ST. LOUIS – Illinois State senior running back Marshaun Coprich rushed for more yards than any player in the country on Saturday, as he helped the Redbirds to a big road win at Southern Illinois.  For his efforts, Coprich was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week Sunday by the league office.
The weekly honor is the second of the season for Coprich, who was previously named the MVFC Offensive Player of the Week following a 178-yard, two-score performance against Eastern Illinois on Sept. 19.
The Victorville, California, rushed for a season-high 254 yards and three touchdowns against the Salukis, as the Redbirds scored six times total on the ground and amassed a season-high 372 rushing yards in the 42-21 victory. Coprich scored on runs of 11 and 22 yards, before bursting out on a 75-yard score late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. The 75-yard touchdown run was Coprich's third of the season of 75 yards or longer, with touchdown runs of 76 yards and 83 yards as well.
The 254 yards were four short of his career best, set last season in the FCS quarterfinals at Eastern Washington, and rank No. 4 on the ISU single-game list. Â He led all Division I rushers with his 254 yards on Saturday and the 200-plus yard rushing performance was his second of the season and fourth of his career at ISU. Â He also rushed for over 100 yards in 21 of his last 25 contests overall.
Coprich will be honored along with his fellow seniors on Saturday in the final regular-season home game of the year, when the Redbirds host South Dakota. With a win, the Redbirds will clinch at least a share of the MVFC championship for the second year in a row. Â Kickoff is set for noon at Hancock Stadium, and the game will be broadcast live on Comcast SportsNet Chicago and streamed live on ESPN3.
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