LOCK HAVEN, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) announced on Monday morning that East Stroudsburg University football players Devin Bartholomew and Ryan Hieber were selected as athletes of the week.
Ryan Hieber earned PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week after recording a 22-yard interception return for a touchdown with 30 seconds left in the first half against Bloomsburg. The game-altering play extended ESU's lead to 28-7 at halftime in a 35-14 win against the Huskies.
Hieber's defensive touchdown was the first for the Warriors since current ESU defensive back coach Billy Inge III took back a 20-yd interception return touchdown against West Chester in 2018. Hieber's pick six is the longest for ESU since Darius Jackson's return an interception 44 yards against West Chester in 2013.
Hieber is the third defensive athlete selection this year for ESU, as PSAC sack leader Deshawn McCarthy has earned the nod twice. It's the first time that the Warriors have earned defensive athlete of the week on three occasions in the same season since 2009 (Keith Galinsky, Matt Freed and Shawnte Carroll).
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On the season, the Doylestown native has recorded 17 tackles and three sacks.
Bartholomew, the PSAC East Special Teams Athlete of the Week, converted both of his field goal attempts on the day and all five point-after-attempts. The Schnecksville, Pa. native put a 33-yard field goal and 36-yard field goal through the uprights.
On the season, Bartholomew is a perfect 25-for-25 on PATs. ESU is the lone team in the conference to convert all of its point-after-attempts this season. On field goals, Bartholomew is 7-11 this season, making 6-7 from 39 yards or closer.
Bartholomew is the second Warrior to earn PSAC East Special Teams Athlete of the Week honors this season, joining Rece Bender.
Hieber and Bartholomew are the second Warrior duo to earn athlete of the week honors, joining McCarthy (Defensive Athlete of the Week) and Gunner Anglovich (Offensive Athlete of the Week) who both earned weekly conference accolades against Millersville two weeks ago.
Bartholomew, Hieber and the rest of the Warriors return to Eiler-Martin Stadium this Saturday, when ESU hosts Shippensburg. The opening kickoff is slated for 1:05 p.m. in the Poconos.
ESU Football 2021 PSAC East Athletes of the Week
Week 1:
Deshawn McCarthy vs. Pace (Defensive)
Week 4:
Rece Bender vs, Lock Haven (Special Teams)
Week 6:
Gunner Anglovich (Offensive) &
Deshawn McCarthy (Defensive)
Week 8:
Ryan Hieber (Defensive) &
Devin Bartholomew (Special Teams)
