This week's Missouri Valley Football Conference Players of the Week include RB Marshaun Coprich of Illinois State; LB T.J. Lally of South Dakota State; TB/RS Jody Webb of Youngstown State; and RB/RS Daquan Isom of Southern Illinois.
Offense
RB Marshaun Coprich, Illinois State, 5-9, 205, Sr., Victorville (Calif.) Oak Hills High
The heavy snow and windy conditions at Hancock Stadium did not slow down Marshaun Coprich at all, as he had one of the best days of his career in the regular-season finale win over South Dakota. The Victorville, California, native looked right at home running in the snow and rushed for 251 yards on 30 carries and tied a career-best with four rushing touchdowns. His first score was a 12-yard run midway through the second quarter, and he followed that up with a 45-yard scoring run just before halftime. He added another 12-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter and capped off his day with a 74-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. Coprich has now rushed for over 250 yards in back-to-back weeks, and over 200 yards three times this season and five times in his career at Illinois State.
Defense
LB T.J. Lally, South Dakota State, 6-0, 225, Sr., Chicago (Ill.) Marmion Academy
Lally recorded a season-high 17 tackles, including one-half tackle for loss, and added a fumble recovery and two pass breakups for South Dakota State in its 30-24 double-overtime loss Nov. 21 at Western Illinois. Lally, who started his 52nd consecutive game, registered double figures in tackles for the 12th time in his career.
Special Teams
TB Jody Webb, Youngstown State, 5-9, 180, Jr., Toledo (Ohoi) Whitmer High
Webb tied an MVFC record with two kickoff returns for touchdowns in the snowy contest at Indiana State. Webb returned the opening kickoff 93 yards to give YSU a 7-0 lead 15 seconds into the contest. With 6:22 left in the second quarter, Webb had another 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. His first KO return for six was the first by a Penguin for a touchdown since 2007. Webb also had seven rushing attempts for 57 yards and a score. He accounted for three TDs in the game. Webb finished with 243 all-purpose yards for the contest.
Newcomer
RB Daquan Isom, Southern Illinois, 5-8, 172, Fr., Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips High
Daquan Isom had 275 all-purpose yards on Saturday at UNI and scored three total touchdowns. He had 145 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and 68 yards and another touchdown through the air. He added 62 return yards. Isom scored on back-to-back rushes in the third quarter from 61 and 72 yards out. Isom ends his freshman year ranked eighth nationally in all-purpose yards per game and second among freshmen.
OTHERS NOMINATED
OFFENSE
RB Tyvis Smith, UNI -- Had a game and team-high 166 rushing yards in UNI's win over Southern Illinois. It was his second consecutive game to reach the 100-plus rushing yard performance. His career-high game included a 51-yard rushing touchdown to start the game and put UNI up 7-0 in the first quarter.
QB Mark Iannotti, SIU -- Ended his record-setting senior season with 324 yards total offense and two touchdowns. He broke Nick Hill’s school record for single-season passing yards, and he also broke a MVFC regular-season record for total offense. He threw for 264 yards and ran for 60 more against UNI.
RB Nikko Watson, WIU -- Rushed 28 times for 163 yards and a touchdown in the double-overtime win. He scored touchdown during the first overtime period. He accounted for the 19th 1,000-yard rushing season in program history (1,003 yards).
QB Matt Adam, INS -- Despite a bum shoulder that held him to just 43 yards passing and his first career game without a passing touchdown, sophomore ISU QB Matt Adam was still the offensive driving force for the Sycamores in their thrilling 27-24 Senior Day win over Youngstown State. He led all rushers with 110 yards and two touchdowns on the ground – which included a 74-yard score.
RB Brady Mengarelli, SDSU -- Tallied a career-high 187 rushing yards on 20 carries (9.4 ypc) and scored a TD for SDSU in its 30-24 double-overtime loss Nov. 21 at Western Illinois. Mengarelli added three receptions for 36 yards, giving him 223 yards from scrimmage in the regular season finale.
DEFENSE
LB Brett Taylor, WIU -- Taylor led the Leatherneck defense with 11 tackles, including nine solos, in the double overtime win over South Dakota State. He added a career-high 4.0 tackles for a loss. Taylor added a quarterback hurry.
DE Greg Menard, NDSU -- Sparked a Bison defense that created three first quarter turnovers that all led to touchdowns in a 55-0 rout of Missouri State. Menard had a strip sack on the third play of the game that was recovered in the end zone, a QB hurry two possessions later on third down to force a punt, and then a fumble recovery on the next MSU drive. In one half of action, Menard had three tackles with two sacks, two quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
DL Karter Schult, UNI -- Recorded six tackles in UNI's 49-28 win over Southern Illinois. All six of his tackles were solo, including two for a loss of 11 yards. He also added a key sack, forcing a fumble recovered by UNI and turned into a TD on the next offensive play.
CB Alex Stowers, INS -- Scooped up a Martin Ruiz fumble in the snow and ran it back 37 yards untouched to tie the game at 7-7. Stowers finished the day with two total tackles and one pass breakup – a dropped interception on an incredible play on the sideline.
OLB Dylan Cole, MSU -- Had a game-high 14 tackles against No. 3 North Dakota State. He finished the season with 152 tackles to rank seventh on MSU’s single-season chart and third among all FCS defenders in tackles per game (13.8). He led the Bears in tackles in each of their 11 games this season.
DL Alex Donnelly, ILS -- Recorded seven tackles, added a sack and posted two tackles-for-loss in a dominant defensive effort for the Redbirds in a 46-0 shutout of South Dakota. ISU held USD to just 155 yards of total offense and shut out a Valley Football opponent for the first time since Oct. 14, 2000.
SPECIAL TEAMS
P Chris Sullens, MSU -- Punted six times for a total of 232 yards to eclipse Logan Bieghler’s MVFC single-season record for punt yardage, while adding to his own Valley career mark as well. Sullens deposited three punts inside the opposition’s 20-yard line, including a 51-yarder, and averaged 38.7 yards per boot against the Bison.
PK Eric Heidorn, INS -- Nailed two field goals in the fourth quarter to push the Sycamores to victory – including a 38-yarder as time expired for the Senior Day victory. Heidorn was also 3-of-3 in PAT attempts against the Penguins.
NEWCOMER
RB Roland Genesy, INS -- Was ISU’s second-leading rusher with 91 yards on 22 carries, with zero yards lost. In fact, Genesy has only lost five yards all season. Genesy ends the season as ISU’s leading rusher with 582 yards.
QB Sean McGuire, WIU -- Accounted for more than 300 yards of total offense in his second start, leading Western to its first 'Top 5' win in more than 10 years. McGuire threw for 282 yards (19-of-38) with a touchdown and interception. McGuire rushed for 29 yards, and his 7-yard TD run in the second overtime was the game-winner.
S Jared Beshore, MSU -- Brought down 10 ball carriers and logged four solo stops against NDSU. Beshore wrapped up the year with back-to-back double-digit tackle efforts, also notching 14 total stops in last week’s contest against UNI
QB Aaron Bailey, UNI -- Rushed for 131 yards and passed for 181 yards . He also added three rushing TDs and has 11 in the past three games (most of any Division I player). He now has 17 rushing TDs this season, breaking the school record and tying the MVFC record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a season.
QB Easton Stick, NDSU -- Won his fifth straight start going 15 of 20 passing for 189 yards and four touchdowns in a 55-0 win over Missouri State. He completed touchdown passes to four different receivers and rushed for 17 yards on two carries. Stick left the game early in the third quarter.
