Darrius Gates And Jack Byrne Earn MVFC Player of the Week Honors

ST. LOUIS ? Sophomore running back Darrius Gates has been named the Missouri Valley Football Conference's Offensive Player of the Week and senior Jack Byrne has been named the MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week for their career days in the season finale for the Indiana State football team against Missouri State.

Gates enjoyed his finest day as a Sycamore as he rushed for 237 yards against the Bears. Gates touched the ball 29 times en route to posting a new career-best single-game rushing total. He averaged 8.2 yards per carry, including a key 77-yard scamper in the fourth quarter down to the Missouri State one-yard line, which set up an ISU touchdown with just under 50 seconds left in the game to give the Sycamores a late 21-14 lead.

He scored twice on the day, with his first coming on a seven-yard run in the third quarter and his second being a one-yard run early in the fourth quarter to tie the game. His game-tying score was a brilliant run in which he swept to the left, cut back and stretch the ball over the goal line to make the score 14-all. Gates was not dropped for a loss in any of his 29 carries.

Gates' 237 rushing yards are the most by a Sycamore since Derrick Franklin posted that same number during the 1991 campaign and marked the first time an Indiana State player eclipsed the 200-yard rushing mark in a game since 2006. Gates also recorded one catch for 11 yards in the game.

It was all in day's work for senior center Jack Byrne, who picked up the league's top weekly honor for an offensive lineman for his efforts anchoring the line on Gates' big day. It is the first time Byrne has been recognized by the league during his career. Byrne played the final game of his Sycamore career on Saturday at Memorial Stadium; as he was one of just five seniors to finish their four-year careers.

Sophomore punter Gabe Mullane picked up Missouri Valley Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors following the season opener at Eastern Michigan.

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Players Mentioned

#77 Jack Byrne: OL; 6' 3"; Senior

#29 Darrius Gates: RB; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#17 Gabe Mullane: P; 6' 2"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#77 Jack Byrne
: 6' 3"; Senior
: OL

#29 Darrius Gates
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: RB

#17 Gabe Mullane
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: P

Players Mentioned

#77 Jack Byrne

#29 Darrius Gates

#17 Gabe Mullane

Players Mentioned

#77 Jack Byrne

#29 Darrius Gates

#17 Gabe Mullane