Mason, Jackson key Penguins' comeback

By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Junior tailback Marcus Mason recorded his third straight 100-yard rushing game and scored the go-ahead touchdown as Youngstown State remained unbeaten in the Gateway Conference with a 23-21 victory over Western Illinois Saturday at Stambaugh Stadium.
The Penguins (6-1, 3-0 Gateway) trailed 21-17 when junior cornerback Codera Jackson came up with his fifth pass interception of the year, setting up the Penguins at Western Illinois' 31-yard line with 4 minutes, 48 seconds remaining in the game.
On third down from the 28, Mason took a delayed handoff from sophomore quarterback Tom Zetts and a huge hole opened up, allowing Mason to waltz untouched to the end zone with 3:57 to go.
The extra-point play was botched with a bad snap, but the Penguins held on downs from the WIU 40 with 1:11 remaining to secure the win.
"It was a great win, a real Gateway game right to the wire," YSU coach Jon Heacock said. "We were off and on all game, but I thought our defense did a great job [of] shutting down their running game."
Limited rushing
The Leathernecks (2-5, 0-3) were only able to come up with 48 yards rushing on 38 attempts. Junior quarterback Steve LaFalce threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns, but tossed an interception and was sacked seven times.
Zetts didn't have his most consistent game, completing just 15-of-32 passes, but he finished with 202 yards and one touchdown. He was sacked four times.
"I thought we played very hard again today, but we were not as sharp as we have been," Heacock said. "I think tonight you were seeing the impact of two weeks ago. These kids believe in themselves and their confidence level is growing steadily."
Mason, a transfer from Illinois, finished with 125 yards on 21 carries and scored two touchdowns. But coupled with Zetts' sacks that totaled 33 yards, the Penguins only finished with 119 net rushing yards.
YSU finished with 321 total yards to the Leathernecks' 411.
"Western Illinois has been getting better every week," Heacock said. "I thought they played better defensively than they have all year tonight."
Pickoff king
Jackson, who leads the Gateway Conference in pass interceptions, lauded his unit.
"We gave up some yards and they moved the ball up the field, but we were there when we needed to be," Jackson said. "We bend, but we don't break."
For the fifth time this season, the Penguins scored on their first offensive possession.
Zetts completed his first four passes, including a 39-yard scoring toss to senior wide receiver Damian Wright, to complete a seven-play, 80-yard drive.
The Leathernecks tied the score in the second quarter with a 63-yard drive in five plays as LaFalce completed three passes, the final one for 18 yards to big tight end Boomer Moore (6-foot-4-inch, 300-pounder) for the score.
Zetts, who was 8-of-9 in the first quarter and a half, connected with Demetrius Ison and Jameson Evans to put the Penguins at the Leathernecks' 25 midway through the second period.
Mason then broke right up the middle on the next play, cut outside and dashed all the way to the end zone to give YSU a 14-7 lead.
Halftime tie
Right before halftime, the Leathernecks tied the score as LaFalce completed 4-of-5 passes, including a 27-yard strike to Reggie Gray who took the ball away from Jackson in the end zone.
YSU regained the lead as the third quarter opened, driving from their 35 to the Leathernecks' 8, but had to settle for a 25-yard field goal by freshman Brian Palmer.
Palmer later missed a 32-yard attempt and Western Illinois followed with an 80-yard, 11-play drive to take the lead, as LaFalce and Moore connected on a 33-yard scoring play.
The Penguins were inside the Leathernecks' 30 twice more, once failing on a fake field goal attempt as Aaron Marshall, the holder, had a pass intercepted.
YSU kept Western Illinois pinned in its own territory until Jackson's interception set up the game-winning score.
mollica@vindy.com