Mays has four scores against Sycamores

Youngstown State's defense twice stopped Indiana State inside the 10-yard line in the second half.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Youngstown State, behind a four-touchdown performance by junior running back P.J. Mays, rebounded from last week's loss with a 35-21 victory over Indiana State Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Mays' career-best effort led a YSU (4-1, 2-1 Gateway Conference) attack which scored on four of its first five possessions.
Mays, who had been held to less than 100 yards rushing the last two games, gained 150 yards on 34 attempts against the Sycamores (1-4, 0-1) and scored on runs covering 2, 1, 6 and 1 yards.
Senior quarterback Jeff Ryan completed his first eight passes and finished 9-of-11 for 94 yards.
The YSU defense also came up big, twice stopping the Sycamores inside the 10-yard line in the second half on fourth downs.
"We tried to fiddle it away a couple of times," said YSU coach Jon Heacock, "but we came back strong.
"I thought the defense made some great stands in the second half and that was probably the difference in the game."
Halftime: The Penguins led 21-7 at halftime and increased that on their first series of the second half, on a 1-yard run by Mays with 10:47 remaining. That touchdown culminated a 78-yard, 10-play drive that began with the second-half kickoff.
Indiana State answered with a 10-yard scoring pass from Julian Reese to Chris Lewis, making it 28-14 with 2:48 to go in the third quarter.
Late in the game, the Sycamores were stopped on fourth down when Bob Sivik sacked Reese at the YSU 27.
The Penguins took a 35-14 lead at the 4:55 mark of the fourth quarter on a 24-yard run by sophomore Darius Peterson, concluding a two-play drive.
Indiana State's final score was set up when Clythel Branson returned the ensuing kickoff 78 yards to the YSU 13. On the next play Sydney Montfort scored.
The Penguins scored on their first three possessions of the game.
They took advantage of an Indiana State turnover, a fumble by Reese as he was hit by YSU's Matt Briggs. Sivik recovered at the ISU 45.
Ryan and Mays carried the ball on 10 straight plays. The biggest run of the drive was 10 yards by Mays, who concluded the drive with a 2-yard run at the 7:32 mark.
Senior linebacker Mike Thomas ended the Sycamores' next drive with a 13-yard sack of Reese.
Following the punt, Ryan completed three straight passes, including one for 34 yards to Jerald Burley on the final play of the first quarter.
Second score: From the ISU 20, Mays carried on four of the next five plays, including a 1-yard push for the second touchdown.
Another Sycamore fumble was recovered by YSU's Guy Mazard at the Indiana State 41.
Six plays, all rushes, found Mays in the end zone again, on a 6-yard run.
Indiana State, finally holding onto the football, scored its only touchdown of the first half following a 52-yard drive. Reese completed four passes in the push, and Montfort scored on an 11-yard run with 4:19 remaining in the second quarter.