It was a day for the ages at the Ice Castle for the Youngstown State football team as 18 seniors concluded their collegiate careers victoriously over the Samford Bulldogs 37-29 behind a record-breaking day for P.J. Mays on a cold, windy day at Stambaugh Stadium.

Mays scored two touchdowns to lead the Penguin offensive attack and became the career leader in Gateway Conference history in total touchdowns.

After a 42-yard Jake Stewart field goal, Mays tied the Gateway record with a 13-yard run over the right side to increase the Penguin lead to 10-0 at the 4:31 mark in the first quarter. Stewart increased the margin to 13-0 with a 26-yarder with 1:15 left in the opening period.
Samford (4-7) opened the scoring up early in the second quarter when Josh Kellet hit Efram Hill from 48-yards out to put the Bulldogs up on the scoreboard.

The Penguins (7-4) answered right back with Mays' scoring his historical touchdown. After driving to their own 49-yardline, redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Marshall hit the senior tailback out of the backfield on a screen pass that covered 51 yards for the score. The touchdown was the 45th touchdown of Mays' career and his 34th in just two seasons.

The Bulldogs' defense stepped up late in the second quarter to keep the game close. After Fred Gilliam fumbled on the YSU 11-yardline, Robert Evans forced a Marshall fumble and Samford recovered deep in Penguin territory.

Just two plays later, Kellett hit Hill for the second time of the game from 12 yards out to pull the Bulldogs within six at the break.

After stalling on its initial drive, the Penguins got a boost from junior cornerback Sherod Holmes as he intercepted a Kellet pass on the Samford 28-yardline. Six plays later, Stewart extended the YSU lead to 23-14 his third field goal of the day, this time from 36 yards out.

With 5:42 remaining in the third quarter, Marshall connected on a 59-yard strike to senior wideout Jerald Burley on a fly pattern to increase the Penguin lead to 30-14.

Samford responded immediately when Hill returned a Kosta Karapetsas kickoff 76 yards to the YSU 17-yardline. Three plays later, Ramon Wilson found Aryvia Holmes in the endzone for the touchdown and then again for the two-point conversion to pull the Bulldogs within eight at the end of three.

The Penguins opened their final quarter of the season with a 10 play, 76-yard drive that ended with a six-yard Josiah Doby touchdown over the right side to increase the margin to 37-23.

Again, Samford would not be denied of making the game close and would answer with a drive of their own. On the 12th play of their ensuing drive, Kellett called his own number and scored from three yards out to cut the deficit to eight after the extra point.

With 4:12 remaining in the game, the Penguins made a final stand as they have done time and time again. The Bulldogs faced a third and four from the Penguins 10-yardline when Russell Stuvaints tackled Kellett in the backfield for a five yard loss. On fourth and nine, Kellett looked to Hill one more time to pull the Bulldogs within two, but threw the ball out of the end zone to preserve the victory for the Penguins.

Mays finished the day with 137 yards on the ground and 56 through the air to lead the offensive attack that featured a total of 456 yards. Marshall threw for a career-high 180 yards on completions including two touchdown passes. Burley hauled in five catches for 94 yards.

Holmes anchored the defense, coming up with four turnovers on the game, including two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Stuvaints led with 10.5 tackles and one forced fumble.

The Penguins wrapped up their 2002 campaign with a three-game winning streak and a final record of 7-4.