CONWAY, Ark. – Missouri State used an efficient offensive attack and a rugged defensive performance to put away Central Arkansas, 27-14, here Thursday in the season opener for both clubs.
No. 5-ranked Missouri State racked up 356 total yards with quarterback Jason Shelley completing 18-of-30 attempts for 266 yards and a touchdown. Shelley also rushed for 51 yards and a score. Ty Scott pulled down eight receptions for 160 yards to lead all receivers for the visiting Bears. It marked the second-highest single-game receiving total of Scott’s career.
The MoState defense was also on point most of the evening, holding Central Arkansas scoreless for the first 47-and-a-half minutes of the game and sacking UCA quarterback Will McElvain seven times. MSU also held the home side to just 1-of-12 on third down, coming up with key stops on nearly every UCA drive.
“Mission accomplished,” said Bears head coach Bobby Petrino. “We got done what we needed to do – come down here and win the game. Now what we have to do is get better from it.”
Petrino’s Bears took a 17-0 lead into the intermission and extended the lead late in the third quarter on a 37-yard field goal by Jose Pizano, the 16th straight make for the All-America kicker. His second make of the game made it 20-0 with 1:10 to go in the third.
UCA broke up the shutout on a 12-yard rush by McElvain with 12:21 left in the game to cap a 78-yard scoring drive. However, Missouri State answered moments later with a 98-yard kickoff return from Montrae Braswell for a touchdown that made it 27-7 with 12:07 to go. It was Braswell’s third career kickoff return for a touchdown – his second against UCA — and the seventh-longest kick return in Missouri State history.
A Missouri State turnover deep in its own territory midway through the final stanza, gave the home squad the final score of the game. Two plays after the Bears’ fumbled exchange, McElvain threw a seven-yard TD strike to Myles Butler to make the final score 27-14.
On the defensive side, the Bears were led by Ferrin Manuleleua who racked up eight total stops with Devin Goree and Braswell each contributing six solo tackles. Anthony Payne contributed 2.0 total sacks with Jaden Williams and Goree also racking up 2.0 tackles for loss. Tahj Chambers and Dillon Thomas also recorded interceptions for Missouri State.
UCA was led by McElvain’s 173 passing yards on 18-of-31 attempts. Darius Hale carried 18 times for 99 yards with Butler posting a team-high six receptions for 72 yards. UCA piled up 341 offensive yards with 23 first downs.
After a scoreless first quarter, Missouri State applied its clutches to UCA in the second period, mounting three scoring drives and keeping the home team’s offense in check.
With 5:58 to go in the second period, Pizano put MSU on the board first with a 36-yard field goal to cap a 13- play scoring drive.
After forcing UCA to punt on its first possession of the second quarter, Shelley got things rolling for the Bears offense. He targeted Scott and Jahod Booker for 51 of the team’s 62 yards on the ensuing drive and put the finishing touches on things himself with a 5-yard TD carry to make it 10-0.
With just 38 seconds left in the opening stanza, Chambers picked off a Will McElvain pass to give MoState the ball at its own 43. Five plays later, Shelley found Hunter Wood in the end zone with a 10-yard touchdown strike to give the visitors a 17-0 lead at the intermission.
Missouri State outgained UCA by a 251-134 margin in the opening half and held the home squad to 0-for-5 on third down.
The victory for MoState marked its first opening-night road win since 2014 (Northwestern State) and pushed Petrino to 13-4 in season openers for his 17-year coaching career.
Missouri State will now begin preparations for its home opener next Thursday against UT Martin at Robert W. Plaster Stadium. The Sept. 8 contest will kick off at 7 p.m., with BearFest Village activities commencing at 4 p.m.
