This week's Missouri Valley Football Conference players of the week include TB Jaleel McLaughlin of Youngstown State; QB Nic Baker of Southern Illinois; DB Michael Thomas of Indiana State; PK Colt McFadden of Youngstown State; QB Jason Shelley of Missouri State and QB Chris Oladokun of South Dakota State.
Co-Offensive Player of the Week
TB Jaleel McLaughlin, Youngstown State, Sr., 5-9, 175, Marshville, N.C./Forrest Hills High
McLaughlin finished with 288 all-purpose yards with 242 yards rushing and 46 yards receiving in the Penguins' come-from-behind 44-41 overtime win over UIW on Thursday. McLaughlin had a career-high 29 carries and scored on runs of 72 and 11 yards in the contest. His 42-yard reception in the final seconds of regulation took the ball to the UIW 23-yard line with two seconds remaining to set up the game-tying field goal for the Guins.
Co-Offensive Player of the Week
QB Nic Baker, Southern Illinois, Sr., 5-9, 194, Rochester, Ill./Rochester High
Baker set the school passing record with 460 yards through the air in a 47-21 win at SEMO. The sophomore QB improved to 4-0 as a starter at SIU by completing 25-of-34 passes with 4 TDs and one interception. His first pass of the game went for a school-record 99 yards to Avante Cox. Nine different players caught passes and four different players caught touchdown from Baker.
Defensive Player of the Week
DB Michael Thomas, Indiana State, R-Jr., 6-2, 210, Corona, Calif./Norco High
Michael Thomas was the difference-maker in the game for the Indiana State defense. He finished the game with a team-high 10 tackles and added two interceptions in key situations to highlight the ISU 26-21 win. Thomas’ first interception came near the end of the first half and set up a late ISU scoring opportunity. His 75-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter changed the momentum of the game and secured ISU’s first win since the end of the 2019 season.
Special Teams Player of the Week
PK Colt McFadden, Youngstown State, Sr., 6-0, 200, Poland, Ohio/Poland High
McFadden made a pair of clutch field goals in the Penguins' 44-41 overtime win over UIW on Thursday night at Stambaugh Stadium. He drilled a 41-yard field goal as time expired in regulation to send the contest into overtime. In the extra session, he kicked a walk-off 27-yard field goal. It was the first overtime winning field goal for YSU since 1998. He also made a 27-yard field goal earlier in the contest.
Co-Newcomer of the Week
QB Jason Shelley, Missouri State, Sr., 5-11, 197, Frisco, Texas/Utah State
In his Missouri State debut, Shelley threw for 235 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions at No. 22-ranked FBS foe Oklahoma State. Shelley helped engineer four red zone drives for the Bears, including three in the second half, to guide the 24th-ranked Bears to a near upset in Stillwater. Shelley threw for 103 yards in the fourth quarter alone as he led the Bears with three scoring threats in the final seven minutes. His 8-yard touchdown strike to Tyrone Scott with 3:06 to play, brought MSU within 23-16 of the Cowboys and gave the Bears a chance to tie the game moments later, as the Bears got as close as the OSU 15 in the deciding moments. The Utah State transfer was 23-for-44 through the air and rushed for 31 yards on 7 carries.
Co-Newcomer of the Week
QB Chris Oladokun, South Dakota State, Grad., 6-2, 195, Tampa, Fla./Sickles High/Samford
In his Jackrabbit debut, Oladokun accounted for three touchdowns – two passing and one rushing – in South Dakota State’s 42-23 season-opening victory at Colorado State on Sept. 3. A transfer from Samford, he completed 18-of-28 passes for 224 yards and also rushed two times for 19 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown that capped the scoring for SDSU. Both of Oladokun’s touchdown passes went to Jadon Janke, covering 10 and 17 yards.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
RB Otis Weah, North Dakota -- Rushed for 114 yards on 22 carries for his third career 100-yard game ... Reached the endzone three times for a new single game career-high, scoring from one yard out twice and scampering for 15 yards on another ... Closing in on the 1,000-yard rushing mark with 872 career yards ... Helped the Fighting Hawks to a 35-14 win on the road, UND’s largest win margin in Pocatello since 1965 (27-0)
RB Dominic Gonnella, North Dakota State -- Gonnella rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns in North Dakota State’s 28-6 home win over Albany. He averaged 10.4 yards per carry on 13 attempts. Gonnella scored on a 3-yard run in the first quarter and went 75 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the third quarter to give the Bison a 21-6 lead.
