ST. LOUIS -- Missouri State kicker Jose Pizano has been named Missouri Valley Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after his role in leading the Bears to a 64-14 homecoming win over visiting Western Illinois this week.
 
Pizano (Jr., Lehi, Utah) broke a Bears single-game record for points by a kicker by posting 16 points versus WIU on Saturday. He was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goal attempts, matching a career high, with successful kicks of 22, 39 and 25 yards. He was also a perfect 7-of-7 on extra points while extending his school-record streak of successful PAT's to 63 in a row.
 
The MSU specialist also averaged 62.3 yards on six kickoff attempts, helping MSU hold the Leathernecks to an average starting field position of their own 27 for the game.
 
This week's award marks Pizano's second career Valley single-game honor, also being named MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week on Nov. 20, 2021. Pizano is a two-time All-MVFC kicker and was a 2021 All-American by the AP (second team) and Phil Steele (third team).
 
He was also awarded the MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award in 2021 and is a two-time member of the MVFC Honor Roll.
 
Also on Sunday, the league recognized SIU quarterback Nic Baker (Offensive Player of the Week), Youngstown State defensive end Dylan Wudke (Defensive Player of the Week), and UNI wide receiver Desmond Hutson (Newcomer of the Week).
 
On the heels of their first Missouri Valley Football Conference win of the season, the Bears are back on the road this week with a 1 p.m. kickoff at South Dakota.
 
Missouri State returns home on Nov. 12 when it hosts Youngstown State for senior day. Tickets for the YSU game are available at MissouriStateBears.com or at the MSU Box Office at Great Southern Bank Arena, (417) 836-7678, during regular box office hours.