Nov. 9, 2008

Football: Erik Johnson Named Valley Football Special Teams Player of the Week

    St. Louis, Mo. – Three near-perfectly placed punts helped earn Youngstown State sophomore punter Erik Johnson in being selected as the Missouri Valley Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week, the conference announced on Sunday.

    Johnson, who had two punts on the year entering Saturday's 35-21 win over Indiana State, came on in the second quarter after regular Ben Nowicki left the game with a shoulder injury following his second punt of the contest.

    Johnson stepped in right away and helped change field position and the momentum of the game with his first punt since the opening game of the year at Ohio State.
    Youngstown State trailed 21-7 before Johnson's first punt of Saturday's game was downed at the ISU seven. His second punt pinned the Sycamores at their 16-yard line while his final kick in the fourth quarter was downed at the 18.

    He had three punts for an average of 33.3 yards, with a long of 44. However, all three of his punts pinned ISU inside its own 18.

    South Dakota State quarterback Ryan Berry was named the Valley Football Offensive Player of the Week while Southern Illinois cornerback Korey Lindsey was tabbed the MVFC Defensive Player of the Week.