OSU stars bring home hardware.

Byline: From The Register-Guard and news service reports

ORLANDO, Fla. - Oregon State's Mike Hass and Alexis Serna, playing for a team that failed to attain a winning record, were nonetheless rewarded for remarkable football performances this season.

On Thursday night at the annual college awards show that was telecast live on ESPN, Hass was named winner of the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's best receiver and Serna won the Lou Groza Award as the nation's top placekicker.

"I'm ecstatic," Hass said in a telephone interview. "I wanted to win, but I also knew I was going against guys from Notre Dame and USC. I'm really proud of this."

Serna, too, was thrilled at his accomplishment.

"I'm overwhelmed with emotion," he said. "This means a lot to me. This award is like the Heisman for a kicker."

Oregon defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, who was also on hand as a finalist for the Outland Trophy, given to the nation's best lineman, saw that award go to Minnesota center Greg Eslinger.

However, Ngata, a junior who might be playing his last game as a Duck in the Holiday Bowl against Oklahoma, was named Thursday to the Walter Camp Foundation all-America team.

Ngata was the only Pac-10 player named to the Walter Camp defense.

The Beavers finished 5-6, just their second losing season in the past seven, and missed playing in a bowl game for just the second time since 1999.

But the two OSU players had banner seasons, led by Hass, a one-time walk-on from Jesuit High in Portland.

The 6-foot-1, 208-pound senior became the first player in Pac-10 Conference history to record three 1,000-yard seasons.

Hass, who was also named to the Walter Camp all-America team earlier in the day, set a slew of Oregon State receiving records, including career yards (3,924), career receptions (220) and single-season receptions (90).

"The team thing did not play out for us this year," said Hass, who also set the Pac-10 record for single-season receiving yards with 1,532 this year. "Then you go to the individual stuff, and by having a good year you're an all-American and capping it off with this (the Biletnikoff Award)."

Hass finished his senior season with 90 receptions and six touchdowns. Hass had 100 or more yards in 19 games during his OSU career. He shares the OSU record for career touchdown receptions (20) with James Newson (2000-03).

"Winning the award is a good feeling," said Hass, who set a Pac-10 single-game receiving yards record in 2004, with 293 yards against Boise State. "You want to help your team win, and with that comes being a productive player, and with that comes awards."

Hass said his career, not just this season, helped him emerge the winner of the Biletnikoff Award.

"It's not only about the year you had but about your career," Hass said.

Serna's Oregon State story became national news when he debuted as a freshman in 2004 by missing three extra points in an overtime, one-point loss at LSU.

But the 5-8, 157-pound sophomore from Fontana, Calif., also a walk-on, tied the OSU record for consecutive field goals with 15, before missing against Stanford on Nov. 12, and converted 23-of-28 attempts this season, an 83 percent success rate.

"I put all my faith and hope in God," Serna said. "My history might have played a little bit of a role in my winning the award. I definitely know that without my snapper (Darrick Bruns) and holder (Colt Charles) I would not have won."

Serna, despite his tough start last year, was a semifinalist for the Groza Award.

"I set a goal this year," he said. "I wanted to be a finalist. It was my biggest goal, and I've gone above and beyond it."

Serna's 55-yard field goal against Washington last year tied for the second-longest in OSU history. He currently ranks fifth in career scoring at Oregon State with 181 points.

Texas quarterback Vince Young and Southern California tailback Reggie Bush each took home two awards, one as best player in the nation and one for being the best at his position, as college football honored its stars.

Young won the Maxwell Award as the nation's top player and the Davey O'Brien Award given to the nation's top quarterback.

Bush came away with the Walter Camp player of the year award and the Doak Walker Award given to the nation's best running back.

``I'm just enjoying the moment right now,'' Young said. ``All of these awards mean a great deal to me, because of all of the hard work that me and my teammates have put in this year. I guess we've got another one to go (the Heisman) on Saturday.''

Young and Bush will be in New York on Saturday night as finalists for the Heisman Trophy. USC quarterback Matt Leinart is the other Heisman finalist.

The 6-foot, 200-pound Bush has rushed for 1,658 yards and scored 18 touchdowns this season, averaging 8.9 yards per carry for the top-ranked Trojans.

Penn State coach Joe Paterno, 78, won the coach of the year award for turning around the Nittany Lions after four losing seasons in the past five years.