Jehlani Warren named MSFA Mideast Offensive Player of the Week

DEFIANCE, Ohio - Defiance College senior quarterback Jehlani Warren was selected the Mid-States Football Association's Mideast League Offensive Player of the Week after his instrumental performance in the Yellow Jackets' first victory of the season last Saturday.

Warren played a part in all five Defiance touchdowns in the team's 38-20 victory over Judson that resulted in DC's first win in a home opener since 2016. Warren rushed for three scores in the first half, including a 47-yard scramble that gave Defiance the lead for good late in the first quarter. He finished the day with 135 yards on the ground for his second straight 100-yard rushing performance and set a new single-game career best. Warren also threw a pair of touchdown passes to stretch the Defiance lead; one went to Cameron Turner in the second quarter and the other was a 63-yarder to Deveon Williams for the longest Defiance play from scrimmage so far this season. He closed the game with 166 yards passing and went 10-for-18.

The Palmetto, Fla. native currently leads all Mideast League quarterbacks in rushing yards and is fifth overall in the MSFA in rushing yards per game (85.0). The award is also the first player of the week award for Warren's career.

This honor is the first player of the week award for the Defiance football program since rejoining the NAIA and the first Offensive Player of the Week honor for DC since Jordan Ambrose was HCAC Offensive Player of the Week for his Week 3 performance at Kalamazoo last season. This week also broke up Taylor University's two-week grasp on all three Mideast League honors. Warren is also the only player outside of Taylor and Indiana Wesleyan's programs to pick up a weekly award within the MSFA's Mideast League.

The Yellow Jackets set their sights on getting to .500 on the season this Saturday when the team hosts the Siena Heights Saints at Coressel Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

-JACKETS-