This week's Missouri Valley Football Conference players of the week include QB Cole Payton of North Dakota State, LB Tye Niekamp of Illinois State, PR Tae Marrero of Southern Illinois, KR/WR Ky "Flash" Wilson of Youngstown State, and C Trent Fraley of North Dakota State.
 
Offensive Player of the Week
QB Cole Payton, North Dakota State
6-3, 233, Sr., Omaha, Neb. (Westside HS)
Payton had 380 yards of total offense and four touchdowns in North Dakota State’s 38-7 win over South Dakota State. His 17 carries for 137 yards and four touchdowns were all career highs, and he went 18 of 23 passing for 243 yards with completions to six different receivers led by Bryce Lance’s five receptions for 103 yards. Payton’s 1-yard TD run on fourth-and-goal capped a 16-play, 84-yard opening drive that ate up 9 minutes of the first quarter. He also scored on runs of 2, 57 and 47 yards as the Bison rolled up 500 yards of total offense – the most by an NDSU team in 22 Dakota Marker games.
 
Defensive Player of the Week
LB Tye Niekamp, Illinois State
6-3, 240, Jr., Normal, Illinois (Normal Community HS)
Another game and it was another stellar performance at middle linebacker for Tye Niekamp in Illinois State’s road win at South Dakota. Niekamp tied his career and season high with a game-best 14 tackles against the Coyotes, which included a career-high 11 solo stops. The junior from Normal, Illinois, was also credited with a TFL, as the Redbirds held the No. 21 ranked Coyotes to just 13 points at home. It marked Niekamp’s fourth double-digit tackling effort of the season and third game with 13 plus.
 
Special Teams Player of the Week
PR Tae Marrero Jr., Southern Illinois
5-10, 187, Sr., Louisville, Ky. (Ballard HS)
Had an 81-yard punt return touchdown, SIU's first since 2006, in the win against UNI.   He totaled four returns for 104 yards.
 
Newcomer of the Week
KR/WR Ky “Flash” Wilson, Youngstown State
5-9, 180, Jr., Farrell, Pa. (Farrell/Slippery Rock)
Wilson returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in the Penguins' dominate 51-17 win over Murray State on Saturday. In the fourth quarter, he returned the kickoff for a score which was the longest kickoff return of a touchdown in school history. He had three returns for 126 yards against the Racers.
 
Offensive Lineman of the Week
C Trent Fraley, North Dakota State
6-1, 303, Jr., Moon Township, Pa. (Moon Area HS / Marshall)
Fraley earned a 91 percent overall grade and had three key blocks in North Dakota State’s 38-7 road win over South Dakota State. Fraley played 67 of 71 snaps for the Bison, who rushed for 257 yards, 5.2 yards per carry and five touchdowns while rolling up 500 yards of total offense – the most by an NDSU team in 22 Dakota Marker games. The Bison converted 9 of 16 third down opportunities and controlled the football for more than 38 minutes.