ST. LOUIS – Missouri State punter Brendan Withrow was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week late Sunday for his efforts in helping the Bears to a 37-31 triple overtime win at Western Illinois this week.

On Monday, Withrow was also named STATS FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week.
 
The senior from Imperial, Mo., set a Missouri State single-game punting average record with an impressive 51.6 average on seven attempts in Macomb. He matched his career-long punt with a 70-yarder in the second quarter and notched four kicks of 50 yards or more with two downed inside the 20.
 
Withrow's 56-yard punt in the final minute of regulation was downed at the WIU one-yard line in a tie game, giving WIU no attempt at a desperation play and ultimately pushing the game into overtime.
 
He currently ranks eighth nationally with a 45.8 punting average for the season, while the Bears rank fourth nationally – and tops in the MVFC -- in net punting (41.52), thanks in part to Withrow's stellar senior campaign.
 
Withrow is MSU's first MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week since kick returner Matt Rush earned the award on Nov. 5, 2017.
 
The Bears return to Robert W. Plaster Stadium this Saturday to take on South Dakota at 2 p.m., on Springfield Community Appreciation Day. A special day-of-game $5 ticket is available for east-side seating exclusively for this week's game.