ST. LOUIS – For the third time this season, Illinois State quarterback Tre Roberson was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Newcomer of the Week and also earned MVFC Offensive Player of the Week honors, as announced by the league office Sunday.
Roberson accounted for over 400 yards of total offense and four touchdowns in leading No. 7 Illinois State to a 4-29 victory over Southern Illinois and a share of the MVFC title. The transfer from Indiana threw for a career-high 319 yards with three touchdowns, and rushed for 94 yards and a score on the ground to finish with 413 yards of total offense on the day.
His 70-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to Lechein Neblett was a career long for Roberson, who later connected with Neblett on a 38-yard touchdown strike. He added a 30-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Meredith on the first drive of the game and sealed the victory with a 21-yard run in the fourth quarter.
In his first season at Illinois State, Roberson led the MVFC in total offense (261.1 ypg) and with a pass efficiency rating of 150.8. He accounted for 29 total touchdowns (21 pass, 8 pass) and finished the season with 2,198 yards and 21 touchdowns through the air. He also rushed for 674 yards and eight scores on the ground while leading the Redbirds to a 10-1 record and No. 5 national seed in the FCS playoffs.
Roberson and the Redbirds earned a first-round bye, before hosting the winner of the first-round contest between fellow Missouri Valley Conference member Northern Iowa and Stephen F. Austin on Dec. 6 at 1 p.m.
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