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Missouri State rode a shutdown effort from its defense and a breakout performance from Jason Randall to extend its non-conference home win streak with a convincing 40-8 victory over No. 20 Northern Arizona Saturday afternoon at Robert W. Plaster Stadium.
Randall eclipsed a personal high with 181 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries for the second 100-yard rushing performance of his career, while the Bears defense forced six NAU turnovers and limited the Lumberjacks (1-2) to 3-of-15 third-down conversions for the day. Jared Beshore led the charge for the home club with a season-best eight stops, to go along with a pair of pass break-ups and the fifth interception—one of three by the Missouri State defense—of his Bears career.
MSU’s stout defensive effort included three fumbles and three interceptions for the afternoon, as the Bears defense forced six turnovers in a single game for the first time since 2007, while holding the Lumberjack offense scoreless over its final 12 possessions of the contest.
In all, the Bears totaled 297 rushing yards and 441 yards of offense to improve to 2-1 for the second time under head coach Dave Steckel with their sixth consecutive non-conference home win. The victory gave the Bears their first win over a ranked opponent since a 45-24 road victory at Indiana State on Oct. 1, 2016, while the 32-point final spread represented their second-largest margin of victory over a ranked foe.
Despite committing four first-half turnovers of their own, the Bears moved the ball at will throughout the first 30 minutes of the contest to build a 17-point halftime advantage. Behind a potent ground game that racked up 218 rushing yards on 25 carries, MSU totaled 334 yards of offense in the half, thanks in large part to a big effort by Randall. The senior matched his career-best rushing performance in just one half, carrying the ball 13 times for 139 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while quarterback Peyton Huslig added 45 rushing yards, including a late score on a fourth-and-goal try from the NAU 1 with just three seconds to play in the half.
Freshman Jeremiah Wilson’s 38-yard return on the opening kickoff set the tone for a dominant first-quarter performance by the Bears. MSU would need just three plays to put the first points of the game on the board, as Randall broke free on a 47-yard scoring run, just 1:12 into the contest.
NAU promptly answered with a promising drive of its own, marching to the MSU 40 courtesy of three Daniel Bridge-Gadd completions. Nate Stinson busted through the MSU defense for an apparent 41-yard touchdown run, but an illegal block penalty called it back and ultimately thwarted the Lumberjack threat.
Missouri State immediately turned to Randall, who scampered 19 yards on the first play of the ensuing drive, then 13 more two plays later to move the Bears to the NAU 33. Huslig hooked up with Lorenzo Thomas on a 17-yard completion to the NAU 4, but the Lumberjacks stiffened to force a 19-yard Parker Lacina field goal that made it a 10-0 game.
The Bears weathered a dizzying stretch that saw the two defenses combine to force five turnovers on the next six offensive possessions, before Bridge-Gadd connected with Joe Logan on a 48-yard scoring toss to put NAU on the board with 13:46 to play in the half.
But the Bears put together an eight-play, 86-yard drive to swing the momentum, with Randall and Wilson breaking off runs of 28 and 27 yards, respectively to set up the scoring chance. Randall’s second TD—a three-yard run with 4:03 left on the clock—turned a four-point MSU lead into a 17-6 advantage. MSU’s defense flexed its collective muscle once again after NAU drove to the Bears 41, forcing an incompletion on a fourth-down attempt.
The Lumberjack defense returned the favor, holding the Bears to four yards on their ensuing possession, but the first of two costly muffed punt returns deep in NAU territory opened the door for MSU to seize control for good. Justis Stokes mishandled the Brendan Withrow kick at the 10, and Tyler Lovelace pounced on the loose ball. Huslig converted a fourth-down rush from the NAU 1 as time expired, giving the Bears a 23-6 lead at intermission.
After the break and stops by each defense, Stokes and the Lumberjacks endured a repeat of their first-half gaffe that led to Huslig’s TD run. Withrow boomed a 53-yard punt that Stokes once again had trouble corralling at the NAU 10, and Nick Hessefort scooped up the fumble. Huslig and the Bears would need just one play to punch home the back-breaking touchdown this time, as the junior found Jordan Murray on a short pass, and the freshman tight end glided into the end zone to stretch the advantage to 30-6.
Lacina converted his second field goal try of the game at the 3:45 mark, drilling a 38-yarder to complete a seven-play drive for the Bears.
The Bears punctuated the victory with another punishing ground attack on a 72-yard drive early in the fourth quarter, using runs of 22 and 13 yards by Randall to set up another score. Donovan Daniels finished the job with a 17-yard touchdown rush for the first of his MSU career.
In addition to Beshore’s strong performance, Angelo Garbutt logged eight tackles, while both Zack Sanders and McNeece Egbim totaled seven apiece. Lovelace also recorded an interception (and 18-yard return) to go along with his key fumble recovery late in the first half, and Tre Betts turned in a season-high five tackles and his second interception as a Bear.
Following its lone bye week of the season next Saturday, Missouri State concludes its three-game home stand with its MVFC season opener against Illinois State at 2 p.m. on Sept. 29. Tickets are available through MissouriStateBears.com, or by calling (417) 836-7678 during regular box office hours.
Postgame Notes: Missouri State improved to 58-20 all-time against non-conference foes at Plaster Stadium and 214-168-12 overall at the facility … The win marked the Bears’ sixth-straight victory against a non-league opponent at home dating back to Sept. 13, 2014 … The Bears also improved to 23-94 all-time against ranked FCS foes … Ranked at No. 20, the Lumberjacks represented the Bears’ highest-ranked victims since an Oct. 19, 2013 win over No. 15 South Dakota State, which also marked MSU’s last home win over a ranked opponent … Randall’s two TD rushes gave him his fourth multi-touchdown performance as a Bear—and his second in a row … Senior Marquis Prophete started his 30th consecutive game on the MSU offensive line … Huslig (2,510 passing yards) passed Brodie Lambert for the No. 13 spot on the Bears’ career passing yardage list … Randall’s 181 rushing yards are the most by a Bear since Sept. 14, 2013, when Vernon Scott carried for 201 yards at Murray State … The six-takeaway day by the MSU defense marked its first since Oct. 27, 2007, when the Bears logged four interceptions and two fumble recoveries in a 63-7 win over Indiana State … Murray (3), Antwan Woods (2) and Damoriea Vick (2) each recorded single-game highs for catches as Bears, while both Murray (45) and Vick (32) logged personal bests for receiving yardage as well.
