ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Western Illinois freshman running back Bryce Flowers (Pittsburg, CA/Pittsburg) was selected as the Missouri Valley Football Conference 'Newcomer of the Week' after helping the Leathernecks to a season-opening win over Valparaiso. The league office announced the weekly award winners Sunday (Sept. 6).

Flowers rushed for a game-high 128 yards on 21 carries and scored two touchdowns (31 and 16 yards) in the fourth quarter of a 45-0 shutout win last Thursday. Flowers, who joined the Leathernecks in January after spending last year at Army Prep, averaged 6.1 yards per carry.

Western snapped a 10-game losing streak, and six straight home losses, with the win. The Leathernecks travel to Big 10 Conference member Purdue on Saturday (Sept. 11). Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. central and will be televised on the Big 10 Network.