Missouri State Bears (2-2, 0-1) at Youngstown State (3-1, 1-0)
Oct. 3, 2009, 5:00 p.m.
Stambaugh Stadium (20,630), Youngstown, Ohio Quick Links:RADIOLIVE STATSYOUNGSTOWN STATE GAME NOTESVALLEY FOOTBALL WEEKLY NOTESBEARWEAR FRIDAYS . BUY BEARWEAR
Today's Game: The Missouri State Bears take to the road this Saturday as they continue Missouri Valley Football Conference play against Youngstown State at Stambaugh Stadium for a 5 p.m. (Central) kickoff.
 This will be 14th meeting in the series with YSU holding an 11-2 all-time lead. The Bears defeated the Penguins 42-28 on Oct. 11, 2008 in Springfield in the most-recent matchup, breaking a three-game losing streak against YSU.
 After a slow start in their Valley Football opener Saturday at Indiana State, the Penguins rallied for 21 fourth-quarter points in a 28-0 victory over the Sycamores. Senior quarterback Brandon Summers completed 21-of-33 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns, while classmate Kevin Smith rushed 16 times for 78 yards and a score. YSU's defense held Indiana State to 148 total yards and 10 first downs. The Penguin defenders also came up with three interceptions, two sacks and eight tackles for loss on the afternoon.
 Missouri State's league opener against No. 3 Northern Iowa proved to be a tall order against one of the nation's top FCS squads. The visiting Panthers erupted for three first-half touchdowns and never looked back in a 35-7 victory before the ninth-biggest crowd in Plaster Field history and largest since 2004. Clay Harbor (Sr., TE, Dwight, Ill.) had a game-high seven pass receptions and the Bears' only touchdown, while Antoine Wilkinson (Jr., LB, Magnolia, Miss.) recorded a game-high 13 tackles with one fumble recovery, one pass break-up, and a near interception. Jordan Chiles (So., P, Hillsboro, Ill.) had a 72-yard punt in the game, matching the sixth-longest in MSU history.
 This season, the Bears are 0-1 on the road and 0-1 in MVFC play. Overall, Missouri State is 434-436-39 (.499) in 98 seasons all-time, including a 194-143-12 (.573) record in 68 seasons at Plaster Field, 64-87-1 (.424) mark in MVFC play, and 147-150-3 (.495) record at the NCAA Division I FCS level.
The Series: Youngstown State leads the all-time series, 11-2, but Missouri State has won two of the last five meetings, including last season's 42-28 win over the Penguins at Plaster Field (10/11/2008). Missouri State is 0-6 all-time at Stambaugh Stadium.
 Last year, the Bears broke up a 14-14 tie with two quick scores in the third quarter en route to a 42-28 Homecoming win at Plaster Field in front of 11,005 spectators. The Bears rushed for five touchdowns in the game, with Stephen Johnston accounting for two scores, while Kingjack Washington scored once and had a game-high 133 ground yards. Cody Kirby (Jr., QB, Rogers, Ark.) completed 11-of-14 passes for 127 yards and rushed for 56 more yards with a touchdown. Kirby reached 2,500 career passing yards in the game, making him the fastest player in MSU history to reach that milestone. Clay Harbor (Sr., TE, Dwight, Ill.) had a team-high four receptions for 53 yards.
The Coaches: Missouri State head coach Terry Allen (Northern Iowa, 1976) is 109-82 (.571) overall in his 17th season as a head coach. Allen is 14-23 (.378) in his fourth season at Missouri State. He is also 86-46 (.652) in Missouri Valley Football Conference games, including his tenure at Northern Iowa (1989-96). Allen is 2-3 all-time against YSU.
 With the Bears, Allen is 10-10 at home, 4-13 away, 6-16 in conference play (4-8 at home), 8-7 in non-conference games (6-2 at home), 1-0 in overtime, 0-1 in shutouts, and 6-7 in games decided by 10 points or less.
 Coach Allen spent 10 years as an assistant coach at UNI (1979-88) before taking over the head coaching duties there in 1989 where he spent the next eight seasons (1989-96). He was 72-26 at UNI and five-time MVFC Coach of the Year, taking the Panthers to the NCAA FCS playoffs seven straight years. He took over the head coaching duties at Kansas in 1997 and was 20-33 in five years with the Big 12 Jayhawks (1997-2001). Prior to coming to MSU, he spent four seasons (2002-05) as associate head coach at Iowa State.
