ST. LOUIS -- For his efforts in Saturday's top-five showdown at Plaster Stadium, Missouri State safety Dillon Thomas (Kansas City, Mo.) has been named Missouri Valley Football Conference Newcomer of the Week, the league announced Sunday.

The graduate transfer from Northern Illinois racked up a game-high 11 total tackles for the Bears vs. No. 2 South Dakota State, including seven solo stops, which was also a game-high. His effort marked the most stops by any Missouri State defender this season and was also just one shy of Thomas' career high.

He is the second MSU player to earn MVFC Newcomer of the Week honors this season, joining running back Jarcardia Wright, who earned the distinction on Sept. 11.

Also recognized by the league on Sunday were QB Mark Gronowski of South Dakota State (Offensive Player of the Week), DB Woo Governor of UNI (Defensive Player of the Week) and K Griffin Crosa of North Dakota State (Special Teams Player of the Week).

The Bears have received five MVFC weekly awards in the season's first four weeks.

Missouri State (2-2) returns to the road this week with a Noon kickoff at North Dakota on Saturday. The Bears will be back at Plaster Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 8 to square off with rival Southern Illinois at 2 p.m. 

Tickets for the SIU 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.