Highlights
Ryan Beard
Players
SPRINGFIELD – In a tale of two halves, Missouri State rode the shoulders of its defensive unit in the final 30 minutes to secure a 28-24 homecoming win over visiting Murray State here Saturday.
The MoState defense allowed just a 27-yard field goal in the second half, forcing the Racers to three three-and-out punts, two interceptions, a missed field goal and a turnover on downs on its eight possessions in the third and fourth quarters.
Meanwhile, the Bears (3-4, 2-2 MVFC) got a four-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Pachot to Raylen Sharpe with 3:28 remaining in the third quarter to take their first lead of the game. The six-play, 75-yard scoring drive gave the home side a 28-24 advantage on a possession that started with a 25-yard rush and a 16-yard reception by Jacardia Wright, and included a key 29-yard strike from Pachot to Terique Owens to the Murray State four-yard line. Two plays later, Sharpe’s clutch reception proved to be the game-winner for the home club.
Pachot finished his third start of the season 19-for-29 through the air for 287 yards and career-high four touchdown passes. Wright (80 yards), Owens (79) and Sharpe (68) each accounted for four receptions apiece with Wright racking up a game-high 144 all-purpose yards, including 64 ground yards on 17 carries.
After Pachot pushed the Bears ahead, Missouri State’s defense collected a three-and-out late in the third quarter before a Caleb Blake interception thwarted another Murray State drive early in the fourth. Even though both sides found their defensive foothold in the final period, it was the home team that really began to grind. Two more three-and-out possessions followed for Murray State with the Bears forcing three incompletions on six attempts from Racers’ starter DJ Williams in two key drives.
Murray State’s only substantial possession of the second half came in the final five minutes when Williams had back-to-back completions to Cole Rusk and Michael Fox for 18 and six yards, respectively, to move the ball near midfield. But four plays later, on a fourth-and-two at the Missouri State 46-yard line, Lemondre Joe stepped up for the Bears with his first interception of the season to end the threat.
The Bears punted on their final three possessions of the game, but the defense had things in control. A sack by Devin Goree on fourth-and-five at the Missouri State 37 with 10 seconds remaining in the game sealed the victory.
Goree finished the game with 8 total defensive stops and 2.5 sacks. Tahj Chambers also had 8 tackles for the Bears to go with 5 solo stops and a pass break-up.
Williams was 21-of-34 for 227 yards and three TD’s for the Racers (2-5, 1-3 MVFC) with Rusk snagging 7 passes for 88 yards and Taylor Sheilds grabbing 5 receptions for 61 yards and a pair of scores.
MSU’s defense held the Racers to 120 yards and six first downs on its eight second-half possessions, despite the visitors controlling the clock for nearly 19 minutes. The Bears finished the afternoon with 5 sacks, 9 tackles for loss and a pair of interceptions.
In a high-flying first half packed with offense, the Bears turned the ball over on the first play of the game on an errant reverse exchange. The mishap set the Racers up at the Missouri State 14, which they converted into an early 7-0 lead two plays later.
However, Missouri State rallied to tie the game up three more times before halftime. Pachot threw a 23-yard TD pass to Jmariyae Robinson to make it 7-7 just over four minutes into the game. He later connected with Gary Clinton from five yards out to cap a 60-yard scoring drive and knot the score, 14-14, with 2:50 left in the opening quarter. Finally, a 28-yard strike to Owens with 1:19 left in the second quarter made it a 21-21 game at the intermission.
The Racers regained the lead briefly with 5:29 left in the third quarter on a 27-yard field goal by Matt Maldonado that made it 24-21. The go-ahead score was set up by a sack and fumble at the Missouri State 36. But the near-tragedy soon turned to a moral victory as the Racers’ drive stalled at the Bears’ 9-yard line thanks to a rejuvenated Bears defense.
The victory marked Missouri State’s second win in a row and third consecutive homecoming victory. It also evened the Bears at 2-2 in the MVFC standings, pushing them into a six-way tie for fourth place in the league standings with four weeks remaining.
The Bears return to the road next week against Youngstown State at 1 p.m. (Central) at Stambaugh Field. On Nov. 4, MoState returns home for a two-game home stand against Illinois State at 2 p.m.