RB Travis Theis, South Dakota -- Carried 18 times for a career-high 96 yards and a touchdown in his first collegiate start, which came back in his home state of Kansas. Had a 25-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that gave USD the lead. Also had a 21-yard reception.
QB Bryce Jefferson, Illinois State -- Jefferson accounted for four touchdowns in Illinois State’s season-opening 49-7 win over Butler Saturday night. The Indianapolis, Indiana, native threw for a pair of touchdowns and also rushed for two, as Redbird racked up 491 yards of total offense against the Bulldogs. Jefferson threw for 193 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown strike to Austin Nagel, and rushed for 37 yards on the ground with scores of 5 and 14 yards, respectively.
RB Pierre Strong, Jr., South Dakota State -- Strong rushed for a game-high 138 yards on 13 carries (10.6 ypc) and scored two touchdowns to help lead third-ranked South Dakota State to a 42-23 victory at Colorado State in the season opener Sept. 3. He opened the scoring with a 48-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and added a 12-yard score late in the second quarter en route to his 11th career 100-yard game. Strong also recorded three receptions for eight yards.
WR Quan Hampton, UNI -- Hampton led the Panther offense with 8 catches for 99 yards and 1 touchdown. Hampton scored the first touchdown of the season on a 52-yard catch and run in the first quarter against #7 Iowa State.
WR Dennis Houston, Western Illinois -- In the Leathernecks' season opener at Ball State, Houston set a new career-high in receiving yards with 237. His previous best was 141 yards against Montana State on Sept. 14, 2019. The savvy team captain has edged his way onto the all-time list for the fourth-best mark within WIU single-game records. Additionally, his 12 receptions were a career-high and tied for fifth-highest in the program's single-game records. He finished with two touchdowns.
RB Peterson Kerlegrand, Indiana State -- Kerlegrand paced the Indiana State rushing attack against Eastern Illinois and scored the opening touchdown in the Sycamores’ win over the Panthers. The senior tailback finished the game with 73 yards on 19 carries and added one catch in a workhorse role for the offense. His three-yard touchdown run in the first quarter marked the Sycamores’ first score of the season.
DT Eli Mostaert, North Dakota State -- Mostaert was part of a disruptive front line that helped contain CAA-leading rusher Karl Mofor to just 21 yards on 11 carries in North Dakota State’s 28-6 home win over Albany. Mostaert had one solo sack, one assisted sack, and finished with three total tackles as the Bison defense held Albany to 0-for-11 on third down.
Hayden Galvin, North Dakota -- Set the tempo for North Dakota defense’s three interception day, recording an interception on the first drive of the game ... The Fighting Hawks offense capitalized on each of the three turnovers, scoring 20 points off turnovers against Idaho State ... Finished the game with five tackles, one interception for eight yards and a pass breakup
DB Michael Lawson, Western Illinois -- In the Leathernecks' season opener at Ball State (9/2), Michael finished with 14 tackles (9 solo) that tied for a personal career-best in a single game. He notched this same mark last season on Apr. 2 versus Youngstown State. Lawson also forced two fumbles and was credited for securing Western's first fumble recovery of the year.
LB Alfonzo Lambert, UNI -- Lambert put together a 9 tackle performance against #7 Iowa State in the opening game of the season for the Panthers. Recording a team-high 8 solo tackles Lambert forced a fumble along the sideline in the first quarter.
LB Adam Bock, South Dakota State -- Bock registered eight tackles, two of which were for losses, and tallied two pass breakups to lead a strong South Dakota State defensive effort in the Jackrabbits’ 42-23 season-opening win at Colorado State on Sept. 3. Bock spearheaded a defensive unit that limited the Rams to 124 rushing yards (3.1 ypc).
LB Jack Cochrane, South Dakota -- Cochrane led USD with 13 tackles including three for loss and had a pass breakup in leading the Coyote defense against Kansas. The Jayhawks were held to 245 yards on 67 plays. KU didn’t record a first down until the second quarter.
CB Braden Price, Illinois State -- Price was all over the field for the Redbirds in their 49-7 win over Butler Saturday night at Hancock Stadium. The Wheeling, West Virginia, native recorded a pair of interceptions and tied for the team lead with seven tackles against the Bulldogs. The interceptions were the first two for Price in his time as a Redbird and he was also credited with a sack in the contest. His second INT of the night came in the endzone as the Bulldogs were threatening and on the next play from scrimmage after the touchback, Cole Mueller ripped off an 80-yard touchdown run.
