YSU Ryan rewarded for QB play

For his precision and leadership against Southern Illinois, he was named offensive player of the week.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
YOUNGSTOWN -- When Youngstown State senior Jeff Ryan is selected as the team's offensive player of the week, you know that he played a tremendous game.
As the quarterback, Ryan has a much more difficult grading system, most of which he places on himself because he is in a prime leadership position.
Last Saturday, there was no doubt that Ryan was at his best as he led the Penguins to a 31-7 victory over Southern Illinois University in the team's final Gateway Conference contest of the season.
Settling in: The Penguins now stand at 5-2 in the conference but will probably finish no higher than a tie for second place unless there are some upsets during the final weeks of the season. YSU is 7-2 overall with two games remaining.
This week, the Penguins have an open date on the schedule and will be using this time to brush up on fundamentals and prepare for those final two games.
Ryan, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound veteran from Boardman, had his best effort of the season against the Salukis as he passed for 214 yards, completing 16-of-19 passes and one touchdown, and rushed for 94 yards to lead the YSU ground gainers.
The four-year starter has thrown for 987 yards this season and is completing 61 percent of his passes, including six touchdowns. He has also rushed for 425 yards and is second on the team behind junior tailback P.J. Mays.
This week, with most of the YSU coaches on the road recruiting, the players of the week were selected by a vote of the players. The offense voted for offensive players and the defense voted for defensive players.
Hightower named: The MVR Club's defensive player of the game was senior defensive back Bruce Hightower. The 5-11, 202-pounder from Belle Glade, Fla., had six tackles, four of them unassisted, and one interception.
The MVR special team honors went to sophomore place kicker Jake Stewart of Austintown. The 6-0, 176-pounder kicked a 36-yard field goal to open the game and added four extra points while also booming his kickoffs deep against the Salukis. He did have a field goal attempt blocked right before the half.
The Jim Zdelar Offensive Lineman of the Week was sophomore guard Nick Roberts of Newton Falls. The Champion High product sparked an offensive line that helped the Penguins total 507 yards in the contest. Roberts was also credited with the Wash on Wheels Derrick Pixley Hit of the Week.
The Jermaine Hopkins Defensive Player of the Week was junior defensive end Martin Stachowicz of Garfield Heights. He had a fumble recovery that led to a YSU touchdown.
The Haines Family Player of the Game, selected by the YSU radio broadcasters, was Ryan.