GATEWAY Doby contributes again for YSU
The fifth-year senior was named the offensive player of last week's game.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State tailback Josiah Doby has been waiting patiently to get into action this season.
The 5-foot-9, 207-pound senior hasn't been playing because of a nagging toe injury that made it too painful to run.
Saturday night, the Long Beach, Calif., native finally got his chance to play, and he responded just like he was expected to this season.
Doby led the YSU rushing attack with 59 yards on eight carries for a 7.4-yard average in the Penguins' 13-6 loss to Florida Atlantic.
Overall, the Penguins had their worst performance of the year on the ground, just 158 yards.
Veteran leader
Doby is a fifth-year senior who has played a key part in the YSU offense since he arrived in 1999. He rushed for 197 yards on 49 carries that first season and played in all 12 games as a sophomore, gaining 349 yards on 111 attempts and scoring four touchdowns.
In 2001 Doby was injured and redshirted, then he bounced back last season to gain 360 yards on 40 carries and score five touchdowns.
For his efforts on Saturday, Doby was named the MVR's offensive player of the game.
Junior linebacker Mike Bracken was named the MVR defensive player of the game, while junior placekicker Nick Terracina took the MVR's special teams honors.
Bracken (6-0, 210), from Imperial, Pa., led the Penguins with 11 total tackles, including four solo stops. He also had two tackles for losses.
Terracina, a junior college transfer from Lake Charles, La., has been nearly perfect this season.
The 5-9, 170-pounder is 3-for-3 on field goals and 11-of-12 on extra points. His lone miss was against Kent State when his kick smacked the left goal post.
On Saturday, Terracina accounted for all of the Penguins' points, kicking field goals of 41 and 37 yards.
Roberts wins again
Junior tight end Mike Roberts earned his third game award of the season when he was named the Jim Zdelar offensive lineman of the game.
Roberts (6-0, 235), from Plant City, Fla., led the Penguins with four receptions for 21 yards.
It marked the second time he's won the Zdelar award; he was also selected the offensive player of the game against Slippery Rock.
The Jermaine Hopkins defensive lineman of the game was former Ursuline High standout Brandon Brown.
Brown (6-1, 246), a sophomore linebacker, had five tackles.
The Wash-on-Wheels Derrick Pixley Hit of the Week was recorded by senior fullback Chris DiMauro of Akron, while the Haines Family Player of the Game was sophomore linebacker Mike Andrews of Oldsmar, Fla.
The Penguins travel to Lynchburg, Va., to meet Liberty University (1-3) Saturday at 7 p.m. in Williams Stadium.
mollica@vindy.com