This week's Missouri Valley Football Conference players of the week include WR Christian Watson of North Dakota State; LB Tylar Wiltz of Missouri State; P Garret Wegner of North Dakota State; and LB Grant Dixon of Youngstown State.
 
Offensive Player of the Week
WR Christian Watson, North Dakota State
6-4, 200, Jr., Tampa (Fla.) Plant High
Watson accounted for 229 all-purpose yards in North Dakota State’s 23-20 win at Northern Iowa. He caught two passes for 86 yards including a long of 61 yards in the final minute of the first half that set up a 42-yard field goal and gave NDSU a 10-6 halftime lead. His 25-yard reception on third-and-8 extended a touchdown scoring drive in the fourth quarter that gave NDSU a 23-12 lead. Watson scored NDSU’s first touchdown on a 100-yard kickoff return, the fourth such return in school history.


 
Defensive Player of the Week
LB Tylar Wiltz, Missouri State
6-1, 230, Jr., Breaux Bridge (La.) High, Independence CC
Wiltz had a game-high and matched a career-high with 12 total stops in Missouri State's win over Youngstown State. Wiltz notched all 12 tackles in solo fashion and all on rushing plays as the Bears held the Penguins to just 267 total yards. Wiltz also accounted for 3.0 tackles for loss, including a fourth-down TFL in the third quarter to stall a Penguin drive in MSU territory. He also was credited with a quarterback hurry in the second quarter that ultimately led to a YSU punt as well as a key third-down stop in the second half that also squelched a drive by the Penguins. His 12 solo tackles and 3 TFLs were both career highs.


 
Special Teams Player of the Week
P Garret Wegner, North Dakota State
6-0, 197, Sr., Lodi (Wis.) High
Wegner punted four times with a 44.2 average in North Dakota State’s 23-20 win at Northern Iowa. He had a long of 48 yards and placed two punts inside the 20 including a 44-yarder to the UNI 2 and a 45-yard punt downed at the UNI 4 with 1:00 left in the game. Wegner also handled all four kickoffs for NDSU averaging 63.8 yards with two touchbacks.
 


Newcomer of the Week
LB Grant Dixon, Youngstown State
6-3, 225, Sr., Roxbury (N.J.) High / Marist
Dixon was credited with 12 tackles, all solo stops in the Penguins' 21-10 loss at Missouri State. He had three tackles for loss, including a sack in the fourth quarter. Dixon has a team-high 55 tackles this season, including 40 solos.