Sports Digest

YSU

Boscaljon named All-Midwest Region

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State senior Ruth Boscaljon has been named Honorable Mention All-Midwest Region honors by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

Boscaljon, a middle blocker from Elgin, Ill., had 348 kills and 126 blocks in her senior season to also earn All-Horizon League honors. She averaged career-bests with 3.31 kills and 1.20 blocks per set, and she ranked among the top five nationally in solo blocks.

Boscaljon was the Horizon League leader in blocks for the second straight season, and she finished the year ranking second in points (4.32 per set) and hitting percentage (.318). She led YSU in kills in 23 out of 28 matches, and she was the Penguins’ top blocker 20 times. Boscaljon finished with at least 10 kills in 22 different matches.

LOCAL

Heartland’s Farren signs at Malone

COLUMBIANA — Jacob Farran, of Canfield and a 2010 graduate of Heartland Christian High School, has recently signed a national letter of intent to attend Malone University next fall and play basketball for the Pioneers.

Farran, a 6’0” guard, was a four-time letter winner (two in basketball, one in track & field and one in golf) for the Lions and earned many awards throughout his high school playing career. He was a captain on the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) state championship team in 2009, and also was a free throw champ at the Keystone State camp. Academically, he holds a 3.6 GPA..

Clark receives another award

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Record-setting quarterback Daryll Clark (Youngstown) has been named co-winner of the prestigious Chicago Tribune Silver Football, presented to the Big Ten Confernce’s Most Valuable Player.

A two-time first team All-Big Ten honoree, Clark joins former Nittany Lion standout quarterbacks Kerry Collins (1994) and Michael Robinson (2005) as Silver Football recipients. Clark shares the 2009 honor with Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham, the first time there have been co-winners since the award was first presented in 1924.

Clark and Graham were announced as co-recipients on the Big Ten Network Tuesday night.

A co-captain, Clark has a 21-4 record as the starting quarterback and owns multiple Penn State season and career passing and total offense records. He leads the Big Ten in pass efficiency (145.7) and touchdown passes (23). This season, he is 214 of 346 (61.8) for a school record 2,787 yards, with a Penn State record 23 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The former Ursuline High School standout also has rushed for 191 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns this season.

Vince Kehres award finalist

ALLIANCE — Mount Union defensive coordinator Vince Kehres has been selected as a finalist for the FootballScoop.com NCAA Division III Coordinator of the Year Award powered by Muscle Milk.

Kehres enters his 10th year as an assistant football coach and fifth season as Mount Union’s defensive coordinator. His defense this season is NCAA Division III’s No. 2 ranked total defense (193.77) and No. 1 in both scoring defense (7.69) and rushing defense (46.23).

A 1998 graduate of Mount Union, he was a four-year letterwinner (1994-97) at defensive end for the Purple Raiders, a member of two National Championship teams (1996 & 1997) and earned All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors during his senior year 1997.

NATION

TCU standout Hendricks winner

CHICAGO — Jerry Hughes of unbeaten TCU has won the Ted Hendricks defensive end of the year award.

Hughes anchors the nation’s top-rated defense, and had 54 tackles and 11 1/2 sacks in helping the Horned Frogs (12-0) win the Mountain West Conference and gain a berth in the Fiesta Bowl against Boise State on Jan. 4.

Other finalists for the award were Jeremy Beal of Oklahoma, Brandon Graham of Michigan, Sergio Kindle of Texas, Von Miller of Texas A&M, Derrick Morgan of Georgia Tech and Greg Romeus of Pittsburgh.

TCU leads the nation in total defense at 233.2 yards per and ranks sixth in points allowed at 12.4 per game.

Staff, Wire report