MVFC Release | OSU Game Recap | Tickets for UCA Game
 
ST. LOUIS – Missouri State quarterback Jason Shelley (Frisco, Texas) was named as the Co-Newcomer of the Week by the Missouri Valley Football Conference on Sunday for his role in leading the Bears late-game comeback efforts at Oklahoma State this week.
 
In the season opener for both teams, Shelley threw for 235 yards, including 103 in the fourth quarter alone, against the Cowboys. He was 23-for-44 through the air with no interceptions and a touchdown while rushing for 31 yards in his MSU debut.
 
After the 24^th-ranked Bears trailed 20-3 at the half, Shelley used the momentum of Missouri State's second-half defensive dominance to get back in the contest in Stillwater. He engineered three second-half scoring drives and had the Bears within the shadows of the OSU goal line twice in the final three minutes in the 23-16 defeat.
 
Shelley, a senior transfer from Utah State, is the Bears first Valley Newcomer of the Week since former MSU signal caller Matt Struck earned the honor in March for his performance in Missouri State's home win over Southern Illinois. Shelley shares this week's MVFC accolades with South Dakota State quarterback Chris Oladokun.
 
Other MVFC award recipients announced Sunday were: Jaleel McLaughlin of Youngstown State (Co-Offensive Player), Nic Baker of Southern Illinois (Co-Offensive Player), Michael Thomas of Indiana State (Defensive Player) and Colt McFadden of Youngstown State (Special Teams Player). The league will name its Offensive Lineman of the Week on Monday.
 
The Bears will now turn their attention to a meeting against regional rival Central Arkansas next week at Plaster Stadium in Springfield. Missouri State's home opener on Sept. 11 will kick off at 7 p.m. (Central) with tickets available now at MissouriStateBears.com or at the Old Missouri Bank Box Office, (417) 836-7678, during regular box office hours.