ST. LOUIS – For the second time this season, UNI junior defensive end Elerson G. Smith earned Missouri Valley Football Conference Player of the Week after racking up 2.5 sacks and 3.0 tackles for loss in the 13th-ranked Panthers' 21-14 win over No. 18 Youngstown State Saturday.
UNI faced a Penguin squad that was among the nation's leaders in rushing and held YSU 240 yards below their season rushing average. Smith tallied six total tackles on the day and recorded an additional QB hit.
Smith leads the FCS with 7.5 sacks and is fourth in the nation with 10.