Jenkins Earns 1st GLVC Weekly Award

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (September 3, 2012) – Saint Joseph’s College junior quarterback Billy VandeMerkt , Urbana University senior defensive end Perry Jenkins, and Missouri S&T senior return specialist Carlton Westbrook have earned the Great Lakes Valley Conference’s inaugural football weekly awards. VandeMerkt has been named GLVC Offensive Player of the Week honors, Jenkins earns Defensive Player of the Week, and Westbrook takes home Special Teams Player of the Week accolades.

VandeMerkt, a native of Riverside, Ill., played an integral role in Saint Joseph’s 36-34 come-from-behind victory at Valparaiso on Thursday – a win which marked the first-ever GLVC football victory for the conference. Trailing 34-30 and pinned on the SJC 7-yard line with 3:01 on the clock, VandeMerkt drove the Pumas down field in 12 plays, completing eight of 10 passes for 87 yards. On the night, he finished with 303 passing yards on 21-of-38 passing with two touchdowns and an interception. On the ground, VandeMerkt also rushed for 52 yards on six carries for an average of 8.7 yards per rush.

Jenkins was all over the field in Urbana’s 53-33 home win over Tusculum on Saturday. The Columbus, Ohio native notched seven tackles, including a sack, forced a fumble, recovered two fumbles, and recorded his first blocked kick of his career, coming on a PAT attempt in the second half. Jenkins, who led the Blue Knights in sacks and tackles-for-loss last season, was also first on the scene when stuffing a quarterback sneak on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter during Tusculum’s comeback bid.

Westbrook had 186 yards in on six returns in the game, including 120 yards on three punt returns that included a 58-yard scamper for a touchdown. The touchdown capped a 21-point run by the Miners in the second quarter that spanned 5:01 on the clock. The Centralia, Ill., native also had a 47-yard punt return in the game as well in his first game as a Miner. [GLVCSports.com]