Oct. 16, 2006

Football: Marcus Mason Earns National Honors For Performance Versus WIU

     Youngstown -- Senior tailback Marcus Mason (Potomac, Md.) was named the National Offensive Player of the Week by The Sports Network and was tabbed as one of four I-AA.org All-Stars for his performance in Saturday's 35-28 win at Western Illinois both services announced on Monday.

    Mason rushed for 266 yards on 20 carries and had three touchdowns in Youngstown State's four consecutive win on Saturday as the Guins improved to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the Gateway Conference.

    He scored on runs on one, 75 and 95 yards in the contest. His 95-yard run was the longest in school history and the second-longest in Gateway history. Mason eclipsed the school mark of 88 yards set by Marschell Brumfield back in 1978. His total of 266 is second in school history to Dick Adipotti's 304 in 1966 against Southern Connecticut State.

    His 266-yard effort also ranked as the fifth-best rushing game in Gateway history.

    Through six games played, Mason has rushed for 900 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. He is averaging 150.0 yards rushing per game.

    Mason ranks third in the nation in per game average and has rushed for at least 99 yards in all six of his performances this season.

    Central Connecticut State's Justise Hairston is leading Division I-AA with 178.14 yards per game while Drake's Scott Phaydavong is second at 152.29.
    Mason is also tied for third in the country in touchdowns by rushing. Furman's Jerome Felton has an impressive 19 scores in seven games while Hairston has scored 14 TD's in seven contests as well.

    In his 15 career games with the Penguins, he has rushed for 1,792 yards and scored 20 touchdowns. He has a career average of 119.5 yards rushing per contest.

    Other individuals to earn Sports Network National Player-of-the-Week accolades were James Madison defensive tackle Chuck Suppon (defense) and McNeese State wide receiver/return specialist Stephen Whitehead (special teams). The I-AA.org organization tabbed UMass' Liam Coen, Appalachian State's Corey Lynch and Illinois State's Kye Stewart as All-Stars for the week as well.

    Mason will have his work cut out for him this Saturday when the Penguins take on Northern Iowa at 4 p.m. The Panthers lead the Gateway in rushing defense, surrendering 112.7 yards per game.