This week's Missouri Valley Football Conference players of the week include QB Cole Payton, North Dakota State; LB Nathaniel Staehling, North Dakota State; RS Jackson Williams, North Dakota State; RB James Basinger, South Dakota State; and RG Griffin Empey, North Dakota State.

Offense
QB Cole Payton, North Dakota State
6-3, 233, Sr., Omaha, Neb. (Westside HS)
Payton accounted for 375 yards of total offense and three touchdowns as top-ranked North Dakota State opened conference play with a 51-13 homecoming victory over 17th-ranked South Dakota. Payton went 14 of 18 passing for 273 yards and two TDs while rushing 11 times for 102 yards and one TD. He picked up six first downs in the run game including one fourth-and-short conversion of 11 yards and three third-down conversions running for 15 yards with seven to go, 7 with six to go, and a 21-yard scramble on third-and-17 to keep a two-minute drive alive late in the second quarter as NDSU built a 34-0 lead.

Defense
LB Nathaniel Staehling, North Dakota State
6-2, 238, Jr., Baxter, Minn. (Brainerd HS)
Staehling scored his first career touchdown on a 43-yard interception return as top-ranked North Dakota State opened conference play with a 51-13 homecoming victory over 17th-ranked South Dakota. Staehling’s pick-six ended South Dakota’s opening drive of the second half. The first-year starting middle linebacker finished with a team-high five tackles and assisted on two tackles for loss as the Bison held USD to three-and-outs on four of its first seven drives in building a 44-3 lead.

Special Teams
RS Jackson Williams, North Dakota State
5-11, 183, So., Omaha, Neb. (Millard West HS)
Williams accounted for 107 all-purpose yards as top-ranked North Dakota State opened conference play with a 51-13 homecoming victory over 17th-ranked South Dakota. Williams had two 21-yard punt returns, one 21-yard kickoff return, and he also caught a 35-yard pass on second-and-5 from the NDSU 15 to get the Bison to midfield on a 12-play, 90-yard scoring drive that put NDSU ahead 13-0 in the first quarter.

Newcomer of the Week
RB James Basinger, South Dakota State
5-10, 200, Fr., Littleton, Colo. (Columbine HS)
Basinger tallied a team-high 53 rushing yards on 12 carries and scored two touchdowns in South Dakota State’s 51-7 home win over Mercyhurst on Sept. 27. The freshman running back also caught three passes for 32 yards, giving him 85 all-purpose yards on the afternoon.

Offensive Lineman of the Week
RG Griffin Empey, North Dakota State
6-3, 298, So., Stoughton, Wis. (Stoughton HS)
Empey had a 94 percent overall grade with three key blocks as top-ranked North Dakota State opened conference play with a 51-13 homecoming victory over 17th-ranked South Dakota. Empey played 66 snaps with no penalties or sacks allowed and helped the Bison rush for 274 yards and 5.5 yards per carry with four touchdowns. An FCS Freshman All-American last year, Empey has started all 18 games he has played for NDSU, which currently ranks sixth in the FCS with a conference-best 233.8 rushing yards and 0.75 sacks allowed per game.