Valley Release
 
ST. LOUIS -- Missouri State senior punter Brendan Withrow (Imperial, Mo.) was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week, the league announced Sunday.
 
It is the second time this season Withrow has earned the MVFC's top award for specialists. He also earned the honor on Oct. 6 while earning STATS FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week the following day.
 
In Saturday's game at No. 7 Illinois State, Withrow averaged 49.2 yards per attempt to help the Bears control the field position battle in the narrow 17-12 loss. He booted a game-long 62-yarder in the second half and accounted for two 50+ yarders on the day to push his season total to 18 punts of 50 yards or more. 
 
Withrow is one of just three punters in the FCS to eclipse 3,000 punt yards this season and currently ranks 12th nationally with a punting average of 43.1.
 
The Bears return to Robert W. Plaster Stadium this Saturday to take on Indiana State at 2 p.m., on Senior Day. Tickets for the game are available at MissouriStateBears.com/tickets or during regular box office hours at (417) 836-7678.