Following a breakthrough performance by the Missouri State offense in Saturday’s road win over No. 24 Indiana State, Sam Ellifrits has been named Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week, the league office announced Monday.
A junior guard, Ellifrits enjoyed a standout afternoon in the Bears’ 45-24 victory over the Sycamores, carrying out a 100% assignment grade and an 84% performance grade. The Nevada, Mo., product also tallied five knockdown blocks in helping the MSU offense roll up a season-high 473 yards of total offense. Thanks in part to Ellifrits’ work up front, junior tailback Calan Crowder posted a career day with three touchdowns and 131 rushing yards in the Bears’ first road win over a ranked opponent in four years.
Ellifrits joins fellow Bear Dylan Cole (Defensive Player of the Week) as an MVFC weekly award winner on the heels of MSU’s win in Terre Haute. Additionally, the Bears (3-1, 1-0 MVFC) received 73 points in the STATS FCS Top 25 poll on Monday, good for the No. 32 total in the balloting.
Off to their first 1-0 start in MVFC play since 2013, the Bears return home next Saturday for a 2 p.m. MVFC contest against No. 1 North Dakota State, during which Missouri State will honor its 1966 MIAA championship squad. As part of a special ticket deal for Saturday’s game, fans may purchase any remaining reserved bleacher seat for a discounted rate of $5 and receive a second bleacher ticket, free of charge.
To take advantage of the special offer, fans are encouraged to visit the Old Missouri Bank Ticket Window at JQH Arena during normal box office hours, dial (417) 836-7678, or call toll-free at (888) 476-7849 to purchase their tickets in advance. The offer, which includes no limit on the number of tickets for purchase while supplies last, extends to day of game purchases through the Plaster Stadium box office and cannot be combined with any other offer.
