SVSU’s Jonathon Jennings Named 2013 GLIAC Football “Player of the Year”

Posted: Nov 20, 2013

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BAY CITY, Mich. - Senior quarterback Jonathon Jennings (Columbus, Ohio / Westerville South) of Saginaw Valley State University was named the 2013 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Football "Player of the Year" in balloting conducted by the league's head coaches. Saginaw Valley State senior wide receiever Jeff Janis (Tawas, Mich. / Tawas Area) was voted "Offensive Back of the Year," while Ohio Dominican University's Bill Conley garnered "Coach of the Year" honors.

2013 GLIAC Football Postseason Awards

"Player of the Year"

Jonathon Jennings (Sr, QB, SVSU)

"Offensive Back of the Year"

Jeff Janis (Sr, WR, SVSU)

"Defensive Back of the Year"

Justin Bell (Sr, DB, Ohio Dominican)

"Offensive Lineman of the Year"

Matt Armstrong (Sr, OC, Grand Valley State)

"Defensive Lineman of the Year"

Jamie Meder (Sr, DT, Ashland)

"Freshman of the Year"

Mason Sawicki (Fr, DL, Ohio Dominican)

"Coach of the Year"

Bill Conley, Ohio Dominican University

    The rest of the GLIAC's postseason awards were chosen as follows: rookie defensive lineman Mason Sawicki (Dublin, Ohio / Dublin Scioto) of Ohio Dominican earned "Freshman of the Year" accolades; senior defensive back Justin Bell (Columbus, Ohio / Groveport Madison) of Ohio Dominican earned "Defensive Back of the Year" honors; senior offensive center Matt Armstrong (Lansing, Mich./Sexton) of Grand Valley State University earned the "Offensive Lineman of the Year" award; while Ashland senior defensive tackle Jamie Meder (Parma, Ohio/Valley Forge) was named "Defensive Lineman of the Year" for the second consecutive season.
   Jennings earned the GLIAC "Player of the Year" award after compiling 3,284 yards passing and 30 touchdowns this season. The senior quarterback added 470 yards rushing with 12 touchdowns as well. Jennings's 3,284 yards and average of 298.5 yards per game led the league. His 30 touchdowns were a GLIAC-best and were five more than the second highest mark. Jon broke his own SVSU single game passing record for passing yards in a single game with 541 in the team's 47-34 victory over Hillsdale. In that game, Jennings also broke the SVSU record with seven TD passes. Jennings finished his GLIAC career as the conference's all-time leader in passing yards (9,546) and total offense (10,700).
   Janis earned his second-consecutive GLIAC "Offensive Back of the Year" award after posting another monster season for the Cardinals. The senior wideout hauled-in 78 catches for 1,541 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 140.1 yards per game. Janis was the only GLIAC wide receiver to break the 1,000 yard mark and average over 100 yards per contest. The 2012 All-American selection tied the GLIAC single season record for receiving yards this season with 1,492 in conference games only. He ranks second in career yards with 3,879 in conference games, spanning from 2010-13. Janis broke his own GLIAC and SVSU record with 331 yards receiving in the team's 47-34 win over Hillsdale earlier this year. In that game, he tied a school record with four TD catches as well.
   A preseason All-American selection, Bell finished with 87 tackles (52 solo), two forced fumbles, an interception, a fumble recovery and four pass breakups to help lead the ODU secondary. Bell, a First Team All-GLIAC pick in 2012 as   well, had five games of 11 or more tackles this season. Also a threat in the return game, Bell tied a GLIAC record with a 91-yard punt return for a touchdown in the win over #9 Grand Valley and averaged 15.1 yards per return on 21 total returns.
   Armstrong has been named the 2013 GLIAC "Offensive Linemen of the Year," marking the eighth time in the last nine years that a Grand Valley State offensive lineman has earned the honor. Armstrong was a four-time All-GLIAC honoree, including being named First-Team All-GLIAC three-times. Matt has played in 47 career games up front, including 44 starting assignments at every position on the offensive line. Armstrong has been a key figure in a Laker offense that annually ranks among the national leaders in fewest sacks allowed, total offense, rushing offense, passing offense, scoring offense and balance. Matt was a key figure in helping Grand Valley State be one of nine teams in the country averaging over 210 yards per game rushing and 240 yards per game passing in 2013. Matt anchored a young offensive line as the lone senior up front in 2013 and graded out at a 97 percent assignment efficiency rating. Grand Valley State is 40-7 with Armstrong in the lineup.
Meder was named the GLIAC "Defensive Lineman of the Year" for the second consecutive season. He is a first team all-conference selection for a fourth straight season. Meder tied for the team lead in tackles (88/32 solo) and had a team-leading 7.5 tackles for loss (16 yards). Meder ends his career second in career tackles for loss at Ashland. He is on the Watch List for the NFL Combine in Indianapolis and the Senior Bowl.
   As an interior defensive lineman, Sawicki stepped into the starting lineup and produced throughout the season, totaling 33 tackles (4.5 for loss) and a sack for the Panthers. Sawicki helped lead the GLIAC's top scoring defense and second-best rushing defense with his efforts inside. He had six tackles in the win over Ashland and two tackles for loss against Northern Michigan.
   Conley led Ohio Dominican to its second undefeated regular season and second playoff appearance in school history. Conley has guided the Panthers in their transition from the NAIA ranks and in the past three years has a record of 25-7 guiding ODU. Currently, the Panthers have Division II's longest win streak at 15 consecutive games, having outscored opponents 629-244 during that stretch, winning by an average of 25.7 points per game. The Panthers are ranked No. 7 in both the AFCA and D2Football.com Top 25 polls entering the postseason.