S Kyriq McDonald, Missouri State -- McDonald registered 10 total stops to set the pace for a Missouri State defense that allowed just three first downs and 120 total yards in the second half in Saturday's narrow 23-16 loss at Oklahoma State. McDonald had 6 solo stops, a tackle for loss, a pass break-up and a forced fumble that ultimately led to a MSU scoring drive in the third quarter. The Bears defense forced Oklahoma State into six punts in eight second-half possessions -- including four three-and-out series -- plus a fumble turnover in a dominant second-half effort to bring MSU back into the game.
PK Adam Stage, North Dakota -- Made a pair of field goals, including a 42-yarder in the first half at Idaho State .. Second field goal was from 26-yards out .. First field goal of the game came following a UND turnover
P Kaedin Steindorf, North Dakota State -- Steindorf averaged 40.0 yards on five punts in his collegiate debut as North Dakota State beat Albany 28-6. He placed three punts inside the 20 and had a long of 50 yards as the Bison coverage team downed three punts and forced two fair catches.
P Adam Fellner, Western Illinois -- In the Leathernecks' season opener at Ball State (9/2), Fellner made six punts for 255 yards. Averaging 42.5 yards a punt, his longest came on a 53-yard boot at a critical moment in the second quarter, placing the ball right at Ball State's 1-yard line.
P Nate Murphy, UNI -- Murphy recorded 5 punts in the Panther's opening game of the season. Netting 190 total yards, Murphy averaged 38 yards per punt with a game long 52-yard punt.
P Brady Schutt, South Dakota -- Schutt averaged 48.2 yards per punt and didn’t allow a return in six punts against Kansas Friday. His total included a career-long 67-yard boot. He also had one punt placed inside the 20.
P Travis Reiner, P, R-Sr., Canyon Country, Calif.
Travis Reiner averaged 37.9 yards per punt in his first action of the 2021 season, but his ability to pin the opponents deep and limit the EIU return game was crucial in the contest. Reiner forced a pair of fair catches early in the contest and saved his best punt of the game for the end. Inside the final minute, Reiner put together a 49-yard punt that pinned EIU inside their 10 yard line. The downed punt led to the game-ending safety three plays later in the Sycamores’ 26-21 win.
P Grant Burkett, Missouri State -- Missouri State's punter averaged 49.0 yards on six attempts -- the fourth-best single-game punting average in program history -- to help MSU win the field position battle at No. 22-ranked Oklahoma State. Burkett pinned the Cowboys inside their own 20 three times and tallied three punts of 50 yards or better on the evening with a long of 53. Burkett was also the Bears holder on three field goals and an extra point from kicker Jose Pizano who knocked through a career-long 48-yarder midway through the third quarter.
QB Anthony Thompson, Indiana State -- Anthony Thompson made his starting debut a successful one as the redshirt senior quarterback managed the game on Indiana State’s 26-21 win over Eastern Illinois. Thompson was efficient over the first drive and finished 13-of-23 for the game for 87 yards, while adding seven rushing yards in the win.
QB Demeatric Crenshaw, Youngstown State -- Crenshaw helped engineer a 44-41 YSU overtime win in his first career start at quarterback for the Penguins. Crenshaw had two rushing scores and a passing TD in the win over UIW. He completed 9-of-12 passes for 112 yards while rushing 20 times for 81 yards and scores of nine and three yards.
RB Cole Mueller, Illinois State -- Mueller broke out in a big way for the Redbirds in their 49-7 win over Butler Saturday night at Hancock Stadium. The Wentville, Missouri, native saw his first game action in Redbird uniform and did not disappoint, as he led the team with a career-high 111 yards rushing and scored a pair of touchdowns in the ISU victory. Mueller averaged 13.9 yards per carry in the contest thanks to an 80-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter. He also added a 1-yard score in the victory, as the Redbirds amassed 297 yards on the ground against the Bulldogs.
TE Tyce Daniel, Southern Illinois -- A transfer from Memphis, Daniel caught 5 passes for 62 yards, including a 16-yard TD reception.
DB Darius Joiner, Western Illinois
Suiting up with WIU for the first time at Ball State (9/2), Darius collected 12 tackles (7 solo), one of which was for loss. He was one of two Leathernecks to end in double-figures for tackles (Michael Lawson being the other).