Bell named MVFC Offensive Player of the Week

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Indiana State junior tailback Shakir Bell has been named the Missouri Valley Football Conference's Offensive Player Of The Week following his record setting performance against Drake this past week.

Bell rushed for a MVFC & Indiana State school record 349 yards as the Sycamores downed Drake 27-10 at home. Bell rushed 33 times for 349 yards and a pair of touchdowns while adding two pass receptions for 27 yards.

His 376 yards of total offense are the most receiving and rushing yards combined for an ISU player in a single game since Bill Griffith had 319 receiving yards in 1955 against Evansville.

Bell broke a 10-10 halftime tie on the opening drive of the third quarter as he raced 60 yards for a touchdown to take a 17-10 lead. He then scored again some two minutes later on a 48-yard run to stretch the advantage out to 24-10.

Bell would end up breaking the MVFC record for single-game rushing previously held by Herb Donaldson set in 2006 on a 64-yard scamper in the game's fourth quarter. He averaged 10.6 yards per rush, and his 349 yards not only topped his prior school record by nearly 100 yards (set last year against Youngstown State with 256 yds) but also marks the eighth largest single-game rushing effort in FCS history.

His 349 rushing yards are also the most yards gained on the ground so far during the 2012 season by anyone in either the FBS or FCS Subdivision.

Bell was joined by Illinois State's Colton Underwood (defense), Ethan Sawyer (special teams) and TJ Lally (newcomer).

Indiana State returns to action on Saturday, September 22 when the Sycamores host South Dakota State in the MVFC opener for both teams. Kickoff is set for 2:05 p.m. (ET).