A complete listing of the 2012 All-GLIAC Football teams is located below:

2013 All-GLIAC Football Teams
First Team Offense
Position	Name	School	Yr.	Hometown
QB	Jonathon Jennings	Saginaw Valley State	Sr.	Columbus, Ohio / Westerville South
RB	Daiquone Ford	Findlay	So.	Myrtle Beach, S.C. / Myrtle Beach
RB	Mark Nichols	Ohio Dominican	Sr.	Pataskala, Ohio / Newark Catholic
RB	Anthony Taylor	Ashland	Jr.	Arlington, Va. / Washington-Lee
H-Back	Jaryd Brown	Findlay	Sr.	Germantown, Ohio / Valley View
WR	Brandan Green	Grand Valley State	Sr.	Linden, Mich.
WR	Lloyd Henry	Findlay	Jr.	Garfield Hts., Ohio / Garfield Hts.
WR	Jeff Janis	Saginaw Valley State	Sr.	Tawas City, Mich./Tawas Area
WR	Dez Stewart	Ohio Dominican	So.	Cincinnati, Ohio / Walnut Hills
OL	Matt Armstrong	Grand Valley State	Sr.	Lansing, Mich. / Sexton
OL	Jake Brandt	Ohio Dominican	Sr.	Columbus, Ohio / Bexley
OL	Tevon Conrad	Saginaw Valley State	Sr.	Detroit, Mich. / Pershing
OL	Damon Howe	Findlay	Jr.	Plymouth, Ind. / Plymouth
OL	Carlin Landingham	Ferris State	Sr.	Muskegon, Mich. / Muskegon
OL	Zach Vermillion	Ashland	Sr.	Bellefontaine, Ohio / Bellefontaine
PK	Brent Wahle	Ohio Dominican	So.	Pataskala, Ohio / Bishop Hartley
Spec.	Christian Jessie	Northern Michigan	Sr.	Grand Rapids, Mich. / East Kentwood
First Team Defense
DL	Kevin Brewton	Findlay	Jr.	Akron, Ohio / Garfield
DL	Ryan Busch	Saginaw Valley State	Sr.	Holton, Mich. / Holton
DL	Di'Andre Harrison	Ohio Dominican	So.	Columbus, Ohio / Centennial
DL	Jamie Meder	Ashland	Sr.	Parma, Ohio/Valley Forge
DL	Justin Zimmer	Ferris State	So.	Greenville, Mich. / Greenville
LB	Cody Culbertson	Ohio Dominican	So.	Galloway, Ohio / Bishop Ready
LB	Brian Johnson	Saginaw Valley State	Sr.	Muskegon, Mich. / Catholic Central
LB	Warren Shields	Ohio Dominican	So.	Richwood, Ohio / North Union
LB	Brett Pasche	Hillsdale	Sr.	Findlay, Ohio / Liberty Benton
LB	Ed Viverette	Wayne State	Sr.	Southfield, Mich. / Brother Rice
DB	Justin Bell	Ohio Dominican	Sr.	Columbus, Ohio / Univ. of Toledo
DB	Jamaris Brown	Walsh	Jr.	Fort Myers, Fla. / Lehigh
DB	Harold Jones-Quartey	Findlay	Jr.	Columbus, Ohio / Horizon Science
DB	Marvin Robinson	Ferris State	Sr.	Winter Haven, Fla. / Lake Region
DB	Reggie Williams	Grand Valley State	Sr.	Lansing, Mich. / Everett
