This week’s Missouri Valley Football Conference players of the week include QB Eli Dunne of UNI; DT Kellen Soulek of South Dakota State; PK/P Miles Bergner of South Dakota; and QB Austin Simmons of South Dakota.
Offense
QB Eli Dunne, UNI
6-5, 232, So., Grinnell (Iowa) High
In his first career start, Dunne racked up a career-high 418 yards and two touchdowns on the way to a 61-7 win over Missouri State. Dunne’s first 12 passes of the game were completions. He finished 25-for-33 with no interceptions, getting a total of 10 players at least a catch in the game. He averaged 16.7 yards per completion, finishing the game with seven passes of 20-plus yards. He is the first UNI quarterback to pass for over 400 yards since 2009 when Pat Grace went for 445 against South Dakota. He also set the school record for passing yards in a game by a first-time starter with his 418 against the Bears.
Defense
DT Kellen Soulek, South Dakota State
6-5, 320, Jr., Yankton (S.D.) High
Soulek was credited with a pair of sacks among his five tackles and also broke up a pass to lead the South Dakota State defense in a 24-10 victory over Youngstown State on Oct. 22 in a battle of conference unbeatens. Soulek’s two sacks tied a career high and were part of a six-sack effort. SDSU also held YSU’s league-leading rushing attack to 159 yards – 99 under its season average.
Special Teams
PK/P Michael Bergner, South Dakota
6-0, 225, Sr., Longmont (Colo.) High
Bergner’s 39-yard field goal in the second half was the difference in the Coyotes’ 27-24 win against Illinois State Saturday inside the DakotaDome. Bergner was also good from 29 yards in the first half and remained perfect on extra points. In addition, he averaged 50.4 yards on seven punts including boots of 61, 60, 54 and 54 yards. On another, he pinned the Redbirds back on the 5-yard line.
Newcomer
QB Austin Simmons, South Dakota
6-1, 215, R-Fr., Council Bluffs (Iowa) Lewis Central
Simmons passed for 205 yards and two touchdowns in leading South Dakota past Illinois State 27-24 Saturday inside the DakotaDome. Simmons, who entered play with one completion all season, entered the game midway through the first quarter and led USD on two consecutive touchdown drives. He threw a 54-yard pass to Trystn Ducker to setup a 4-yard touchdown run. He threw a 15-yard touchdown to Riley Donovan on the next series to give USD a 17-7 lead and made it 24-7 on a 26-yard touchdown toss to Tacari Carpenter in the second quarter.