 YSU head coach Jon Heacock (Muskingum, 1983) is 57-40 in his ninth season with the Penguins and overall as a head coach. He is 6-2 all-time against the Bears.
 His coaching tenure also includes stops at Toledo, West Liberty State, Michigan, Army, Indiana, and a previous stint at Youngstown State as an assistant coach (1991-96).
 Heacock also serves as YSU's defensive coordinator.
First and Ten: Ten Missouri state quick hits relating to today's game:
- Cody Kirby has been the Bears' quarterback for 294 of 307 plays this season. He has started 23 straight games and 10-13 as a starting quarterback, including a 3-7 record away from Plaster Field.
- MSU has never won in Youngstown in six previous tries and has been outscored 217 (36.2) to 82 (13.7) in road games in the series.
- The Bears are coming off a three-game home stand during which they won two of three games.
- All-America Tight end Clay Harbor has at least one pass reception in 26 straight games. That streak is now the second-longest string in Bears' history (the record is 33 by Jason Cannon, 1995-97). He is ranked as the top tight end in FCS football by Phil Steele's ranking service and a two-time AP All-America selection.
- Two weeks ago, Cody Kirby (Jr., QB, Rogers, Ark.) eclipsed 4,000 career passing yards, making him the fourth Missouri State signal caller to reach that milestone. With 223 passing yards against the Racers, Kirby surpassed MSU legend DeAndre Smith (4,080) for third place on the Bears' career passing list. Kirby now has 4,305 yards and needs 577 more yards to catch Mitch Ware (4,882) for second place on the career list and 195 yards to reach 4,500.
- The only MSU player from the state of Ohio is backup QB and starting holder Tyler Horner (Dayton, Ohio).
- Jared Emery (Sr., WR, Mountain Grove, Mo.) has a reception in six straight games and nine of 10 overall.
- Cody Kirby has thrown an interception in seven straight games. With six picks thrown this season, he is just two shy of his carere high of eight, set his freshman season in 2007. He threw seven interceptions in 2008.
- Jermaine Saffold (So., WR, Grandview, Mo.) has seven catches for 91 yards in the team's last two games, the second-most in that span by any Missouri State player (Harbor has nine receptions over the last two weeks).
- This decade, the Bears are 4-5 in their fifth game of the season. In that span, MSU has started 4-1 once (2004), 3-2 four times (most recently in 2007), 2-3 three times (most recently 2008), and 1-4 once (2006).
Radio: All Missouri State Bears games can be heard on KTXR, Springfield (101.3 FM), the flagship station of the Missouri State Bears Football Radio Network. Play-by-play man Art Hains will provide the game description. Color commentary duties will be split this between third-year commentator Scott Opfer and KYTV Sports Director Ned Reynolds. Opfer will handle seven dates, while Reynolds will work the Sept. 5, Sept. 12, Oct. 3 and Oct. 24 games.
 Hains first began calling Bears' action in 1977 and is in his second stint and 30th season overall as the Voice of the Bears. He called Bears games from 1977-81 and returned to that post in 1985. The Youngstown State game is Art's 314th MSU football broadcast.
 MSU football can also be heard on the seven-station, Missouri State Bears Football Radio Network on the following affiliates: Ava - KKOZ (92.1 FM/1430 AM); Jefferson City - KJMO (97.5); Kansas City - KCWJ (1030 AM); Monett - KKBL (95.9 FM); Poplar Bluff - KLID (1340 AM); St. Louis - KFNS (100.7 FM); and Springfield - KTXR (101.3 FM) (flagship).
On-Line: Select games this season will be shown on Missouri State's on-line video channel -- Bears Live! Bears Live is a premium, broadband video destination for exclusive live and on-demand Missouri State streaming video & audio. This broadband video channel is the ultimate place for Bears fans on the web and can be accessed through www.MissouriStateBears.com, the official web site of Missouri State Athletics. The YSU game is not part of the BearsLive! package.
 Links to live game stats, and the free audio stream (through www.RadioSpringfield.com) can be found on this week's game notes page on www.MissouriStateBears.com or at the Fan Central link on the home page.
