ST. LOUIS - Illinois State sophomore quarterback Matt Brown threw for a career-high three touchdowns to help lead the Redbirds to a 55-54 victory over Central Missouri Thursday night at Hancock Stadium. For that performance, Brown was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week by the league office Sunday.
Brown was extremely efficient throughout Illinois State's victory over the Mules, as he completed 23-of-30 passes (76.7 percent) for 298 yards and three touchdowns. The Marion, Ill., native connected with Cliffton Gordon for a 54-yard touchdown strike in the third quarter that put ISU up, 47-40. After going down 54-47 with just over four minutes left, Brown led the game-winning six-play, 78-yard scoring drive that was capped off by a 26-yard touchdown pass to Corey Shandrick with 2:22 left in the game.
This is the first weekly Valley award for the 2010 season and the first for Brown in his career. Chad Wilson of North Dakota State, Bryce Flowers of Western Illinois and Ryan Jastram of North Dakota State earned the league's Defensive, Newcomer and Special Teams Player of the Week awards, respectively, to round out the Sunday honorees.
Brown and the Redbirds will face in-state rival Northwestern Saturday in Evanston, Ill. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m.
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