P	Stefan Terleckyj	Wayne State	Sr.	Warren, Mich./Warren Mott
Second Team Offense
Position	Name	School	Yr.	Hometown
QB	Jason Vander Laan	Ferris State	So.	Frankfort, Ill. / Chicago Christian
RB	Anthony Bilal	Lake Erie	So.	Painesville, Ohio / Riverside
RB	Michael Ratay	Grand Valley State	Jr.	Geneva, Ill.
RB	Brandon Schoen	Ohio Dominican	So.	Olentangy, Ohio / Olentangy Orange
H-Back	Andrew Dillon	Saginaw Valley State	Jr.	Ypsilanti, Mich. / Lincoln
WR	Brandon Cowie	Michigan Tech	Fr.	West Bend, Wis./West
WR	Tommy Jackson	Lake Erie	Jr.	Hubbard, Ohio / Hubbard
WR	Abe Johnson	Ohio Dominican	Jr.	Cincinnati, Ohio / Taft
WR	Seth White	Findlay	Sr.	Bexley, Ohio/Bexley / Ball State Univ.
OL	Christian Babini	Saginaw Valley State	Sr.	Rochester, Mich. / Rochester Adams
OL	Perrin Cunningham	Ohio Dominican	Jr.	Cincinnati, Ohio / Winton Woods
OL	Justin Music	Findlay	Sr.	Burton, Mich. / Grand Blanc
OL	Mike Price	Lake Erie	Sr.	Parma Heights, Ohio / Valley Forge
OL	Frank Vruwink	Michigan Tech	So.	Wisconsin Rapids, Wis./Lincoln
OL	Jim Walsh	Grand Valley State	So.	Howell, Mich.
OL	Patrick Ryan	Hillsdale	Sr.	Davison, Mich. / Davison
PK	Scott Stanford	Saginaw Valley State	Jr.	Novi, Mich. / Novi
Spec.	Bryan Thomas	Northwood	Jr.	Pompano Beach, Fla. / Lake Erie Coll.
Second Team Defense
DL	Nathan Bundy	Hillsdale	Sr.	Greenfield, Ind. / Mt. Vernon
DL	De'Ondre Hogan	Grand Valley State	So.	Livonia, Mich. / Clarenceville
DL	Sydney Omameh	Ohio Dominican	So.	Columbus, Ohio / Westerville North
DL	Corey Stone	Ferris St.	Jr.	Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stevenson
DL	Nelson Wienke	Michigan Tech	Jr.	Kingsford, Mich.
LB	Chris Harvey	Ashland	Jr.	Columbus, Ohio / Walnut Ridge
LB	Jordan Kaufman	Grand Valley State	Sr.	Ubly, Mich.
LB	Terell Porter	Ferris State	Jr.	Detroit, Mich. / Berkley
LB	Trevor Smith	Findlay	Sr.	Waterville, Ohio / Anthony Wayne
LB	Tanner Wells	Lake Erie	Jr.	Carrollton, Texas / Parish Episcopal
DB	Jon Bryant	Saginaw Valley State	Sr.	Detroit, Mich. / Ferris State
DB	Demarco Donaldson	Malone	Jr.	Southfield, Mich. / Grand Valley State
DB	Billy Eakins	Ohio Dominican	So.	Pickerington, Ohio / Central
DB	DeAngeloParris	Saginaw Valley State	Sr.	Clinton Twp., Mich. / Warren De La Salle
DB	Brandon Parson	Northern Michigan	Sr.	Petersburg, Va. / Dinwiddie
