This week's Missouri Valley Football Conference players of the week include WR Bob Pugh of Indiana State; S Ryan Neal of Southern Illinois; RS Deion Holliman of Missouri State; QB Cade Sparks of Indiana State; and C Jacob Ohnesorge, South Dakota State.
 
Offense
WR Bob Pugh, Indiana State
R-Sr., 5-11, 190, Foley (Ala.) Foley High/Highland CC
Pugh put up the second-best single-game performance in school history with 260 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches – the best at ISU since 1955 (319, Bill Griffith, vs. Evansville) and the fifth-best in the history of the MVFC (the best in 12 years). Pugh’s monster night ranks as the top receiving game in the FCS this season by 56 yards and the second overall in Division I between FCS and FBS, trailing only Hawaii’s John Ursua’s 272 at UMass in the season opener. He had an average of 32.5 yards per catch, with five of his catches coming at 30 yards or longer at 31, 37, 43, 49 and 64 (his scores coming at 31 and 64).
 
Defense
S Ryan Neal, Southern Illinois
Sr., 6-3, 200, Merrillville (Ind.) High
Neal had an interception, a fumble recovery and a game-high eight tackles in SIU’s 35-17 win at Southeast Missouri on Saturday. Neal picked off a pass and returned it 52 yards to put the Salukis in the red zone, and his fumble recovery set up a touchdown. Neal led SIU’s defense, which held SEMO to 278 yards of total offense and less than four yards per play.
 
Special Teams
RS Deion Holliman, Missouri State
Sr., 5-9, 192, Camden (Ark.) Fairview High
Holliman had 149 all-purpose yards and several key punt returns late to help spur MSU’s first win of the season. Holliman logged three big fourth-quarter kick returns, including a 29-yard punt return with just over five minutes left on the clock to set up the Bears’ game-clinching scoring drive. He returned a Racer punt 40 yards to put MSU in field goal range earlier in the period and finished with a career-best 80 yards on five punt returns. He also eclipsed the 3,000 all-purpose-yard mark for his MSU career, becoming just the eighth Bear to accomplish the feat.
 
Newcomer
QB Cade Sparks, Indiana State
Fr., 6-4, 195, Fontana (Calif.) Summit High
Sparks put up the second-best passing game in school history with 405 yards through the air, falling just short of Mike Perish’s 2014 record of 407 set in the FCS Playoffs at Eastern Kentucky. Sparks’ performance (and a 31-yard TD pass by holder Jeremy Patterson on a fake FG) helped break the ISU school record for team passing yards, totaling 436 to surpass the 2013 record of 433 set vs. Quincy. Sparks’ final line on the night read 22-of-36 for 405 yards, two TD, one INT and a long of 64.  Sparks’ performance stands as the eighth-best in the FCS and best in the MVFC at the moment.

Offensive Lineman
C Jacob Ohnesorge, South Dakota State
6-3, 295, Sr., Waunakee (Wis.) High
Ohnesorge graded out at 98 percent with nine knockdown blocks in three quarters of play in the Jackrabbits' 51-10 victory over Drake on Sept. 16. He did not allow any quarterback pressures or sacks in making his 42nd consecutive start. As a team, SDSU scored on each of its five offensive possessions in the first half.

 
 
OTHERS NOMINATED
Offense
RB James Robinson, Illinois State -- 89 rush yards, 2 TDs
QB Chris Streveler, South Dakota -- 290 pass yards, 62 rush yards, 3 total touchdowns
QB Nathan Mays, Youngstown State, 111 pass yards, 96 rush yards, 2 rushing TDs
RB Calan Crowder, Missouri State -- 104 rush yards, 1 TD
WR Darrell James, Southern Illinois -- 119 receiving yards, 2 TDs
WR Daurice Fountain, UNI -- 138 receiving yards
 
Defense
LB McNeece Egbim, Missouri State -- career-best 15 tackles (7 solo)
S Kyle Hegedus, Youngstown State -- 3 solo tackles, 1 INT, blocked PAT
LB John Wessel, South Dakota -- 4 tackles, 3 solos, 1 TFL, 1 QBH
S KeAaris Ardley, Indiana State -- 12 tackles (7 solo)
LB Tyree Horton, Illinois State -- 11 tackles, 2 sacks, 3.5 TFLs, forced fumble, 1 QBH
LB Jared Farley, UNI -- 12 tackles (6 solo), 1 TFL, 1 INT, 1 PBU
 
Special Teams
P Brady Schutt, South Dakota -- 40.2 punt average (4 punts), long 47, 3 inside 20
K Jerry Nunez, Indiana State -- 2 FGs (43, 43)
PK Zak Kennedy, Youngstown State -- 1 FG (36), 8 PATs
RS/WR Cade Johnson, South Dakota State -- 95-yard KO return TD, 2 catches for 18 yards
P Lane Reazin, Southern Illinois -- 47.2 punt average (5 punts), long 60, 2 inside 20
P Sam Kuhter, UNI -- 46.2 punt average (9 punts), long 63, 4 inside 20
 
Newcomer
LB Tyree Horton, Illinois State -- nominated for Defense
DE Anthony Knighton, Southern Illinois -- 2 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 FF, 2 QBH
QB Peyton Huslig, Missouri State - 196 pass yards, 2 TDs
TB Christian Turner, Youngstown State -- 123 all-purpose yards (91 rush yards), 1 TD
RS/WR Cade Johnson, South Dakota State -- nominated for Special Teams
RB Kai Henry, South Dakota -- 80 rush yards, 2 receptions for 27 yards, 2 TDs
DB Korby Sander, UNI – 8 tackles (4 solo) in first career start