Tuesday, October 28, 2003
The Warren Kennedy graduate is the Penguins' top rusher.
& lt;a href=mailto:mollica@vindy.com & gt;By PETE MOLLICA & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Tailback Josh Cayson has been the rushing leader for the Youngstown State football team this season.
Last Saturday, Cayson had only 35 yards on 13 carries for the Penguins in their 35-25 loss to Illinois State, but the former Warren Kennedy High standout was a big help on special teams.
The 5-foot-10, 171-pound sophomore returned five kickoffs against the Redbirds for 184 yards, an average of just more than 35 yards.
He had one return for 78 yards that he almost broke for a score to open the second half. Cayson got all the way to the ISU 18-yard line before he was finally stopped. A penalty against YSU brought the ball back to the ISU 32, but the Penguins still managed to score a touchdown.
This is Cayson's first eligible season with the Penguins after sitting out his freshman season to meet NCAA academic requirements.
Return expectations
Cayson returned kicks in high school and was expected to handle that responsibility this year. But in YSU's season opener, Cayson rushed for 136 yards on just 10 carries, including a 73-yard touchdown.
He followed that with a 115-yard performance against Slippery Rock and the coaches felt he was more valuable to the offense than the special teams.
But after two fumbles on special teams against Western Illinois and some poor returns against Indiana State, Cayson was put back on the kickoff return team.
Cayson was named the Atty. Haines Family Player of the game, selected by the YSU radio broadcasters, following Saturday's game.
MVR Club honors went to senior guard Will Sanders on offense, junior tackle Nate Baston on defense and redshirt freshman cornerback Jason Perry on special teams.
Perry (5-8, 160), from Warrensville Heights, also returned kickoffs, averaging 16 yards on two attempts. He made six tackles on defense.
Baston (6-1, 257), a defensive tackle from Bethel Park, Pa., finished with five tackles against the Redbirds, including two of them behind the line of scrimmage.
Sanders (6-1, 280), an offensive guard from Weaver, Ala., helped the offense to 336 total yards, including 169 rushing and 167 passing, and no turnovers.
The Jim Zdelar offensive lineman of the game was tackle Josh Davis (6-5, 303) of Lisbon, while the Jermaine Hopkins defensive player of the game -- for the second straight week -- was junior linebacker Justin Martin (6-3, 242) of Downers Grove, Ill.
For the second straight week there was no Wash-on-Wheels Derrick Pixley Hit of the Week selected by the coaching staff.