This week's Missouri Valley Football Conference players of the week include RB Pierre Strong Jr. of South Dakota State; LB Zeke Vandenburgh of Illinois State; P JT Bohlken of Illinois State, and RB Nate Thomas of South Dakota.
Offensive Player of the Week
RB Pierre Strong Jr., South Dakota State
5-11, 205, Sr., Little Rock (Ark.) McClellan High
Strong ran for 156 yards and accounted for all three South Dakota State touchdowns in the Jackrabbits’ 27-19 Dakota Marker victory over North Dakota State on Nov. 6. On the second play of the game, the senior running back broke around right end for a 75-yard touchdown run and added a 1-yard TD run later in the opening quarter. In the second quarter, Strong tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass on a trick play on fourth-and-1. It was Strong’s third touchdown pass of the season and fifth of his career. In rushing for 156 yards on a career-high 23 carries, Strong eclipsed the century mark for the seventh time in nine games this season and scored two rushing touchdowns for the sixth time in 2021. He also went over the 1,000-yard mark for the season on his first touchdown, ending the day with 1,142 yards in becoming the fourth SDSU running back in history to post three separate 1,000-yard campaigns (2018, 2019, 2021).
Defensive Player of the Week
LB Zeke Vandenburgh, Illinois State
6-3, 235, Jr., Freeport (Ill.) Freeport High
Linebacker Zeke Vandenburgh played the best game of his career when the Redbirds needed it the most against No. 13 UNI Saturday at Hancock Stadium. The junior from Freeport, Illinois, recorded a career-high 14 tackles, added two sacks and tallied a career-best 3.0 TFLs for the Redbirds in their 17-10 overtime win over the Panthers. Vandenburgh took down UNI quarterback Theo Day twice in the contest and also added a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry in the contest, as the Redbirds recorded a season-high six sacks as a team.
Special Teams Player of the Week
P JT Bohlken, Illinois State
6-0, 185, Sr., Jefferson City (Mo.) Jefferson City High
In a defensive battle that featured 22 total punts combined by Illinois State and No. 13 UNI, punter JT Bohlken proved to be a huge weapon in the field position game for the Redbirds in their 17-10 overtime victory over the Panthers. The senior from Jefferson City, Missouri, punted 12 times for a career-high 516 yards (43 yards per punt), placed four punts inside the UNI 20-yard line and uncorked two over 50 yards on the day. The 516 yards set a new Hancock Stadium record for a Redbird player and were the most in an MVFC contest as well. Bohlken also picked up a crucial first down for the Redbirds on a fake punt, running 21 yards to move the chains.
Newcomer of the Week
RB Nate Thomas, South Dakota
5-8, 220, Fr., South Holland (Ill.) Thornwood High
Thomas carried 11 times for a game-high 110 yards and scored a touchdown during South Dakota’s 42-21 win against Western Illinois Saturday in Macomb. It was his second 100-yard game of the season and one yard shy of his season high. His longest run gained 46 yards and his 4-yard touchdown plunge was the first score of the second half.
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
WR/PR Carter Bell, South Dakota -- Bell caught five passes for a career-high 182 yards – all in the first half – and scored on touchdowns of 91 and 60 yards in South Dakota’s 42-21 win at Western Illinois Saturday in Macomb. It was the seventh-highest single-game total in program history. The Coyotes took a 28-14 lead into halftime and attempted six passes in the second half.
RB Otis Weah, North Dakota -- Saved his best running for the fourth quarter in a win over Youngstown State ... Scampered 14 times for 90 yards and a score ... Busted a 43-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to put the Hawks in front, 24-21 ... Helped salt the game away on the ground on the ensuing UND possession ... Has scored at least one touchdown in the last three games and has five over that span.
RB Kevon Latulas, Missouri State -- Latulas recorded his first career 100-yard game to help the Bears pull off the upset against the No. 7 Southern Illinois University Salukis in Carbondale. Latulas carried the football just seven times on the day, but made the most of his touches, averaging 14.9 yards per carry for 104 yards on the afternoon. With 12:03 left on the clock in the fourth quarter, Latulas sprinted 87 yards to the end zone to bust the game wide open for the Bears, making it a 31-13 game with his first rushing touchdown of the season. Latulas’ 87-yard touchdown run was the sixth longest rush in program history. He added a 30-yard reception to secure a game-high 134 all-purpose yards in the road victory.
QB Connor Sampson, Western Illinois -- Sampson worked his way up the ladder within the program's career records on Saturday (Nov. 6) when he became second all-time in career pass completions. The veteran quarterback ended the day on a 29-51 passing clip for 362 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
TB Jaleel McLaughlin, Youngstown State -- McLaughlin finished with 122 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown against North Dakota. He caught a career-best seven passes for 39 yards against the Fighting Hawks.
WR Isaiah Weston, UNI -- Weston accounted for nearly half of the yards UNI's offense tallied Saturday in a loss to Illinois State. Weston recorded another 142 yards off five receptions. He improved on his mark that already led the FCS in yards per reception. He now has 29 receptions for 736 yards this season, averaging 25.38 yards per catch.
LB Bryce Notree, Southern Illinois -- Notree had a career day with 13 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 1 forced fumble in SIU’s game vs. Missouri State.
