YSU FOOTBALL Tekac top defender for third week in row

The senior linebacker was a big factor in YSU's 24-17 win over Southwest Missouri State.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- For the third week in a row senior linebacker Jon Tekac was selected as Youngstown State's defensive player of the game. It could have easily been four straight.
Tekac (6-foot-1, 235 pounds), from Pulaski, Pa. and Wilmington Area High, has been the Penguins' defensive leader this season.
Tekac has registered 50 tackles, including 10 last week in the Penguins' 24-17 win over Southwest Missouri State, their first Gateway Conference win of the season.
YSU (2-2, 1-1 Gateway) plays host to Indiana State (2-3, 0-0) Saturday at 7 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.
Against SMS, Tekac had his first career interception and forced a fumble and recovered that.
The three-year starter stripped the ball from running back Zack Dechant and then rambled some 40 yards to the end zone with an apparent touchdown, but a penalty nullified the score.
Tekac has been in double figures in tackles all four games. He had 13 against Clarion, 15 against McNeese State and 12 against Western Kentucky. He now has 101/2 tackles for losses and three sacks.
He was also named Gateway Conference defensive player of the week, the first time this season a YSU player has been named by the conference.
Doby offensive honoree
Junior running back Josiah Doby was named MVR offensive player of the week.
The Long Beach, Calif., native, gained 93 yards on 11 carries, including a 61-yard touchdown run in the third period. On that play, he broke four tackles before getting into the open.
Doby, who sat out all last season with injuries and was eventually redshirted, is second on the team in rushing behind senior P.J. Mays with 228 yards and is averaging 12.5 yards per attempt.
Special teams honors went to junior place-kicker Jake Stewart of Austintown, who kicked a 46 yard field goal, his first of the season, and also had three kickoffs that went out of the end zone for touchbacks.
The Jim Zdelar offensive lineman of the week was senior tight end Dennis Dlugosz of Avon Lake, who was making his first appearance in the lineup since Clarion, when he was injured.
The Jermaine Hopkins defensive lineman of the week was Guy Mazard, who had three tackles, including two for losses, and his pressure on SMS quarterback Michael White helped produce three interceptions.
Mazard was also selected the Haines Family Award Player of the Game by the radio broadcasters.
The Wash-On-Wheels Derrick Pixley Hit of the Week was recorded by sophomore defensive back Mike Bracken of Imperial, Pa.
mollica@vindy.com