Valley Football Announces Weekly Honors

This week’s Missouri Valley Football Conference players of the week include RB Lance Dunn of North Dakota State, QB Sean McGuire of Western Illinois, LB Brett Taylor of Western Illinois, P/K Sean Slattery of Illinois State, and LB Jabril Cox of North Dakota State

Press Release From Mike Kern, Associate Commissioner- Missouri Valley Football Conference

Co-Offensive Players of the Week

RB Lance Dunn, North Dakota State

5-9, 211, Jr., Waterloo (Iowa) West High
Dunn scored four touchdowns on four plays in North Dakota State’s 56-0 win over Robert Morris. He had scoring runs of 61, 5 and 45 yards and a 10-yard touchdown reception to total 121 all-purpose yards. Dunn is the first NDSU player to score four touchdowns in a game since the 2010 playoffs. He leads the FCS with nine TDs through three games. (He scored every time he touched the ball.)

QB Sean McGuire, Western Illinois
6-3, 228, Jr., Franklin (Wis.) High
McGuire was integral in Western Illinois’ 52-10 win over FBS-school Coastal Carolina. The junior was 17-for-19 for 276 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Isaiah LeSure. It was the first time since 2010 (Matt Barr, 6 passing TDs, one rushing TD, 22-for-25) that a Western Illinois quarterback recorded more touchdowns than incompletions in one game. Western Illinois also improved to 3-0 for the third time in school history, and this specific starts marks the first time in program history that all three wins have come on the road to start a season. The Leathernecks also registered their largest margin of victory against an FBS school and Western’s 52 points shattered their previous high of 34 (Eastern Michigan, 2003) against an FBS squad. With last year’s win at Northern Illinois Western Illinois also won back-to-back contests against FBS squads for the first time since 2002 and 2003 (Northern Illinois and Eastern Michigan).

Defensive Player of the Week

LB Brett Taylor
6-2, 230, Sr., Macomb (Ill.) High
Taylor led Western Illinois with eight tackles and tied for the team-best with two tackles for loss in the Leathernecks’ 52-10 win over FBS-school Coastal Carolina. The senior has at least tied for the team lead in tackles in each of the last eight contests, including all three games this season. Taylor’s efforts helped Western Illinois improve to 3-0 for the third time in school history, and this specific starts marks the first time in program history that all three wins have come on the road to start a season. The 10 points the Leathernecks surrendered against Coastal Carolina was Western’s fewest allowed against an FBS school since shutting out Northern Illinois on Sept. 7, 1996. With last year’s win at Northern Illinois Western Illinois also won back-to-back contests against FBS squads for the first time since 2002 and 2003 (Northern Illinois and Eastern Michigan).

Special Teams

P/K Sean Slattery, Illinois State
6-0, 230, Sr., Rockford, Illinois
Senior kicker Sean Slattery was the game changer in the first half for the Redbirds, evening up the score at 6-all at the half. The Rockford, Illinois native began the game with a season-long 48-yard make in the first quarter, before knocking a 28-yard field goal in the second quarter. The senior was 4-for-4 on extra point attempts and kept dangerous Missouri State kick returner Deion Holliman at bay with four touchbacks on kickoffs.

Newcomer

LB Jabril Cox, North Dakota State
6-3, 227, RFr., Kansas City (Mo.) Raytown South High
Cox made a team-high eight tackles and had a fumble recovery that led to a touchdown in North Dakota State’s 56-0 win over Robert Morris. He was in on one tackle for loss and made four stops on kickoff coverage (three solos) as NDSU’s defense held RMU to 57 total yards and only one trip past midfield in 14 possessions. Cox leads the Bison with 15 total tackles and eight special teams tackles through three games.

OTHERS NOMINATED

Offense

QB Jake Kolbe, Illinois State — Career-best 312 passing yards (24-for-32), 1 TD run, 1 TD pass
QB Sam Straub, Southern Illinois — 290 pass yards (30-for-48), 4 TDs, 1 INT at Memphis

Defense

DE Adam Conley, Illinois State — 5 tackles (4 solo), 1 sack (10 yards), 2 TFLs (14 yards), blocked FG
S Ryan Neal, Southern Illinois — Game-high 10 tackles (8 solo), 1 PBU at Memphis
S Jared Beshore, Missouri State — Season-high 8 tackles (6 solo), 1 INT (33 yard return)

Special Teams

RS Deion Holliman, Missouri State — 137 all-purpose yards, 67 yards on 3 KOs
P Lane Reazin, Southern Illinois — 48.8 average on 5 punts, 2 50+ yarders, 1 inside the 20
PK Sam Crosa, Western Illinois — 1 FG (35 yards), 7-for-7 PATs

Newcomer

WR Raphael Leonard, Southern Illinois — 6 catches, 70 yards, 5 of 6 receptions went for 1st downs
LB Angelo Garbutt, Missouri State — 8 tackles (3 solo), .5 TFL, fumble recovery and QB hurry
LB Tyree Horton, Illinois State — 6 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QB hurry