Loyd Named MVFC Newcomer of the Week For Second Time

ST. LOUIS – Illinois State transfer wide receiver Xavier Loyd had a big day for the Redbirds in their road win at Indiana State, and for his efforts was named the MVFC Newcomer of the Week for the second time this season.

Loyd joined running back Charles Pierre Jr. of South Dakota and quarterback Beau Brungard of Youngstown State (Co-Offensive Player of the Week), safety Matthew Durrance of South Dakota State (Defensive Player of the Week) and placekicker Griffin Crosa of North Dakota State (Special Teams Player of the Week) as this week's conference honorees.

Loyd nearly tied a school single-game record in Illinois State's 31-19 road victory at Indiana State. The Blue Springs, Missouri, native caught nearly everything thrown his way and hauled in 13 receptions against the Sycamores, one catch shy of the school single-game mark of 14. Loyd finished the contest with 94 yards and scored the Redbirds' first touchdown on an eight-yard reception from Rittenhouse early in the second quarter that started a string of 31 unanswered points scored by Illinois State.

The Kansas State transfer ranks second on the team with 52 receptions, 732 receiving yards and four touchdown catches, while averaging 14.4 yards per reception.

Illinois State wraps up the regular on Saturday at Hancock Stadium against North Dakota (5-6, 2-5 MVFC) for Senior Day, with kickoff slated for Noon CT. 

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