This week's Missouri Valley Football Conference players of the week include RB Marshaun Coprich of Illinois State; SS Tre' Moore of Youngstown State; PK Michael Schmadeke of UNI; QB Tre Roberson of Illinois State; and OT Matt Zobrist of Western Illinois.
Offense
RB Marshaun Coprich, Illinois State, 5-9, 205, Jr., Victorville (Calif.) Oak Hills High
Coprich set career bests with 174 yards rushing on 24 carries (7.2 ypc) and scored a career-high four TDs to lead the Redbirds to the victory over No. 9 South Dakota State. The 100-plus yard rushing performance was the fourth in a row to start the season for Coprich, who scored the first three of his touchdowns in the first quarter to give ISU an early 21-0 lead. He later added a 5-yard score in the fourth quarter to cap off his day, which included a long run of 62 yards.
Defense
SS Tre’ Moore, Youngstown St., 5-10, 200, Jr., Dayton (Ohio) Wayne HS
Moore led a stout Penguin defensive effort in a 14-7 win at Missouri State. Starting for just the second time this season, he recorded a career-high 11 tackles and had two interceptions, including one with 2:21 remaining that helped the Guins earn their first win at MSU since 2006. With MSU facing a 2nd-and-13 at the YSU 41, Moore intercepted a Kierra Harris pass at the 32-yard line and returned five yards to seal the hard-fought win. His first interception of the game came in the third quarter when Harris tried to throw a deep ball. Moore was credited with seven solo stops and four assists in the game. It was the first time a YSU player had two interceptions in a game since DeAngelo Wilson in 2008 against NDSU.
Special Teams
PK Michael Schmadeke, UNI, 5-10, 181, Jr., Waterloo (Iowa) Columbus HS
Schmadeke was 4-of-5 on field goal attempts at Indiana State, with his only miss a 53-yard try in the final minute that could have given UNI a lead in an eventual 20-19 loss. He had a career-long 48-yard field goal late in the first half, scoring the points heading into a strong wind. His four FGs were the most in the FCS on Saturday, and he leads the FCS with 16 makes this year (on 17 attempts). That 94.1 accuracy is a national best for kickers with 10 or more attempts.
Newcomer
QB Tre Roberson, Illinois State, 6-0, 205, Jr., Indianapolis (Ind.) Indiana Univ.
Roberson was dangerous with his arm and his legs in Illinois State’s 45-10 victory over No. 9 South Dakota State. The transfer from Indiana completed seven passes for 168 yards with a touchdown and an interception, but also rushed for a career-high 151 yards on the ground to help the Redbirds pull away.
Offensive Lineman
OT Matt Zobrist, Western Illinois, 6-3, 290, So., Troy (Ill.) Triad High
Recorded a team-leading five knockdowns in the game and helped Western record 253 yards rushing on the nation’s third-best rushing defense as NDSU had allowed just under 300 yards total on the season. It marked the most rushing yards gained since allowing 271 to the triple-option rushing attack of Georgia Southern in the 2012 playoff semifinals.
NOTABLE PLAYER OF THE WEEK SUBMISSIONS
OFFENSE
TE MyCole Pruitt, SIU -- Caught seven passes for 137 yards and a TD in SIU’s 41-10 win over South Dakota. Pruitt posted his third-straight 100-yard game, becoming only the second play in SIU history to accomplish the feat and first since D I-AA Player of the Year Cornell Craig accomplished the feat in 1999. QB Carson Wentz, NDSU -- Completed 19 of 29 passes for 240 yards – all career highs – and caught a 16-yard game-tying touchdown pass from running back John Crockett in the fourth quarter of No. 1-ranked North Dakota State’s 17-10 win at Western Illinois.
TB Jody Webb, YSU -- Webb’s second-quarter 81-yard TD run proved to be the game winner in the Penguins’ 14-7 win at Missouri State on Saturday. Webb finished the game with 117 yards on 10 carries and the score. It was the second 100-yard rushing performance of his career.
RB David Johnson, UNI -- finished the game against #25 Indiana State with 127 yards on the ground for his third straight game with 100 or more rushing yards. The senior also grabbed two catches for 14 yards, giving him 141 all-purpose yards.
RB J.C. Baker, WIU -- Baker ran for a career-high 175 yards and a touchdown against the nation’s third-ranked rushing defense. He and the Leathernecks nearly matched the ground total allowed by NDSU all season long. Baker averaged 8.3 yards per carry and recorded the longest rush of his career, 66 yards. He also caught a 3-yard pass giving him 178 all-purpose yards.
WR Gary Owens, INS (also nominated at Newcomer) -- Had six receptions for 79 yards and the game winning touchdown as the Sycamores tied a school record for highest-ranked opponent defeated inside Memorial Stadium with the 20-19 victory over No. 10 UNI. He made his last reception count the most as he hauled in a 38-yard reception from wide receiver Chris O’Leary with 2:12 remaining in the game to push the Sycamores ahead.
