Story courtesy of the Missouri Valley Conference
Photo courtesy of South Dakota State Athletics
This week's Missouri Valley Football Conference players of the week include QB Austin Sumner of South Dakota State; S Caleb Schaffitzel of Missouri State; RS Calvin Burnett of Indiana State; and LB T.J. Lally of South Dakota State.
OFFENSE
QB Austin Sumner, South Dakota State
6-5, 220, Brandon (S.D.) Brandon Valley High
Sumner set a career high with five touchdown passes and also set a season high with 351 yards passing as South Dakota State defeated Youngstown State, 41-28, in the 99th Hobo Day Game on Saturday, Oct. 27. Sumner, who finished the game 19-of-28 passing, threw three touchdown passes as part of a 28-point second quarter. His five touchdown passes -- all to different receivers -- covered 6, 50, 13, 17 and 49 yards.
DEFENSE
S Caleb Schaffitzel, Missouri State
6-0, 214, So., Fair Grove (Mo.) High
Schaffitzel snagged two interceptions and logged 9 tackles to help MSU claim its third straight MVFC victory. He had 65 yards in interception returns, including a 47 yarder, and had the second-highest tackle total in the game. He became just the fifth Bear during the Terry Allen era to tally two interceptions in a single game and posted the longest interception return since Jimmie Strong's 91 yard TD return at WIU last season (Oct.22, 2011). Schaffitzel, who has started 15 straight games, now has 95 total tackles on the season and is looking to become just the second player during the Allen era to secure 100 or more tackles in a season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
RS/DB Calvin Burnett, Indiana State
5-9, 160, Jr., Orlando (Fla.) Freedom High
Burnett made his first appearance this season as the punt returner and averaged nearly 30 yards per return. Burnett’s first punt return came in the first quarter as he returned a 47-yard punt for 31 yards to set the Sycamores up at their own 40-yard line. Burnett’s second punt return was for 28 yards which put the Sycamores at their own 42-yard line. It took just seven plays for the Sycamores to score and take a 38-7 advantage in the third quarter. His two returns amassed 59 yards in the contest. As a starter at cornerback, Burnett posted five total tackles with a pass breakup.
NEWCOMER
LB T.J. Lally, South Dakota State
6-0, 225, Fr., Chicago (Ill.) Marmion Academy
Lally made eight tackles and intercepted a pass as South Dakota State recorded a 41-28 Hobo Day victory over Youngstown State on Oct. 27. Lally returned his interception 13 yards to the YSU 15 to set up the third of SDSU's four second-quarter touchdowns.