This week's Missouri Valley Football Conference Players of the Week include TB Joe Alessi of Youngstown State; LB Chris Kolarevic of UNI; PR Jake Coates of Youngstown State; and QB Will McElvain of UNI.
Offensive Player of the Week
TB Joe Alessi, Youngstown State
5-10, 190, Sr., North Lima, Ohio (South Range)
Alessi rushed for 146 yards on 14 carries and scored a touchdown in the Penguins' 45-10 victory over Robert Morris. Alessi scored on a run of 43 yards in the third quarter, one play following a YSU interception. It was Alessi's second career 100-yard game and first since November 2016 at Missouri State.
Defensive Player of the Week
LB Chris Kolarevic, UNI
6-1, 230, So., Traverse City, Mich. (Saint Francis)
Kolarevic played for the first time since Oct. 18, 2018 and notched four tackles and a sack in the effort. He helped UNI hold No. 5 Weber State to just one offensive yard in the second half and -7 yards in the third quarter.
Special Teams Player of the Week
PR Jake Coates, Youngstown State
5-10, 170, Junior, Warren, Ohio (Warren JFK)
Coates set a school record with 133 yards in punt returns on five attempts and had his first return for a touchdown in the Penguins' 45-10 vs. Robert Morris. Coates returned a punt 63 yards for a score in the second quarter to give the Guins a 28-10 lead. It was YSU's first punt return for a score since 2016 vs. Indiana State. He also had a 33 and 23-yard return in the game. He broke the previous mark of 127 set by Robert Thompson in 1982.
Newcomer of the Week
QB Will McElvain, UNI
5-11, 197, Fr., Des Moines, Iowa (Lincoln)
McElvain threw for 219 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-29 passing at No. 5 Weber State. He also ran for 105 yards on 16 carries to lead the Panther rushing attack. He is the first UNI player to have a 100-yard rushing game and is the tallied the most rushing yards and touchdown passes that the tough Weber State defense has allowed this season.
OTHER NOMINATIONS
PK Matthew Cook, UNI
Cook notched a 35-yard field goal. He is now 9-9 on the year and leads the MVFC in field goals per game at 2.25 and is second in the FCS. He is one of nine players in the country that remains perfect, but is the only one with more than seven attempts in that group of nine.
SS Zaire Jones, Youngstown State
Jones led the Penguins with six tackles in a 45-10 victory over Robert Morris. Jones had three solos and three assisted tackles as YSU improved to 4-0. All four wins have come by at least 20 points.
