INDIANAPOLIS – The first set of Great Midwest Athletic Conference Football Players of the Week to start the 2017 season were selected on Monday.
 
The league picked offensive, defensive and special teams student-athletes who had strong performances on the field as all eight institutions were in action during Week 1.
 
Great Midwest Offensive Player of the Week
Daouda Sylla
Findlay
Running Back
Sr. – Ypsilanti, Mich. (Ypsilanti HS)
 
Sylla was a one-man wrecking crew inside the red zone for Findlay as the Oilers took down Tiffin in their Great Midwest debut. Sylla punched it in from 6 yards and 8 yards (twice) out to help guide Findlay to a 28-13 win on the road against a future league opponent.
 
His three rushing touchdowns matched a Great Midwest record and the senior carried 28 times for 183 yards. His rushing yard total is the fourth best in a single game in the conference record book.
 
Sylla averaged 6.5 yards per carry and had a long attempt of 23 yards as the Oilers totaled 337 yards in the ground game against the Tiffin defense.
 
Great Midwest Defensive Player of the Week
Ryan Weber
Malone
Linebacker
Sr. – Butler, OH (Loudonville HS)
 
Weber covered all kinds of ground for the Malone defense as he tied a conference record with 19 total tackles against Taylor on Saturday. He matched teammate Josh Correll, who had 19 against Alderson Broaddus in 2016.
 
Weber was the league leader in tackles last season with 79 and was credited with 13 solo and six assisted in his first effort of the 2017 season. He also changed possession with two forced fumbles and had a tackle for a loss.
 
Great Midwest Special Teams Player of the Week
Jordan Johnson
Malone
Defensive Back
Sr. – Norwalk, OH (Norwalk HS)
 
Johnson flashed big-play ability in the return game with a 70-yard punt return for a score against Taylor in the Pioneers’ season opener.
 
Johnson is credited with the longest punt return in Great Midwest history and is the first to return a punt for a touchdown (Jacksonville Jaguars’ wide receiver Keelan Cole returned two kickoffs for TD’s in 2016).
 
The senior made his presence felt on special teams in the fourth quarter to help Malone draw within seven points of a 28-21 final. The previous longest return of 37 yards was also recorded by Johnson, done against Kentucky Wesleyan last season.