ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Indiana State running back Plez Lawrence was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference's Newcomer of the Week as announced by the conference office on Monday morning.
 
Lawrence made the most of his first collegiate start on Saturday afternoon as the redshirt freshman recorded 203 rushing yards on 29 carries and scored three touchdowns against Murray State. The Kokomo, Ind. native took the ball between the tackles for a majority of the contest with a 31-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter his longest carry of the night. He also broke loose for a 29-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
 
Lawrence added carries of 22 and 16 yards throughout the night in leading the Sycamores to the most rushing yards by an ISU team since November 23, 2019, against Missouri State (325 yards).
 
Lawrence became the first freshman in the MVFC to break 200 rushing yards in a single game since South Dakota State's Pierre Strong Jr. went for 253 rushing yards and three touchdowns against South Dakota on November 17, 2018. He also the first ISU running back to crack 200 rushing yards since Dominique Dafney went for 244 yards and four touchdowns in the 2019 against MSU.
 
Lawrence is the first ISU football player to claim an MVFC weekly honor in the 2023 season. He's also the first ISU player to claim the Newcomer of the Week honor since linebacker Garret Ollendieck was honored by the conference office in the 2022 season finale against Missouri State.
 
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