Zetts, Terry are co-MVPs at YSU

QB Tom Zetts and LB James Terry shared the John
Delserone MVP Award.

YOUNGSTOWN — When Tom Zetts joined the Youngstown State football team in 2003 he had only one thing on his mind — winning games.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Boardman native grew up watching the Penguins win national championships and he wanted to be involved with one of his own.

Zetts never got that opportunity, although he did guide the Penguins to the semifinals of the Football Championship Subdivision tournament in 2006, but he still left his mark in YSU history.

Never one to dwell on individual efforts, Zetts, who started every game over his four years, set six YSU career and season passing records. To top off his career he was named the co-winner of the John Delserone Most Valuable Player Award at the Penguins’ 2007 Football Awards Banquet in the Chestnut Room at Kilcawley Center Saturday.

Zetts shared the MVP award with senior linebacker James Terry, who was only the second player in school history to be voted first-team all-conference three straight years.

In his final game against Western Illinois, Zetts passed for 298 yards and two touchdown passes, giving him 51 in his career. That broke the record of another Boardman quarterback, Jeff Ryan, who had 49. The 298 yards was also the 13th 200-yard passing game of his career, breaking the record of Ron Jaworski, who finished with 12.

Zetts ended his career as the school’s all-time leader in passing yards, attempts, completions, percentage and touchdown passes to go along with his other mark of starting 47 consecutive games.

Terry, a 6-2, 229 linebacker from Stafford, Va., has also had an outstanding career with the Penguins, finishing with 284 tackles. He had 65 tackles this season, which was third-best on the game despite an injury plagued year. He had 11 tackles for losses, five sacks and one interception.

Junior wide receiver/quarterback Ferlando Williams was named Outstanding Offensive Player, while senior strong safety Vince Gliatta earned the Outstanding Defensive Player award.

Williams, of Warner Robbins, Ga., transferred to YSU a year ago, rushing for 464 yards and nine touchdowns. He also led the team in receiving with 42 catches for 499 yards and two TDs. His 1,053 all-purpose yards also led the team.

Gliatta, who came to Youngstown because he wanted to play quarterback, finally made the switch over a year ago and became one of the leaders in the secondary. The Canton native finished second on the team in tackles with 66, 11 of them for losses, and had an interception and a fumble recovery.

Two other top awards included the Jim Zdelar Offensive Lineman of the Year, which went to former Howland High standout, junior Brad Samsa, while the Jermaine Hopkins Defensive Lineman of the Year award went to junior tackle Mychal Savage.

Other awards went to senior Dustin Helle as the Ron Stoops Inspirational Award; senior Bob Perez as the Dr. Spurgeon Torchbearer Award; senior Leon Edwards as the Neal R. Frost Outreach Man of the Year; Sophomore Todd Rowan as the Four Square Academic Player of the Year, and Williams, who also won the Alumni Club Difference Maker Award for his play against Illinois State.

The Four Square Club also presented their awards for the offensive and defensive players of the game against Stony Brook, to Zetts (offense) and senior linebacker Jeremiah Wright (defense).