YSU FOOTBALL Zetts' QB play is cited in loss

Linebacker Marty Hutchinson won defensive honors for the third time.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Tom Zetts may have come of age at quarterback for the Youngstown State football team last Saturday.
The 6-foot-1, 203-pound red-shirt freshman from Boardman had a good night statistically, completing 16-of-22 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns in the Penguins' heartbreaking 22-20 loss to Northern Iowa.
But the youngster really grew up in the final quarter against the Panthers, as he led the team from a 19-7 deficit to a 20-19 lead in the final minutes, only to see the effort spoiled by a game-ending field goal by Northern Iowa.
In his final three drives, Zetts completed 6-of-7 passes, including a 9-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mike Roberts on his final play.
He also threw a beautiful 73-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Matt Rycraft at the end of the first quarter that gave the Penguins a 7-0 lead.
His overall leadership in that final quarter is what impressed the YSU coaching staff to name him the Hill, Barth and King Offensive Player of the Game.
For the season, Zetts has completed 100-of-160 passes for 1,111 yards and seven touchdowns, while being intercepted five times.
Others recognized
Defensive player of the game honors went to former Newton Falls High linebacker Marty Hutchinson, who for the third time led the team in tackles.
The 6-4, 210 sophomore had 11 tackles against Northern Iowa, and two of them were for losses.
The special teams player of the game was red-shirt freshman Vince Gliatta from Canton Central Catholic. The 6-1, 210 pound player performs on almost all the Penguins special teams and had one key tackle in the game.
The Jim Zdelar Offensive Lineman of the Game was sophomore center Ryan Jewell of Warren Harding High, as he led the offensive line in that final quarter that produced a pair of touchdowns.
The Jermaine Hopkins Defensive Lineman of the game honors went to red-shirt freshman linebacker James Terry of Stafford, Va.
The 6-2, 225 pound transfer from the University of Virginia finished with eight tackles, one for a loss and also forced a key fumble against the Panthers and also recovered it that led to the Penguins' final touchdown and a 20-19 lead.
Terry was also selected the Haines Family Player of the Game by the YSU radio broadcast team.
mollica@vindy.com