ISU’s Schnell, Slattery earn MVFC Player of the Week honors

Posted on October 23, 2017

By ISU Sports Information

ST. LOUIS – A pair of strong performances by wide receiver Spencer Schnell and placekicker Sean Slattery in Illinois State’s defeat of No. 4 South Dakota State have earned the duo Missouri Valley Football Conference Player of the Week honors.

Schnell was selected at the MVFC Offensive Player of the Week and Slattery earned MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for the second time this season.

Schnell had a career day in Illinois State’s big Homecoming win over the No. 4 ranked Coyotes. The Elkhart, Indiana, native set a career-high with 191 yards receiving on just seven receptions and scored the game’s first two touchdowns. Schnell started things off with a 64-yard touchdown pass on a slant from Jake Kolbe and then followed it with a five-yard score later in the first quarter. He also added a career-long 71-yard reception that led to a field goal in the third quarter and recorded a circus catch along the sideline in which he dragged his left toe for a first down. Schnell leads the Redbirds this season with 41 receptions for 609 yards (14.9 yards per catch) with four touchdowns.

Slattery, who previously earned MVFC Special Team plaudits for his efforts in ISU’s win at Missouri State, booted a trio of field goals in in the 37-21 victory over USD. For the third time this season, the Rockford, Illinois, native made three field goals and finished the game with 13 total points for the Redbirds. Slattery connected from 47 yards just before halftime to give ISU a three-point lead at the break and then added a 33-yarder in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to six points at 27-21. He later iced the game with his second make from 40-plus, a 45-yarder that capped the scoring at 37-21. Slattery is now 13-for-15 on field goal attempts this season and he is a perfect 6-for-6 from 40 yards or more.

Illinois State hits the road this weekend and travels to Youngstown, Ohio, to face 2016 FCS runner-up Youngstown State. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.

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