Highlights:
Ryan Beard talks about win over Indiana State:
Tahj Chambers & Jacob Clark talk win over Indiana State:
SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State doubled up visiting Indiana State in total offense and held the visiting Sycamores to just 90 yards in the second half en route to a 46-21 homecoming victory for the Bears.
It marked MSU’s fifth straight victory, a program first since a stretch from 2001 to 2002 under coach Randy Ball. The last time the Bears won five straight in the same season was in 1996 under coach Del Miller.
The Bears outgained Indiana State, 497-249, overall with quarterback Jacob Clark finishing 22-of-27 through the air for three touchdowns and 379 yards, while adding another touchdown on the ground. It marked Clark’s fifth 300-yard passing effort of the campaign and seventh in his 11 starts at Missouri State.
Missouri State (5-2, 3-0 MVFC) held a narrow 17-15 edge at the half, but the Bears’ defense forced three Sycamore punts on ISU’s first three possessions of the second half. Meanwhile, Clark and company put points on the board in four of their five second-half possessions to pull away.
Clark’s 82-yard touchdown pass to tight end Lance Mason just over five minutes into the third quarter pushed the home side ahead, 24-15. It marked Mason’s sixth touchdown reception in a six-game span and matched the 10th-longest pass reception in squad history. Mason finished with a game-high and career-high 111 yards on four receptions.
Later in the quarter, Jacardia Wright’s second ground touchdown of the game extended MSU’s lead. His one-yard carry with 4:56 to play in the third capped a short 46-yard scoring march that was set up by a solid defensive stand and a short ISU punt. The Bears tacked on a two-point conversion on Clark’s pass to Jmariyae Robinson to make it 32-15.
Indiana State capitalized on a rare Missouri State turnover early in the fourth quarter with the Sycamores snagging an interception off a receiver’s foot and turning the MSU mishap into points six plays later. An eight-yard rush by quarterback Elijah Owens capped the short ISU possession and made it a 32-21 contest with 11:39 to play.
But the Bears put any doubts on the outcome to rest, manufacturing two long touchdown drives down the stretch to put the homecoming victory on ice. Clark’s 21-yard pass to Hunter Wood with 8:04 to go put the finishing touches on a 75-yard Bears scoring march. Later, Clark called his own number and scored from five yards out to complete a 12-play, 69-yard scoring drive on MSU’s final possession of the afternoon.
Wood and James BlackStrain had five catches apiece to lead all receivers, with BlackStrain racking up 94 yards and Wood accounting for 76.
Indiana State was led by Owens who was 12-for-17 through the air for 154 yards while adding 17 ground yards on 18 carries.
In the first half, the Bears overcame an early 8-3 deficit with key touchdowns by Wright ad BlackStrain that catapulted the home club to a 17-15 lead at the midway point.
Yousef Obeid’s 30-yard field goal on MSU’s opening drive of the game gave the Bears an early 3-0 lead, but the Sycamores answered with a one-yard touchdown from Shen Butler-Lawson and a two-point conversion less than two minutes later. A 64-yard pass from Owens to Rashad Rochelle on ISU’s first play of the game set the visitors up at the MSU four-yard line, before they eventually scored two plays later.
Wright and the Bears responded at the 4:58 mark of the first quarter with a two-yard touchdown run to cap a 63-yard scoring drive for the Bears. Wright’s third-and-goal score pushed the home side up 10-8.
Early in the second quarter, the Bears took over at their own 20 after a missed Sycamore field goal, but MSU fumbled it back to the Trees five plays later. The opportunistic visitors took over at the MSU 16 and were able to capitalize on the mishap and push back on top, 15-10, after a 10-yard pass from Owens to Rochelle at the 10:24 mark of the second.
But ISU’s lead was short-lived as Clark then engineered a 92-yard scoring drive before the intermission, hitting a slashing BlackStrain from 27-yards out to give the Bears the lead for good. The eight-play march included a 26-yard strike from Clark to Wood on third-and-14, which kept the drive alive and ultimately gave MoState a 17-15 lead at the midway point.
MSU’s defense was led by Tahj Chambers who recorded 9 tackles on the day, including 5 solo stops and a tackle for loss. Caleb Dietlin contributed a pair of sacks as part of his five-tackle day, and Tavier Williams was credited with six stops in his second straight start.
With the win, the Bears improved to 3-0 in conference play for the first time since 1997, while securing a winning home record (3-0) for the seventh time in eight years. It was also MSU’s fourth straight homecoming victory.
The Bears return to the road next Saturday when they take on the Northern Iowa Panthers at 4 p.m. in Cedar Falls. MSU’s next home game is November 2 against Southern Illinois at 2 p.m.
