ST. LOUIS - Illinois State senior kicker Steven Fetzer kicked the game-winning field goal in double overtime to give No. 25 ranked Illinois State a thrilling 44-41 win over Missouri Valley Football Conference foe Missouri State Saturday night at Hancock Stadium. For his efforts, Fetzer was named the MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week by the league office Sunday.
The weekly honor is the second for Fetzer in his career and the fourth for a Redbird player this season. Sophomore quarterback Matt Brown earned MVFC Offensive Player of the Week honors in week one, after leading the Redbirds to a 55-54 win over Central Missouri, and the duo of sophomore linebacker Austin Davis and junior wide receiver Marvon Sanders were named the MVFC Defensive Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week, respectively, after the team's win over No. 20 South Dakota State in week three.
Fetzer connected from 39 yards in the second overtime period to give the Redbirds the victory over the Bears. Fetzer also boomed a career-long 51-yard field goal in the second quarter that put ISU up 16-10 at the time and put a 20-yard field goal through the uprights in the fourth quarter as well.
The Mahomet, Ill., native also handled the punting duties and averaged 37.8 yards per punt in four tries, with one pinned at MSU two-yard line.
Running back D.J. McNorton of North Dakota State had a career-high 250 yards and three TDs in the 38-16 win against No. 20 South Dakota to earn Offensive Player of the Week honors, while cornerback Brandian Ross of Youngstown State took home Defensive Player of the Week honors after he finished with five tackles, two pass breakups and a key interception in the Penguins' come-from-behind 31-28 win over No. 13 Southern Illinois.
Western Illinois running back Bryce Flowers of Western Illinois rounded out the weekly honorees as the Newcomer of the Week, after he rushed for a game-high 192 yards and matched a personal-high by scoring two touchdowns in the Leathernecks' a 40-7 win against visiting Indiana State.
The Redbirds return to action Saturday, Oct. 2, at home against in-state rival Southern Illinois. Kickoff against the Salukis is scheduled for 1 p.m., at Hancock Stadium.
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