. 2 in the country if not higher and we didn't do anything to help ourselves."

WIU forced its first fumble on YSU's third play from scrimmage when Jon Kowalyshen got through the offensive line and sacked Aaron Marshall and Russell Lee returned the fumble eight yards to the YSU 11. However, the Penguin defense held the Leathernecks to minus-one yard on three plays and WIU settled for a 29-yard field goal by Justin Langan.

On the ensuing kickoff, Durell Preston failed to receive the ball cleanly and WIU's Terrance Hall recovered at the YSU five yardline. The Penguin defense held the Leathernecks to three yards on three plays, but Glasford scored on a fourth-and-goal from the two to give WIU a 10-0 lead at the 10:32 mark in the opening quarter.

After Langan missed a 40-yard field goal on WIU's next possession, Marshall mishandled a snap and Russell recovered his second fumble of the contest at the YSU 21-yardline.

Michna found Reggie Gray for an 11-yard completion on the first play of the drive to give the Leathernecks a first-and-goal at the 10. After Glasford rushed for seven yards on first down, the Penguin defense came up with three straight stops inside the three yardline to turn WIU away.

Following a YSU punt, WIU assembled a three play, 44-yard drive on their next possession to take a 17-0 advantage. Michna found Gray for a 21-yard completion to open the drive, then Glasford ran 19 yards up the middle for his second touchdown two plays later.

WIU's Tim Martz forced YSU's fourth fumble of the opening quarter on the ensuing kickoff when he hit Preston at the YSU 23. Michna connected with Gray on a 12-yard touchdown pass on the third play of the drive with 14:13 remaining in the second quarter to give the Leathernecks a 24-0 lead.

The Leathernecks tacked on another field goal at the 7:19 mark in the second quarter when Langan connected on a 42 yarder to give WIU a 27-0 advantage.

The Penguins got on the board with 1:47 remaining in the first half on a 35-yard rush by Rycraft. After starting on their own 38, YSU marched 62 yards on eight plays, five of which were rushes by Rycraft.

On the third play of the drive, Rycraft found Mike Burns for a 10-yard completion on a third-and-eight. Rycraft then had rushes of 10 and eight yards to the WIU 32 before his 35-yard scamper to make the score 27-7 at the half.

"Matt does some things that puts some pressure on you," Heacock said. "You see him running around and it's out of the norm. He's a gutsy player."

After forcing a WIU punt, the Penguins opened up the second half with a 10 play, 82-yard touchdown drive when Rycraft connected with Mike Roberts for 22-yards to make the score 27-14.

The YSU defense stopped the Leathernecks again on their second possession of the second half and YSU took over on their own 38 with 4:48 remaining in the third quarter. However, Josh Cayson fumbled on the third play of the drive and WIU recovered at the YSU 46.
Four plays later, Glasford put the Leathernecks up 33-14 on a 26-yard rush over the left guard with 1:23 remaining in the third stanza.

WIU added another touchdown on their next possession when Glasford rushed on all four plays of the drive that covered 22 yards and gave the Leathernecks a 40-14 lead.

Rycraft got the Penguins back within 20 on a three-yard scamper with 10:52 remaining, but WIU scored on their final two possessions.

The Pengiuns will continue their 2003 campaign when they travel to Indiana State on Oct. 18 for a 1:05 p.m. kickoff against the Sycamores.