DEFENSE
Victor Burnett, SIU -- posted six tackles—five of which were solo stops—a sack, a forced fumble and a pass breakup in SIU’s 41-10 win over South Dakota on Saturday evening. Burnett helped spearhead a Saluki defensive attack that pitched a second-half shutout while limiting South Dakota to 78 total yards and only three first downs after intermission.
OLB Dylan Cole, MSU -- Recovered a fumble and snagged an interception in Saturday’s game against Youngstown State. He also tallied 5 total tackles, including 3 solo stops to help MSU’s defense. The Bears’ defenders did not allow a second-half score or third-down conversion against the Penguins
SS Colten Heagle, NDSU -- Made a game- and career-high 16 tackles in No. 1-ranked North Dakota State’s 17-10 win at Western Illinois. Heagle made 13 solo stops including a tackle for loss in the red zone. He made two tackles for no gain and was in on a fourth-down stop that ended a 10-play Western Illinois drive early in the second quarter with NDSU leading 3-0.
LB Connor Underwood, INS -- Recorded seven total tackles with a QB sack, tackle for a loss and a forced fumble as the Sycamores recorded a thrilling 20-19 victory over tenth-ranked UNI to open conference play. He added a quarterback hurry in the victory.
LB Kevin Kintzel, WIU -- Kintzel recorded a career-high 16 tackles (13 unassisted) against NDSU. They held NDSU to 100 yards fewer on the ground then it had averaged (allowed 149 rushing). Kintzel also blocked the first kick of his career. He recorded the most tackles by a Leatherneck since Kyle Glazier recorded 17 during the opening round of the 2010 playoffs at Coastal Carolina.
LB Max Busher, UNI -- finished with a season-high 14 tackles against Indiana State. The senior was just one tackle shy from tying his career-high that was set last season. He was part of the defense that only allowed 82 rushing yards. His 14 tackles led both teams with several of his tackles resulting in no gains for the Sycamores. The 14 tackles also marks the highest total tackles in a game for UNI this season so far.
DE David Perkins, ILS -- Had three tackles, but it was his first of two forced fumbles that led to an early Illinois State TDs that helped turn the tide of the game. He would finish with a sack, two TFL, the two forced fumbles an one fumble recovery on the day. Perkins and the rest of the Redbird defense allowed just 10 points to the Jackrabbits and held All-American running back Zach Zenner out of the end zone.
SPECIAL TEAMS
KR Tevin Allen, ILS -- made the most of his first kickoff return of the season, as he returned in 95 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter of Illinois State’s 45-10 win over No. 9 South Dakota State. Allen also recorded four tackles and broke up a pass from his safety position on defense.
Curran Blamey, MSU (also Nominated at Newcomer) -- Helped set up Missouri State’s only score of the game in Saturday’s confrontation with Youngstown State with a key fourth-quarter blocked punt. MSU would punch the ball into the end zone eight plays later. The redshirt freshman also notched a key special teams tackle in the contest in arguably his biggest contribution to date for the Bears.
P Osborn Umeh, INS -- had six punts for 209 yards – a 34.8 yard average – on a windy day at Memorial Stadium that saw the Sycamores earn a 20-19 victory. Umeh had a long of 46 yards and pinned the Panthers inside their own 20-yard line a total of three times.
RS Tay Willis, SIU -- Took SIU’s first kickoff back 75 yards and set up the first Saluki score of the day. Willis’ kickoff return stopped South Dakota from kicking deep again in the game and helped the Salukis to a 10-yard average starting field position advantage in the game.
NEWCOMER
DB Aaron Diggs, WIU -- Diggs recorded a career-high six tackles against NDSU, including four solos.
QB Mark Iannotti, SIU -- completed 19 of his 32 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown in SIU’s 41-10 win over South Dakota on Saturday evening. Iannotti was especially impressive in the second half, going 10-for-13 with 186 yards and a TD pass, leading SIU to a 31-0 second-half scoring margin.
WR RJ Urzendowski, NDSU -- Had a career-high seven catches and 114 receiving yards in No. 1-ranked North Dakota State’s 17-10 win at Western Illinois. He averaged 16.3 yards per reception with his longest catches going for 34 and 35 yards. Three catches resulted in first downs, including a 35-yarder on third-and-10 and a 21-yarder on third-and-11
RS/DB Trey Carr, SDSU -- The true freshman accounted for both South Dakota State takeaways by intercepting a pass and recovering a fumble on back-to-back drives in the third quarter. Carr also was credited with two tackles and two pass breakups on the defensive end. He also returned two kickoffs for a total of 54 yards, including a long of 35 yards.
