PHILADELPHIA -- Missouri State freshman kicker Austin Witmer (Grand Island, Neb.) has been named National Special Teams Player of the Week by the Sports Network for his efforts in helping the Bears defeat Southern Illinois, 51-41, Saturday afternoon in Springfield.

Witmer tied an MSU record for points by a kicker with a 15-point output in his first career start at place kicker. The true freshman was 3-for-3 on field goal attempts on the afternoon and 6-for-6 on PATs to lift the Bears past the Salukis for the first time since 2002. Witmer also kicked four touchbacks in the contest, and his three field goals was the most by a Bears' player since 2007 and tied for fourth-most ever in an MSU game.

On Sunday, Witmer was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week, making him the first Bear to earn that honor since Matt Hottelman on Oct. 17, 2009.

Missouri State (4-4, 3-2 MVFC) is tied for third place in the hotly-contest Valley Football race with a pair of road games on the horizon, starting Saturday at 1:05 p.m. at South Dakota State.