Oct. 25, 2005
Football: Mason, Scholes, Jones Pick Up Awards For MSU Contest
    Youngstown – Senior linebacker Justin Scholes, junior tailback Marcus Mason and senior free safety Herb Jones were selected as the Hill Barth & King Players of the Game for their efforts in the 31-7 Homecoming victory over Missouri State on Saturday.
    Mason earned the offensive award for the second time in three weeks while Scholes picked up his second defensive player-of-the-game selection. Jones was named the Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts.
    Mason ran for a career-high 203 yards on 32 carries against the Bears. His total ranks as the 14th-best single-game output in school history while his 32 attempts ties for 11th best overall. He had a 26-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to put the Penguins on top 10-7. He had a well-balanced game rushing for 115 yards on 19 carries in the first half and 88 on 13 attempts in the second half.
    Scholes finished with six total tackles against the Bears, including three of which were for losses. Scholes registered five unassisted tackles, three for 22 yards in losses and two sacks for 19 yards in losses. In the first quarter, he stopped P.J. Ikner on a third-and-one play. In the third quarter, on consecutive plays he threw Calvin Nealy for a three-yard loss before sacking Scott Carroll for a 10-yard loss. His final sack came with YSU ahead 17-7 in the fourth, when he threw Carroll for a nine-yard loss on second-and-seven play.
    Jones recorded two assisted tackles in the contest on defense and for his efforts on the specialty units was named the Special Teams Player of the Game.
    Junior fullback Demetrius Ison was named the Jim Zdelar Offensive Lineman of the Game. Ison caught six passes for 45 yards and his blocking helped pave the way for the Penguins' tailbacks and quarterbacks to rush for 331 yards on 52 attempts.
    Junior linebacker Jeff Koval was selected as the Jermaine Hopkins Defensive Lineman of the Game. Koval had a team-leading seven tackles and intercepted the first pass of his career. With Missouri State facing a second-and-goal at the YSU nine, Koval intercepted a Carroll pass and returned 38 yards with just two seconds left to preserve a 10-7 halftime advantage.
    Earning scout team performer-of-the-week accolades were offensive lineman Corey Sanchez (offense), redshirt freshman linebacker Mike Marvin (defense) and freshman defensive back Brandon Strapp (special teams).
    Junior tight end Max King earned the W.O.W. Derek Pixley Hit of the Game. During King's 18-yard reception in the second quarter, he knocked down Bears safety Dan Principle and corner Chris Farrar en route to a first down. On the next play, Mason went 26 yards for a touchdown.
    The Haines Family Player of the Game as selected by the YSU radio broadcast team was Mason.
    Mason was also named the Football Alumni Club's Player of the Game. He was selected by their committee as the individual who "Made The Difference" in the outcome of this year's Homecoming Contest. The Football Alumni Club hopes to select a Player of the Game for every future YSU Homecoming Contest.
    The Penguins, who are now ranked 11th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and 11th in The Sports Network Poll, are 7-1 overall this season and 4-0 in the Gateway for just the second time in school history.
    YSU returns to the gridiron on Saturday when it travels to Northern Iowa. Kickoff for the contest between the Penguins and Panthers is 4:07 p.m. in a game that is the Gateway Television Game of the Week. It will be carried live in Youngstown on WBCB TV, The Valley's WB.

CORRECTION: Last week Damian Wright was the Haines Family Offensive Player of the Week. The YSU Sports Information office regrets the error. The revised release is available on our website.