Oct. 14, 2006

Football: Mason, Ground Attack Leads the Way in Win Over Western Illinois

    Macomb, Ill. – A huge exchange of plays and momentum in the fourth quarter turned a would-be 21-21 game into a harrowing 35-28 Penguin victory over Western Illinois on Saturday afternoon at Hanson Field.

    With WIU on the Penguin doorstep early in the fourth and a seven-point contest, WIU running back Herb Donaldson was drilled at the one-yard line by Dorian Chenault and Roshon Simons pounced on the football at the one. After a Tom Zetts four-yard run to push the ball to the five, Marcus Mason rambled 95 yards for a score and the Penguins never looked back.

    The 95-yard scoring romp was the longest run in school history and second longest in Gateway Football Conference history. Mason’s jaunt eclipsed the YSU mark of 88 yards by Marschell Brumfield against Northern Iowa on Sept. 9, 1978. His run ranks only behind a 99-yard score by Missouri State’s Philip Collins, which also came against the Leathernecks in 1989.

    Mason finished the game with 266 yards on 20 carries and scored three touchdowns. His 266-yard performance ranks as the second-best game in school history behind Dick Adipotti’s school-best 304 yards against Southern Connecticut State in 1966.

    The Penguins (6-1 overall and 3-0 in the Gateway) added a final score when Monquantae Gibson scored on a 31-yard scamper later in the fourth. WIU scored on a 42-yard pass from LaFalce to Carl Simms with 3:46 left in the game.

    The Leathernecks recovered the onside kick and moved with seven points when Alex Douglas scored on a six-yard run with 1:04 remaining.

    On the final onside kick attempt, reserve quarterback Mike Schneider recovered at the 44-yard line and the Guins were able to run out the clock and hold on for the win.

    Mason scored the game’s first touchdown on a one-yard plunge in the first quarter. After the Guins forced a LaFalce fumble, YSU took over WIU 43. Mason capped the eight-play 43-yard drive with his one-yard score with 9:04 left in the first.

    The Leathernecks (3-4 and 0-3) answered right back and tied the game when Donaldson scored on a one-yard run with 5:40 remaining.

   Gibson had his first score of the game late in the first quarter on a one-yard run.

   WIU came back to tie the game when Steve LaFalce hooked up with Alex Douglas on a 52-yard pass with 11:04 left in the second quarter.

   In the third, the Penguins went up 21-14 when Mason went 75 yards for a touchdown.

   YSU is 3-0 in the Gateway for the second straight year and only second time in school history.

   Western Illinois finished with 474 yards of total offense while the Guins finished with 465.

   The Penguins return home next Saturday to play host to Northern Iowa. The annual Homecoming contest is scheduled for 4 p.m. and is the Gateway Conference’s Television game of the week.