Kyle Smith selected Penguins' most valuable player

The senior wide receiver concluded an outstanding career.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- After a disappointing and abrupt ending to their 2005 season, the Youngstown State football team paid tribute to its senior members Saturday at the team annual awards banquet at Kilcawley Center.
"This was a hard season to let go," said YSU coach Jon Heacock. "With all my heart I wish this team was still playing and they should be."
The 19 YSU senior members were the key figures in Saturday's banquet and all of the team's individual awards, which were selected by the team, went to senior players.
"It was unbelievable how these awards went this year," Heacock said. "In every category there were at least 13 or 14 senior players who received votes. It just goes to show what a great group of leaders we had this year."
Wide receiver Kyle Smith, a four-year letterwinner and one of the team's four season captains, took home the top award as the John Delserone Most Valuable Player.
Smith who had over 100 career receptions and led the team in receiving the past two years along with establishing a school record by catching at least one pass in the last 30 games he played in.
Smith, who was named honorable mention on the 2005 All-Gateway Conference team, has also been selected to participate in the 2006 annual Hula Bowl in Hawaii.
Scholes most inspirational
The annual Ron Stoops Most Inspirational Award went to senior defensive end Justin Scholes, while the Dr. Pat Spurgeon Torch Bearer Award was given to senior tight end Aaron Marshall. Senior fullback Nick Forro took home the Dr. Neal Frost Outreach Man of the Year Award.
This season's Paul McFadden/Jeff Wilkins Specialist of the Year award went to senior long snapper Tanner Dunlap.
All of the individual season players honors also went to senior performers.
The Jim Zdelar Outstanding Offensive Lineman award was a tie between seniors John Bartos and Tony Limongi, while the Jermaine Hopkins Outstanding Defensive Lineman award went to senior end Brandon Brown.
Offense, defense stars
The most outstanding offensive player of the year was senior wide receiver Jameson Evans, while the most outstanding defensive player was senior linebacker Mike Andrews.
The YSU Alumni Club also presented its first award at the banquet the YSU Difference Maker Award at the annual homecoming contest.
The award went to junior tailback Marcus Mason for his outstanding effort against Missouri State.
Four Square Club awards
The Four Square Club made it's annual presentations for action in the Northeastern game. The top offensive players was junior tailback Monquantae Gibson and the top defensive award went to junior defensive back Jason Perry.
The club also presented its 2005 Academic Award which went to freshman defensive back Tom Krupko, who maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average during the fall of 2004 and the spring of 2005.
mollica@vindy.com