Dec. 8, 2007

Football: Zetts, Terry Named Co-John Delserone MVPs at Annual Banquet

    Youngstown – Senior quarterback Tom Zetts and senior linebacker James Terry were named the Youngstown State football team’s co-John Delserone Most Valuable Players for the 2007 campaign. All awards were presented at the teams Annual Awards Banquet, which was held on Saturday afternoon at the Chestnut Room in YSU’s Kilcawley Center.

    Zetts, a second-team All-Gateway selection, completed 173-of-277 passes for 1,845 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior. His 62.5 percent completion percentage set a school record for the year. He ended his career as the school career record holder in yards (7,643) completions (654) attempts (1,094) touchdowns (51), percentage (59.8), 200-yard games (13) while starting all 47 games in his career. He helped the program to a 26-10 mark the past three seasons.

    Terry, a three-time first-team All-Gateway selection, finished with 65 total tackles, including team-best 42 solo stops. He had a team-high 11 tackles for 42 yards in losses, including a team-best 5.5 sacks for 36 yards in losses. He had 11 quarterback hurries, one interception, one forced fumble and a pass breakup and recorded at least four tackles in every game.

    Junior wide receiver Ferlando Williams, a first-team All-Gateway selection, was selected as the team’s Outstanding Offensive Player. Williams caught a team-high 42 passes for 499 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 11.9 yards per catch. He also rushed for 464 yards on 74 carries and had nine touchdowns. He had season-high 133 receiving yards vs. WIU and a season-high 87 yards rushing at Southern Illinois.

    Senior strong safety Vince Gliatta, a second-team All-Gateway pick, was tabbed the squad’s Outstanding Defensive Player. Gliatta was second on the team with 66 total tackles and third with 41 solo stops. He had 10.5 tackles for losses, including two sacks. He had three forced fumbles and a recovery while intercepting a pass in the win over South Dakota State.

    Junior placekicker Brian Palmer, a second-team All-Gateway selection, was named the Paul McFadden/Jeff Wilkins Specialist of the Year. Palmer converted 14-of-15 field-goal attempts and 34-of-36 extra-point tries to led the team with 76 points. He made his final 11 field-goal attempts of the season, a school record while his field-goal percentage of 93.3 percent was a school record and led the FCS.

    Junior offensive lineman Brad Samsa, a first-team All-Gateway selection, was honored as the Jim Zdelar Offensive Lineman of the year. Samsa started first three games at right guard before moving to left tackle because of injuries He has been a full-time two-year starter, who has been in the lineup for 26 straight games. He had five performances of 80 percent or better and graded out at a team-high 80 percent for the year.

    Junior defensive tackle Mychal Savage, a first-team All-Gateway selection, was tabbed the Jermaine Hopkins Defensive Lineman of the Year. Savage finished with 43 total tackles, including 26 solo stops. He also had 4.5 sacks for 31 yards in losses. Savage finished the year with a career-high 12 tackles against Western Illinois while also recording two sacks, two hurries and two fumble recoveries. OF his 43 tackles, 29 came in Gateway action.

    Senior offensive guard Leon Edwards was the recipient of the Dr. Neal R. Frost Outreach Man of the Year honor. Edwards had played in six career games entering the season, but played in all 11 games in 2007, including six starts. He played a total of 420 snaps for the season, with his best performance coming against top-ranked UNI.

    Senior wide receiver Dustin Helle was named the Ron Stoops Most Inspirational Player. Helle caught one pass for the year (against Illinois State) and returned five punts and one kickoff. A member of the good-hands team, Helle’s acrobatic grab of an onside kick in the final two minutes against Western Illinois helped the Guins earn the 31-24 victory.

    Senior strong safety Bob Perez was the presented the Dr. Spurgeon Tourchbearer Award. Perez played in all 11 games as a safety and linebacker, moving to the linebacker role in final two games of season. He was credited with 20 total tackles, including 16 solos. Thirteen of his tackles came in final four games. He was selected as a first-team CoSIDA Academic All-District IV and second-team Academic All-Gateway selection in 2007.

   Senior offensive tackle Matt Kishman was award the first-ever “Difference Maker” Team Award. Kishman started the first three games and played 164 snaps on the offensive line before suffering a season-ending injury against Stony Brook.

   Sophomore quarterback/holder Todd Rowan earned the Four Square Club’s Academic Player of the Year. Rowan, a first-team Academic All-Gateway selection with a 4.0 grade-point average in Biology/Pre-Med, serves as the holder on all placement kicks. He saw action in three games at quarterback (Lock Haven, UNI, Indiana State), playing 31 snaps for the season. He was also the 2006 YSU Four Square Club Academic Player of the Year.

   Terry and Zetts were also awarded the Four Square Club Players of the Game for their performances in the contest against Stony Brook. Against the Seawolves, Zetts completed 12-of-24 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 32 yards on four carries to earn Offensive Player-of-the-Game honors. Terry had five total tackles, including one for nine-yard sack and 1.5 tackles for losses. He also had an interception to earn Defensive Player-of-the-Game honors.

   Williams was presented with the YSU Football Alumni’s Difference Maker in the Penguins’ Homecoming Game against Illinois State. Against the Redbirds, he had eight rushes for 56 yards and caught five passes for 71 yards.

2007 YSU Football Awards
Outstanding Offensive Player -- Ferlando Williams, WR
Outstanding Defensive Player -- Vince Gliatta, SS
John Delserone Most Valuable Player -- Tom Zetts, QB; James Terry, LB
Ron Stoops Inspirational Player -- Dustin Helle, WR
Dr. Spurgeon Torchbearer -- Bob Perez, SS
Jim Zdelar Offensive Lineman of the Year -- Brad Samsa, OT
Jermaine Hopkins Defensive Lineman of the Year -- Mychal Savage, DT
Neal R. Frost Outreach Man of the Year -- Leon Edwards, OG
Four Square Academic Player of the Year -- Todd Rowan, QB
Paul McFadden/Jeff Wilkins Specialist of the Year -- Brian Palmer, PK
Alumni Club Difference Maker Award -- Ferlando Williams, WR (vs. Illinois State)
Four Square Offensive Player of the Game vs. Stony Brook - Tom Zetts, QB
Four Square Defensive Player of the Game vs. Stony Brook - Jeremiah Wright, LB
Captains - Louis Irizarry, TE; Bob Perez, SS; James Terry, LB; Jeremiah Wright, LB; Tom Zetts, QB