YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Marcus Mason rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns, including Youngstown State's go-ahead score with 3:57 to play as the No. 15 Penguins fought off Western Illinois, 23-21. For the third consecutive week, the Leathernecks (2-5, 0-3. Gateway) held advantages over ranked teams in total yards, first downs and time of possession, but were struck down by field position. The Penguins (6-1, 3-0) capitalized on Western's only turnover of the night, intercepting a pass at the WIU 40-yard line with 4:48 left on the clock. Two plays later Mason broke through the line and ran 28 yards for the game-winning touchdown. The Leathernecks drove near midfield but could not get into field goal range, stalling at their own 40. The Leathernecks had tied the game twice, once with Boomer Moore's first touchdown catch of the night, an 18-yarder early in the second period, and again 30 seconds before the half on a 29-yard leaping grab by Reggie Gray. Gray tallied 72 of his 108 fist-half yards on that drive and ended the game with 134 yards on nine catches to record his school-record eighth 100-yard game and come within eight yards of the school's career receiving record. Yougstown entered the red zone on its first two possessions of the second half and came away with just three points, taking a 17-14 lead at the 10:08 mark in the third. After a 32-yard field goal attempt by the Penguins missed wide right, the Leathernecks strung together an 11-play 80-yard drive, taking the lead with 4:05 left in the period on a 33-yard scoring pass to Moore, who collected a career-high 118 yards on eight receptions. The Leatherneck defense then forced two punts and intercepted a pass before the Penguins regained possession for their game-winning drive. Western Illinois outgained the Penguins by 90 yards (411-321), had four more first downs (24-20) and had the ball for seven more minutes (33:36 to 26:24) but Youngstown State had an average starting position of its own 43-yard line overall and the WIU 47 in the second half. Western's average start was its own 19-yard line. Steve LaFalce became the first Leatherneck quarterback to throw for 300-plus yards in three consecutive games, recording 363 yards on 28-of-46 passing with three touchdowns and an interception. The Penguins were held to 202 yards in the air on 15-of-32 passing and 119 yards on the ground. The Leathernecks tallied just 48 yards rushing on 38 attempts. "It's tragic that either team had to lose a game like tonight's," said Western Illinois head coach Don Patterson. "We battled like crazy out there. I've never been so proud of a team in defeat."