LB Adam Bock, South Dakota State -- Bock registered a game-high 13 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack, for a South Dakota State squad that posted a 27-19 victory over second-ranked North Dakota State in the annual Dakota Marker game Nov. 6. Bock also forced a fumble that SDSU recovered on the Bison’s opening drive of the second half. Bock tallied double digits in tackles for the fourth time this season and seventh time in his career. He leads the Jackrabbits with 74 stops on the season.
LB Marcus Vaughn-Jones, North Dakota -- Had a standout game in the win over Youngstown State in his first extended action of his career ... Came up with four tackles ... Finished with 1.5 tackles for loss ... Came up with his first-career interception in the third quarter that helped UND rally from an 11-point deficit ... Also forced a fumble on a kickoff that led to poor field position and a 3-and-out following a UND touchdown drive.
LB Bryce Flater, UNI -- Flater had four solo tackles and was in on three more in UNI's loss to Illinois State Saturday. Flater also broke up two Redbird passes.
LB Jacob Matthew, South Dakota -- Matthew had a team-high seven tackles including an 11-yard sack and another for loss in the Coyotes’ 42-21 win at Western Illinois Saturday in Macomb.
CB Montrae Braswell, Missouri State -- In his 16th game with the Missouri State Bears, Braswell defended a career-high four passes and tied for the team lead with seven tackles against the No. 7 Southern Illinois University Salukis, who ranked 14th in the nation in scoring offense coming into the week. Braswell broke up a crucial pass on a 2nd-and-9 play in the fourth quarter that allowed MSU to come up with a sack on third down and score two plays after the SIU punt, which extended the lead to 31-13. His four PBU’s against the Salukis more than doubled his season total, bringing him to seven passes defended on the year.
LB Juan DelaCruz, Western Illinois -- DelaCruz led the Leatherneck defense in tackles for the first time this fall, collecting a season-high nine total tackles (four solo), along with a fumble recovery.
LB Grant Dixon, Youngstown State -- Dixon was credited with nine solo tackles at North Dakota. It's the second time in the last three games he has registered nine stops.
P Adam Fellner, Western Illinois -- Fellner went for seven punts on 303 yards, including a 69-yard kick that was his longest of the season and second-best of his career. The kick ties as the tenth-longest in the program's single-game records.
PK Nico Gualdoni, Southern Illinois -- Guladoni scored 8 of SIU’s points vs. Missouri State, including career-long field goals of 50 and 55 yards. Gualdoni’s 55 yarder gave Southern a 13-10 halftime lead. He has recorded career-longs in field goals in consecutive games, with kicks from 46 and 49 yards last week at UNI.
PK Cole Frahm, South Dakota State -- Frahm went 2-for-2 on field goals and helped limit North Dakota State’s return game with three touchbacks on six kickoffs in South Dakota State’s 27-19 Dakota Marker victory on Nov. 6. Frahm connected on a 32-yard field goal on the final play of the first half to give SDSU a 24-7 lead, then tallied the lone Jackrabbit points of the second half on a 45-yard field goal midway through the third quarter. With his two field goals, Frahm upped his career total to 28 to move past Adam Vinatieri (27 field goals from 1991-94) for sixth place on the SDSU career charts. Frahm is 14-of-20 on field goal attempts this season and has made at least one field goal in each of the last eight games. He shares the team in scoring with 84 points (14-20 FG, 42-42 PAT).
PK Jose Pizano, Missouri State -- Pizano led the way for the Bears on special teams against the No. 7 Southern Illinois University Salukis. He was a perfect 5-for-5 on point after attempts and connected on a career-long 51-yard field goal with under a minute to go in the first quarter to put the Bears in front 10-7 in a close first-half game. Pizano is now 16-for-19 this season on field goal attempts. Meanwhile, his five made PAT’s tied his career high. Pizano also logged seven kickoffs on the afternoon for a 56.3 average with one touchback in the upset victory at SIU.
P Brady Schutt, South Dakota -- Schutt pinned a career-high six punts inside the 20-yard line during Saturday’s 42-21 win against Western Illinois in Macomb. He averaged 39.7 yards on nine punts with no touchbacks and a long of 51. WIU started twice from its 5 and once from its 1. All six possessions ended with zero points.
WR/PR Deion McShane, UNI -- McShane notched 22 yards off five returns for UNI in the Panthers' loss to Illinois State. His longest return was 10 yards.
QB Chris Oladokun, South Dakota State -- Oladokun efficiently ran the South Dakota State offense in the Jackrabbits’ 27-19 Dakota Marker victory over North Dakota State on Nov. 6. He completed 13-of-22 passes for 157 yards and also ran nine times for 19 yards. SDSU was 7-for-15 on third down in the contest and did not turn the ball over.
WR Xavier Lane, Missouri State -- Lane caught four passes on six targets for 75 yards on the day against the No. 7 Southern Illinois University Salukis who ranked second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in passing yards allowed coming into the weekend. Lane reeled in a 39-yard reception on 1st-and-15 after multiple penalties that threatened to stall the Missouri State drive, which allowed MSU to score five plays later and extend the lead to 11 points to begin the fourth quarter in Carbondale.
WR Sergio Morancy, UNI -- Morancy had a season high of 68 yards receiving in UNI's loss to Illinois State. Quarterback Theo Day connected with Morancy on four passes to record 68 yards of receiving. His longest reception was 31 yards.
QB Demeatric Crenshaw, Youngstown State -- Crenshaw rushed for 60 yards on 18 carries and scored a touchdowns while completing 13-of-17 passes for 75 yards against North Dakota.