Quarterback Matt DeSomer named MVFC Offensive Player of the Week

10/28/2018 | 6:00:00 | Football

Southern Illinois senior quarterback Matt DeSomer was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Sunday night.

Making his fourth career start, DeSomer rallied SIU with four-unanswered touchdowns in a 49-35 win over Missouri State. He completed 19-of-24 passes for a career-high 206 yards, plus three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran the ball 14 times for 92 yards.

The rally started with a game-tying score at the end of the first half, when DeSomer engineered an 11-play 75-yard TD drive, culminating in a four-yard touchdown pass to TE Nigel Kilby with 11 seconds left. SIU had no timeouts remaining on the game-tying drive. To start the second half, DeSomer's 30-yard touchdown pass to Landon Lenoir gave Southern its first lead.

DeSomer is the first Saluki player to win league honors this season. The last time an SIU player won Player of the Week was on Oct. 14, 2017, when Sam Straub received the honor.