MVFC | Players of Week 2

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER

WR/RS Dominique Barnes, Youngstown State

5-11, 185, Sr., Southfield, Mich. (Southfield)

Barnes returned a punt 86 yards for a touchdown in the Penguins’ 31-7 victory over Butler. With the Penguins holding onto a 17-7 lead late in the third quarter, Barnes took just his second career punt return back for a back-breaking touchdown. It was the second-longest punt return for touchdown in school history behind a 92-yard return by Ray Rohan in 1965. It eclipsed the schools FCS record of 81 set by Robert Thompson against UNI in 1982. He finished with two returns for 90 yards. He also caught two passes for 22 yards extending his games with a reception streak to 25.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER

Cody Kirby, Missouri State

5-11, 202, Sr., QB, Rogers, Ark., Rogers High

In his 32nd consecutive start, Kirby collected a career-high 333 yards of total offense in the game at Kansas State. Kirby threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions against the FBS Wildcats, while rushing for a team-high 52 yards on 10 carries. It was his highest rushing output in 7 games and his third-highest passing total in his career. He engineered scoring drives of 80, 58, 74, and 99 yards in helping the Bears accumulate their highest point total against an FBS program since 2002.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER

DL Ben Boothby, UNI

6-0, 280, Jr., Clinton, Iowa (Clinton)

Boothby tallied seven tackles, including four sacks, in the Panthers 16-9 win over #21 North Dakota State. Boothby’s four sacks ties the UNI school record for sacks in a game, and his 4.5 tackles for loss ranks second in the UNI record books. Boothby helped the Panthers tie the school record with 11 sacks, last set in 1997.

NEWCOMER

QB Tirrell Rennie, UNI

6-0, 198, Jr., North Lauderdale, Fla. (Coconut Creek/Ellsworth)

Rennie passed for 172 yards and rushed for 96 in the Panthers 16-9 win over North Dakota State. Rennie had a 47-yard pass to Terrell Sinkfield among his 10 completions.

Staff report