This week's Missouri Valley Football Conference Players of the Week include QB Mike Perish of Indiana State; DE Derek Rivers of Youngstown State; P/PK Joey Cejudo of Youngstown State and QB Tre Roberson of Illinois State.
Offense
QB Mike Perish, Indiana State, 6-3, 225, Sr., Frankfort (Ill.) Marist High
Perish posted his fourth 300-yard passing performance of the season with a 353-yard effort in the 41-26 road victory over No. 19/20 Southern Illinois. He completed 27-of-41 passes, including four TDs. It marked the second time in his career he thrown for four touchdowns in a game and gives him 38 for his career – just two away from the Indiana State career record, currently held by Jeff Miller (1982-85).
Defense
DE Derek Rivers, Youngstown State, 6-5, 240, So., Kinston (N.C) High/Fork Union
Rivers had a career-high eight total tackles, a career-best six solo stops and had three sacks as the Penguins defeated South Dakota State 30-27 in Brookings. Rivers had a sack in the first quarter on a third-and-5, in the second quarter on a first-and-10 and the third quarter on a third-and-9. The YSU defense had six sacks in the game.
Special Teams
P/PK Joey Cejudo, Youngstown State, 6-4, 205, Sr., Chino Hills (Calif.) High
Cejudo nearly had a perfect game in the win over South Dakota State. He averaged 49.4 yards on five punts, made a 32-yard field goal, was 3-of-4 on PAT kicks and had two touchbacks on six kickoffs. He had his best game as YSU’s punter just five days after he suffered a sprained right knee that almost forced him to miss the game. His last boot, a career-long 59-yard kick pinned SDSU at its own two-yard line and all but ended any comeback hopes for the Jackrabbits. He had punts of 44 (twice), 48, 52 and 59 in the game.
Newcomer
QB Tre Roberson, Illinois State, 6-0, 205, Jr., Indianapolis (Ind.) Indiana Univ.
Roberson led the Redbirds to their third fourth-quarter comeback in the past three weeks and accounted for all three of the team’s touchdowns in a 21-7 win over Missouri State. The junior transfer from Indiana finished the game 11-of-18 with 169 yards and two touchdowns through the air and rushed for 85 yards and another score to help ISU improve to 7-0 for the first time since 1932. He had 254 yards of total offense.
Notable Submissions
OFFENSE
RB John Crockett, NDSU -- Crockett had 169 all-purpose yards in No. 1-ranked North Dakota State’s 47-7 win at South Dakota. He ran 23 times for 123 yards with a 10-yard touchdown run and averaged 5.3 yards per carry. He caught two passes for 46 yards including a 25-yard TD pass
QB Tre Roberson, Illinois State - earned league Newcomer of the Week honors, also nominated here.
RB David Johnson ,UNI -- Ran for 146 yards off a season-high 29 carries for his 19th career 100-plus rushing yard game. He also finished with two rushing touchdowns, breaking the school record in total career touchdowns. He now has 51 total (13 rec., 39 rush). He also completed a pass.
QB Hunter Wells, YSU -- Wells passed for two scores in the win and had the first rushing touchdown of his YSU career in the game. He completed 16-of-27 passes for 256 yards and the two scores. YSU won for the first time in Brookings since September 1974. (also nominated for Newcomer of the Week.)
DEFENSE
LB Max Busher, UNI -- Had a 14-tackle performance in UNI’s 27-13 win over Western Illinois. Busher finished with four unassisted and 10 assisted tackles and added a pass breakup. He also notched his first career-interception in the fourth quarter.
LB Dylan Cole, MSU -- Cole brought down seven Illinois State ball carriers to share team-high honors, including a game-high 6 solo stops against the Redbirds. He also racked up MSU’s only tackle for loss in the game on a key fourth-quarter defensive stop, and broke up a pass.
DE Teddy Corwin, ILS -- Had two sacks, as the Redbird defense held Missouri State to just 7 points and 252 yards of total offense in a 21-7 win. He also blocked a 36-yard field goal attempt by the Bears.
LB Connor Underwood, INS -- tallied five tackles in the Sycamores’ 41-26 road victory over nationally-ranked Southern Illinois. He also recorded 1.5 tackles for a loss as well as sacks in the contest.
LB Nick DeLuca, NDSU -- Made his first career start at middle linebacker and made a game- and career-high 12 tackles including eight solo stops. He returned his first career pick eight yards to set up a TD.
SPECIAL TEAMS
CJ Laros, ILS -- Averaged a season-best 46.7 yards-per-punt and pinned Missouri State deep in their own in twice in ISU’s 21-7 victory over the Bears on Saturday at Hancock Stadium. His long was 64 yards.
PK Adam Keller, NDSU -- Keller scored 17 points converting five PAT kicks and connecting on four field goals from 23, 21, 49 and 23 yards. He has the sixth longest streak in MVFC history with 88 consecutive PAT kicks made and ranks second in NDSU history in career PATs (162-168).
PK Michael Schmadeke, UNI -- had two field goals and three PATs in UNI’s 27-13 win over Western Illinois. Schmadeke remained perfect in FGs 48 yards or under, hitting a 32-yarder in the first quarter. He then knocked in a career-long 49 yard field goal in the second quarter
PK Eric Heidorn, INS -- improved to 9-of-14 on the year as he converted a pair of field goals in the Sycamores’ road victory over Southern Illinois. The kicks were 40 yards and 36 yards.
DB David McDaniel, WIU -- Became the third Leatherneck all-time to block two kicks in a game (both punts). His first one led to Western’s touchdown in the 2nd quarter. His last one kept Western in the ballgame. He added two tackles and a pass break-up on defense.
NEWCOMER
QB Hunter Wells, Youngstown State (nominated for Offensive Player of the Week.)
WR Jake Wieneke, SDSU -- Had 178 receiving yards on a career-high 10 catches with a touchdown in a losing effort Oct. 25 against Youngstown State. Wieneke’s 178 receiving yards were tied for the eighth-most in a game in by a Jackrabbit.
LB D’Shawn Dexter, UNI -- Had a career-high seven tackles against the Fighting Leathernecks. The number was good enough for third on the team and was one of the highest numbers in the game. He also added his second pass breakup of the season and grabbed a tackle for a loss of a yard.
WR Quadarias Mireles, WIU -- Mireles recorded 149 all-purpose yards against Northern Iowa, 54 receiving and 95 on four kickoff returns. He had a 40-yard return and 44 of his receiving yards came on a touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.
RB King Frazier, NDSU -- Frazier averaged 10.6 yards per carry and had his first career 100-yard rushing game in No. 1-ranked North Dakota State’s 47-7 win at South Dakota. Frazier ran 10 times for 106 yards to give NDSU dual 100-yard rushers for the first time this season.
WR Gary Owens, INS -- posted four receptions for 37 yards, including a long of 11 in the Sycamores’ 41-26 road victory over Southern Illinois.
