Spelman earns Lineman of the week honors after upset win

Posted on October 31, 2016

By ISU Sports Information

NORMAL- Illinois State senior center Mark Spelman and his teammates took charge of the running game and helped the Redbirds take a 14-0 lead and never look back in a victory over No. 7 South Dakota State on Saturday. For his efforts, Spelman was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week by the league office Monday.

The weekly honor is the second for Spelman in his career at ISU and the second for a Redbird offensive lineman this year, as teammate Cameron Lee earned MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors following ISU’s win over Northwestern.

The Brookfield, Wisconsin, native graded out at 95 percent and was credited with six knockdowns, while not allowing a sack against the Jacks. Spelman routinely opened holes for senior running back Jamal Towns, who set a career-high with 136 yards rushing on a career-best 17 carries and scored his first rushing touchdown of the season. Towns averaged eight yards per carry and posted nine runs of seven yards or more, as the Redbirds out-rushed the Jackrabbits 209-83 in the contest.

Spelman and the Redbirds (4-5, 2-4 MVFC) travel to Macomb, Illinois, to face nationally-ranked Western Illinois (6-2, 3-2 MVFC) on Nov. 5 at Hanson Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on ESPN3.

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