Donald Jones among award winners

STAFF REPORT

Wide receiver Donald Jones, linebacker Na’eem Outler and strong safety Sir Demarco Bledsoe were named the Hill, Barth & King players of the game by the Youngstown State football coaching staff for their performances in the Penguins’ 31-21 victory over Western Illinois last Saturday.

Jones, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior from Plainfield, N.J., had eight catches for 94 yards and a touchdown. He was named offensive player of the game, and his score gave Youngstown State a 14-0 lead with 1:05 remaining in the first quarter.

The defensive player of the game was Outler (6-2, 240) a junior from Occoquan, Va. He had five tackles, including two for loss (one was a sack), and a forced fumble.

Outler was also named the Haines Family player of the game by the radio broadcasters.

Bledsoe (6-2, 185), a sophomore from Piedmont, Okla., was named special teams player of the game. He had 10 tackles in the game, including three on kickoff coverage, and recovered a fumble which led to the Penguins’ final touchdown of the game.

Other awards went to David Rogers (6-3, 250 sophomore tight end from Kent), who was the Jim Zdelar offensive lineman of the game; and Mychael Savage (6-2, 310 senior end from New Rochelle, N.Y.), who was the Jermaine Hopkins defensive lineman of the game.

Scout team players of the week were Kurt Hess (6-3, 225 freshman quarterback from Dayton) on offense; Theo Barnes (6-3, 260 freshman defensive tackle from Akron) on defense, and Matt Romeo (5-9, 150 freshman defensive back from Boardman) on special teams.

Jermaine Cook (5-9, 190), a freshman tailback from Cleveland, had the Wash on Wheels/Derek Pixley hit of the game.

Senior offensive guard Brian Mellott (6-3, 280) from Austintown was named the Wells Fargo Leadership Award winner for the week.