This week's Missouri Valley Football Conference Players of the Week are WR Eyad Salem of Illinois State, DE Waylon Richardet of Missouri State, punter Kevin Mazur of Illinois State, and OG David Arkin of MSU. Missouri State won for the first-ever time at Youngstown State, while Illinois State beat North Dakota State fore the first time in school history (in three tries).
Offense
WR Eyad Salem, Illinois State, Sr., 6-1, 190, Elgin, Ill.
Salem caught 14 passes for 172 yards and touchdown at North Dakota State, including three on the final scoring drive. The 14 catches in the game set a new career high, tied the school record for receptions in a game held by Laurent Robinson and Dwayne Smith and tied him with four other players for the third-best performance by a player in MVFC history. With his 14 catches, Salem moved in to 4th place on the school's all-time receptions list with 132 and his 17-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter was the 15th in his career, which places him fifth on the school's receiving touchdowns list.
Defense
DE Waylon Richardet, Missouri State, Jr., 6-1, 269, Perryville, Mo.
In Missouri State's first-ever win at Youngstown State, Richardet was dominant for the Bears' defensive unit. He tallied eight total tackles, including four solos, snagged a key interception at the Missouri State three-yard line to kill a 17-play Penguins' drive, accounted for 1.5 tackles for loss, and blocked a Youngstown State field goal. Richardet also returned one kickoff for 15 yards and was in on two offensive red zone plays. His efforts helped the Bears hold their opposition to 7 points for the first time since 2007 and improve to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the league.
Special Teams
P Kevin Mazur, Illinois State, 5-11, Sr., Mt. Prospect (Ill.) John Hersey
Mazur kept the Bison deep in their own territory all afternoon, averaging 41.8 yards per punt in the 27-24 victory at the Fargodome on Saturday. The senior from Mt. Prospect, Ill., punted four times, with two of those punts pinning NDSU inside its own 20-yard line. He had a long punt of 49 yards and his 37-yard coffin kick late in the first quarter put the Bison on their own three yard line.
Offensive Lineman
OG David Arkin, Missouri State, 6-5, 298, Jr., Wichita, Kan.
Arkin anchored the Bears' offensive line in the team's first-ever win at Youngstown State on Saturday. He graded out at 81% for the game and had seven knock-down blocks, while helping hold the Penguins without a sack on the evening. Arkin and company also pass protected Cody Kirby enough to open up 252 passing yards -- the second-best effort ever by Kirby away from Plaster Field. Arkin has started 27 consecutive games for the Bears -- the second longest streak on the team -- and has a 3.70 grade point average.
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Offense
RB Dre Gibbs, WIU -- 20 carries, 84 yards, scored Western's only TD vs. SIU.
TE Clay Harbor, MSU -- 6 catches, 101 yards, TD (52) vs. Youngstown State.
WR Donald Jones, YSU -- 11 catches (school record), 130 yards against Missouri State.
RB Deji Karim, SIU -- 282 all-purpose yards, and 157 rush yards on 18 carries, including a school-record 92-yard TD run. Two TDs vs. Western Illinois in a 30-10 SIU victory.
RB Pat Paschall, NDSU -- 21 carries, 115 yards vs. Illinois State.
RB Matt Strathman, UNI -- 16 carries, career-high 133 yards, first collegiate TD vs. Indiana St.
Defense
CB Cole Brodie, SDSU -- 12 tackles (career high), and 1 PBU at #17 Cal Poly.
DL Eric Brunner, ILS -- 5 tackles (career high), 1 sack, 1 QB hurry at NDSU.
James Conley, UNI -- 19-yard interception return for a TD, added 5 tackles.
LB Preston Evans, NDSU -- 19 tackles (career high), blocked FG vs. Illinois State.
LB Kyle Glazier, WIU -- 8 tackles, 1 TFL, interception.
DL Ron Hardy, INS -- fumble recovery, 1-yard TD run on offense, 6 tackles, 2 TFL.
FS Mike McElroy, SIU -- two interceptions, six tackles, 1 PBU vs. Western Illinois.
Special Teams
PK Kyle Dougherty, SIU -- 3 field goals (37, 43, 43) in 30-10 win at Western Illinois.
KR Koby Kraemer, INS -- 9 kickoff returns, 154 yards vs. UNI.
PK Max Martin, UNI -- 2 field goals (34, 22) against Indiana State.
P Dean Priddy, SDSU -- 8 punts (40.9 average), three downed inside the 20, long of 53.
