ST. LOUIS — Missouri State running back Jayden Becks has been named Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts in the Bears’ 38-17 home win over Southern Illinois, the league announced Monday.
Becks helped pace Missouri State’s offense to its sixth straight 30-point output and seventh straight victory with a 100-yard rushing effort for the second straight week. The sophomore sensation from Waxahachie, Texas carried 11 times for 101 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday’s win over SIU. He finished the game with 9.2 yards per carry, posting a 29-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter that made it a 17-0 game at the time and putting the game on ice with a one-yard touchdown carry in the fourth quarter.
“JAB” is the only Valley rusher to post back-to-back 100-yard games over the past two weeks. He shared game-high honors against SIU, alongside backfield mate Jacardia Wright, with 109 all-purpose yards.
Saturday’s victory elevated the Bears to their first 5-0 start in Valley play since 1989 and extended their current win streak to seven games, the club’s longest since 1990.
Also earning MVFC honors this week are Joey Shew of Indiana State (Defense); CharMar Brown of North Dakota State (Newcomer); and James London of Murray State (Special Teams).
Coach Ryan Beard’s squad will play the next two weeks on the road, starting with a 1 p.m. kickoff at Murray State this week and continuing at fellow MVFC leader North Dakota State on Nov. 16. Missouri State returns home on Nov. 23 to take on defending national champion South Dakota State in the regular-season finale at 2 p.m. on Senior Day at Plaster Stadium.
Tickets for the South Dakota State game are available at MissouriStateBears.com or through the Missouri State box office at Great Southern Bank Arena, (417) 836-7678, during regular office hours. The game-day box office at Plaster Stadium opens at 10 a.m.