P	Matt Eltringham	Hillsdale	Jr.	Loveland, Ohio / Loveland
2013 All-GLIAC Honorable Mention Team
Ashland: Dan Piko (JR/WR), James Triplett (JR/OL), Eric Schwieterman (JR/DB), Phil Galaska (JR/LB), Logan Slavinski (JR/TE), Kyle Tomko (SO/DB); Ferris State: Adam Bennett (SO/OL), A.J. McEwen (JR/DB), Jake Lampman (JR/WR), Darnell Morris (JR/LB), Sam Parker (SR/OL), Justin Glover (JR/OL); Findlay: Verlon Reed (JR/QB), Chris Reaper (SO/OL), Tory Clark (FR/DB), Fearis Golden (JR/DB), Kenny Klatt (SR/LB), Zach Kinninger (SR/LB); Grand Valley State: Jamie Potts (SO/TE), Luther Ware (SR/LB), Charles Hill (SR/LB), Deonte' Hurst (JR/DB), Matt Mosley (JR/DL), Erik Thompson (SR/DB); Hillsdale: Steve Embry (SR/LB), Sam Landry (SR/QB), Steve Mette (FR/K), Tim Moinet (JR/DB), Devin Moynihan (SR/LB), Dan Pittman (JR/DB); Lake Erie: Brendan Gallagher (SR/QB), Corbin Jackimowicz (SO/OL), Ben Miller (SO/OL), Shane Van Fletteran (JR/WR), Kyle Herth (JR/DL), Malone: Brock Lundeen (JR/DL), Lepear Smith (SR/DB), Chuck Lennon (SR/OL), Bryce Pratt (JR/RB), Brenson Ennis (SO/OL), Fred Clearman (SO/OL); Michigan Tech: Tyler Scarlett (JR/QB), Jordan McConnell (SR/WR), Buddy Poljan (SR/OL), Cameron Allen (JR/DL), Taylor Ziolkowski (SR/LB), Brett Gervais (SO/DB); Northern Michigan: Nick Krause (JR/LB), Wyatt Jurasin (SO/RB), Rob Salani (FR/P), Marcus Tucker (SO/WR), Chad Anderson (SR/OT), Thomas McNamara (SO/FS); Northwood: Davonta Elzy (SO/WR), Brad Oxnevad (SO/OL), Kyle Fikki (SR/DL), Mike Keith (SO/LB), Carlos Love (SR/DB), Colt Harrington (FR/DL); Ohio Dominican: Mark Miller (JR/QB), Nate Weeks (SR/TE), Da'Twane Harris (SO/DB), Brad McCurdy (SO/DB), Ronald McCloud (SO/WR), Dominic Clegg (SR/OLB); Saginaw Valley State: Norman Shuford (SR/RB), Kaleb Forr (SR/OL), Logan Hauserman (JR/OL), Will Schwarz (JR/DE), Michael Albrecht (SR/WR), Mason Duke (SR/DT); Tiffin: Antonio Pipkin (FR/QB), Marus Beaurem (JR/WR), Joe Collard (SR/DE), Brandon Person (JR/DB), Tyler Jones (JR/WR), Stefan Willis (SO/DB); Walsh: Cory Farcas (SR/LB), Cam Trudell (JR/LB), Aaron Male (FR/RB), Zach Conlan (JR/OL), Kevin Pask (SO/OL), Andrew Roy (SR/DL); Wayne State: Ben Walker (JR/OL), Maurice Davenport (SR/LB), Greg Hasse (SR/DL), Ryan Hankins (SO/DT).