SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State’s defensive unit outscored its offensive counterparts here Thursday in the Bears’ annual Maroon and White Spring game, emerging with a 37-26 victory using an intricate scoring system.
In traditional scoring terms, the game saw an offensive touchdown, a defensive touchdown and a field goal in a time-controlled contest.
“I was excited about the way the offense protected the football in the first half, but the flip side was the defense didn’t capitalize on any takeaways,” said fourth-year head coach Dave Steckel. “In the second half, the defense had three takeaways and a score, but couldn’t get third-down stops.”
Peyton Huslig led the club’s four quarterbacks, completing 8-of-16 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. He connected with junior wide receiver Tyler Currie for the game’s only offensive score as the two hooked up on a 42-yard TD strike just 37 seconds before the intermission.
After an interception by Titus Wall moments later, Huslig got the ball back once more before the half and drove the offense to the 29-yard line. Austin Firestone then drilled a 47-yard field goal as the horn sounded.
With first-teamers seeing a lot of action in the first half, the offense compiled 228 yards on 54 plays before the break.
In the second half, a running clock was used, while special celebrity coaches called the plays. KOLR-10 TV sports director Dan Lucy and Alec McChesney, editor-in-chief for The Standard, called plays for the Bears’ offense in the second half. On the other sideline, KY3 TV sports anchor Chad Plein and News-Leader sports reporter Wyatt Wheeler determined the calls for the MSU defense. Both units had limited script from which to choose plays.
The defense came up with three turnovers in the second half, including a fumble recovery by Kevin Ellis, an interception by Zack Sanders and a pick-six by Angelo Garbutt who snagged a pass by J.T. Granato and returned it 30 yards to paydirt.
The offense’s only second-half threat came on the heels of Ellis’ recovery at the 25-yard line. After netting just one yard, the Bears settled for a 42-yard field goal attempt that Levi Shinn narrowly missed wide right.
Jason Randall was the Bears’ top rusher on the day, going 39 yards on six carries, including a long effort of 19 yards. Newcomer Israel Smith was next with nine carries for 27 yards.
Currie was the club’s top receiver with his 42-yard catch from Huslig in the first half, while Randall and Lorenzo Ellis each caught three passes, accounting for 17 and 15 yards, respectively through the air.
The offense finished with a combined 316 yards on 97 plays with 17 first downs, and 6-of-23 on third down.
The defense was led by Easton Flaugh’s 8 tackles, while Ellis stopped 6 ball carriers, and Tyler Lovelace finished with 5 total tackles.
Steckel said the game was a success in the most important statistical category – injuries.
“We came out healthy, which is very, very good,” Steckel said. “We need to continue to get better fundamentally, and we’ll move forward with three hours of fundamental work next week, then move on to recruiting, and then get ready for our summer regimen.”
The Bears will open the 2018 season at Oklahoma State, although a date for that contest has not been finalized. MSU begins its six-game home slate in week two with a game on Thursday, Sept. 6 against Lincoln University at Robert W. Plaster Stadium.
