COLLEGE FOOTBALL Ryan sets another YSU record

The Boardman native broke the career total offense mark and earned player of the game.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State quarterback Jeff Ryan says he doesn't think about setting individual records.
The only numbers Ryan is concerned about are wins and losses, and he tries hard not to think about losses.
Saturday, Ryan went into the Penguins' Gateway Conference game against Indiana State needing just eight yards to become the school's all-time leader in total offense.
He should have had the record on the Penguins' first offensive play when he broke off a 25-yard gain, but it was nullified by a YSU penalty. Instead, Ryan had to wait only until the third play from scrimmage to set the mark.
Ryan finished the contest with 169 total yards, including 75 rushing yards on 14 carries. He also passed for 94 yards, completing 9-of-11.
Passes Brungard: His career total stands at 7,094, breaking the record of Mark Brungard (6,932 from 1992-95).
Ryan's efforts helped the Penguins (4-1, 2-1 Gateway) to a 35-21 victory over the Sycamores.
"We were a little bit better this week," Ryan said. "We still have a long way to go."
For his efforts, Ryan was named the MVR Club's offensive player of the game, his second such honor this season.
Ryan became the starter at YSU early in his freshman season and has started 36 of the last 43 games.
YSU is 31-12 in games that he has played in and reached the playoffs two of those three seasons, including a trip to the national championship game in 1999,
He is the career record holder for touchdown passes (46) and is within range of catching Brungard for the school's career passing yardage total. Ryan has 5,519 yards, while Brungard had 6,116 during his four seasons.
Senior defensive end Todd Blackwell was the defensive player of the contest.
The 6-3, 278-pound defensive end from McKeesport, Pa., finished Saturday's game with five tackles, four of them for losses, and one was a quarterback sack.
Senior wide receiver Sean Guerriero was named the special teams player of the game. The 6-3, 200-pounder from Poland, performed well on all of the Penguins' special teams Saturday.
Roberts repeats: The Jim Zdelar offensive lineman of the game was sophomore Nick Roberts. The 6-0, 312-pounder from Champion High School, took the honors for the second time this year.
The Jermaine Hopkins defensive lineman of the game award went to redshirt freshman Matt Briggs, the 6-4, 247-pound defensive end from Cleveland.
The Wash on Wheels Derrick Pixley Hit of the Week was recorded by junior linebacker Jon Tekac, the 6-1, 218-pounder from New Wilmington, Pa.
The Haines Family Player of the Game, selected by the YSU broadcasters, was Blackwell.
This week, the Penguins are home to take on Southwest Missouri State in another Gateway Conference matchup. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.