Missouri Southern’s Jay McDowell was named the MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week while Pittsburg State’s Tyler Disney was named Defensive Athlete of the Week. Central Oklahom’s Marquez Clark was named the MIAA Special Teams Athlete of the Week.

MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week
Jay McDowell, QB, Missouri Southern

McDowell helped the Lions to a 21-14 win over visiting Central Missouri this past week. He rushed for 225 yards on the night, becoming the first Southern quarterback to rush for over 200 yards since Josh Chapman had 246 against Missouri-Rolla in 2002. He was 5-10 through the air for 69 yards. The 6-1 sophomore is a native of Covington, La. where he competed at Covington High School.

MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week
Tyler Disney, LB, Pittsburg State

Disney made 10 tackles, including three behind the line of scrimmage, as the Pitt State defense limited FCS member Abilene Christian to 10 net rushing yards (on 24 carries) and 270 total yards in a 28-20 victory Saturday (Oct. 5). Disney posted one of the Gorillas four quarterback sacks in the contest and his three TFLs totaled 13 yards. The 6-1 junior linebacker is a native of Stillwell, Kan. where he competed at Blue Valley High School.

MIAA Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Marquez Clark, KR-PR, Central Oklahoma

Clark finished with 365 all-purpose yards — the second-best game in school history — in UCO’s loss to No. 6-ranked Missouri Western. The junior wide receiver had three punt returns for a school-record 127 yards, five kickoff returns for 99 yards and caught nine passes for 139 yards. He had punt returns of 65 and 60 yards, with the 65-yarder reduced from an 80-yard TD return by penalty, and he scored on the 60-yard runback for UCO’s first punt return score since 2003. The 5-11 junior return specialist is a native of Texarkana, Texas where he competed at Liberty-Eylau High School prior to competing for Navarro College.

— MIAA Press Release —