MVFC Release | Tickets for Illinois State Game
 
ST. LOUIS – Missouri State linebacker Tyler Lovelace (So., Lee's Summit, Mo.) was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced late Sunday.
 
Lovelace personally accounted for two of the Bears' six takeaways in Saturday's 40-8 home victory over No. 20-ranked Northern Arizona at Robert W. Plaster Stadium. Lovelace also had a pair of solo stops and three total tackles on the day. 
 
He came up with a fumble recovery late in the first half that set up an MSU touchdown four plays later, putting the Bears up 23-6 at the half. Lovelace also picked off an NAU pass in the first quarter to halt its drive in MSU territory and collected 18 return yards on the play.
 
MSU's stout defensive effort included three fumbles and three interceptions for the afternoon, as the Bears forced six turnovers in a single game for the first time since 2007, while holding the Lumberjack offense scoreless over its final 12 possessions of the contest.
 
Lovelace is the first Missouri State player to earn Valley Defensive Player of the Week honors since Dylan Cole, currently of the Houston Texans, earned the distinction on Oct. 2, 2016.
 
Other league honorees Sunday include Offensive Player of the Week Ja'Quan Keys of Indiana State; Special Teams Player of the Week Steve McShane of Western Illinois; and Newcomer of the Week John Brunner of Western Illinois.
 
The Bears (2-1) will have this week off before capping a three-game home stand on Saturday, Oct. 29 against Illinois State on Family Weekend and the MVFC opener for both clubs.
 
Tickets for the ISU game, and all remaining home games, are available at MissouriStateBears.com, or by visiting the MSU Athletics Box Office, (417) 836-7678, during regular business hours.