October 23, 2006
Football
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ANDY JONES NAMED DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

ST. LOUIS Indiana State senior linebacker Andy Jones has been named the Gateway Football Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week following his outstanding performance in the Sycamores’ victory over Missouri State this past week at Memorial Stadium. ISU defeated the Bears 28-22 on Homecoming.

Jones was an absolute animal for the Sycamore defense as he paced the team with a career-best 19 tackles as Indiana State broke a 24-game losing streak in defeating Missouri State.

He also posted career bests with four tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. There was no bigger play in the game than Jones’ final sack, in which he brought down MSU quarterback Tyler Horner for a loss on the Bears’ final drive to help preserve the victory.

Jones’ Defensive Player of the Week honor was the first of its kind for the Sycamores since Doc Gooden earned it following the Sycamores’ 41-24 victory over UT-Martin in 2004.

Freshman Donye McCleskey was named the Gateway’s Special Teams Player of the Week following the season opener at Purdue. McCleskey blocked a Purdue punt and recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown versus the Boilermakers.

Indiana State will look to continue its new-found success this Saturday in Bowling Green, Ky., when the Sycamores face off against Western Kentucky at 5:00 p.m. (ET). The Hilltoppers defeated nationally-ranked Southern Illinois, 27-24, this past Saturday.