ST. LOUIS -- For his role in leading Missouri State to its first Top 25 win in nearly three years, junior receiver Jermaine Saffold (Grandview, Mo.) was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week.
Saffold had career highs in receptions (9) and receiving yards (114) in the Bears' come-from-behind 35-25 win over Youngstown State on Saturday afternoon at Plaster Field. The Penguins came into the game with a 3-1 record and ranked No. 20 in the Division I FCS ranks. Youngstown pulled ahead 17-0 in the first quarter before Missouri State mounted an impressive comeback with 28 unanswered points to secure the win.
Saffold caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cody Kirby with 3:33 to go in the game to put the victory on ice as he notched his third touchdown in four games and jumped to 12th in the nation in receiving yards per game (94.2). His effort against YSU marked the most receiving yards by a Missouri State player since Clay Harbor's 171-yard game at Western Illinois on Oct. 17, 2009, and his nine receptions is the most by a Bear this season and most by an MSU player since Harbor notched 11 catches at Southern Illinois on Nov. 14, 2009.
Missouri State (2-2, 1-1) takes a week off from conference play this week with a 3 p.m. game Saturday at Murray State from the Ohio Valley Conference. The Bears resume MVFC play on Oct. 16 at Indiana State (3 p.m.) before returning to Plaster Field on Oct. 23 for a Homecoming matchup with Western Illinois at 1 p.m.
Tickets for the WIU game are available now by calling (417) 836-7678 or on-line at www.MissouriStateTix.com. Ticket promotions and specials can also be found on the Football Gameday Guide at www.MissouriStateBears.com.