Television: This week's game will not be televised.
Last Game: No. 3 Northern Iowa outgained Missouri State 396-185 last Saturday, but the Bears rallied for a 16-play touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter to break up the shutout in a 35-7 Panthers win before 15,038 at Plaster Field in the Valley Football Conference opener for both teams. The home crowd was the ninth-largest ever for MSU.
 The game was dictated by a fast-paced first half by the Panthers. After the Bears intercepted UNI's Pat Grace on the Panthers' opening drive of the game, UNI reeled off touchdown drives in three of its next four possessions to build a 21-0 halftime lead. The Bears were unable to convert the interception by Cedric Alvis, the fifth of his career, into points and punted on their first five possessions.
 The Bears drove to the UNI 30 on their final drive of the first half and passed up an opportunity for a field goal attempt with seven seconds to play to take a shot at the end zone. 's pass into the corner of the end zone was picked off by Quentin Scott to end the half.
 Missouri State went three-and-out on the opening possession of the second half, then returned the favor to the Panthers, forcing them to give up the ball after three plays. However, the ensuing punt was fumbled by Miguel Warren at the MSU 10 yard line, setting up a one-yard touchdown run by Carlos Anderson three plays later.
 The Bears' late touchdown drive consumed a season-high 16 plays. Kirby connected with Clay Harbor on a third-and-goal from the five for Missouri State's only score. Harbor had a game-high and season-high seven receptions -- all in the second half -- for 43 yards.
 Jonathan Davis led all Bears' rushers with nine carries for 47 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Starter Miguel Warren carried 14 times for 34 yards, and Kirby was 17-for-30 for 116. He was sacked four times, all in the first half.
 Also highlighting Missouri State's efforts was a 72-yard punt by sophomore Jordan Chiles in the second quarter that matched the sixth-longest kick in school history.
Team Captains: Missouri State will have five co-captains for the 2009 season, including a pair of seniors and three juniors. The Bears' 2009 captains include tight end Clay Harbor (Sr., Dwight, Ill.), cornerback Cedric Alvis (Sr., Columbia, Mo.), guard David Arkin (Jr., Wichita, Kan.), quarterback Cody Kirby (Jr., Rogers, Ark.), and safety Skylar Smith (Jr., Springfield, Mo.). Kirby was also a co-captain in 2008, which made him just the third MSU sophomore captain since 1953 (joining Corky Martin, 1999, and Kevin Sears, 2005).
Scouting YSU: The Penguins are off to a 3-1 start and won their league opener, 28-0, at Indiana State last Saturday.
 Youngstown State is led by senior quarterback Brandon Summers who has completed 63-percent of his passes this season and is averaging 174.5 yards per game through the air. His favorite targets are junior Dominique Barnes and senior Donald Jones who each have 19 receptions through four games and have accounted for five of Summers' seven TD passes. Summers has also rushed for three of the team's five ground scores this year.
 At running back, YSU relies on senior Kevin Smith for a bulk of its carries and yards. Smith is averaging 78.2 yards per game and 4.2 yards per carry with two touchdowns.
 YSU is the top team in the league and 12th nationally in turnover margin (+1.5), and second in the league in pass defense (161.75) and pass efficiency defense (108.24). YSU also ranks 111th nationally in net punting (28.26).
About Missouri State: Missouri State University is a public, comprehensive university system with a mission in public affairs, whose purpose is to develop educated persons while achieving five goals: democratizing society, incubating new ideas, imagining Missouri's future, making Missouri's future, and modeling ethical and effective behavior. With an enrollment of 21,688, MSU is the second-largest institution for higher learning in Missouri, and its identity is distinguished by its statewide mission in public affairs. This mission requires a campus-wide commitment to foster competence and responsibility in the common vocation of citizenship. Missouri State University-Springfield is a selective admissions, graduate level teaching and research institution.
 Missouri State competes at the NCAA Division I level and is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference with affiliate membership in the Mid-American Conference for field hockey and men's swimming and diving.
 Notable Missouri State alums include: Ryan Howard (first baseman, Philadelphia Phillies), John Goodman (actor), Kathleen Turner (actress), David Glass (owner, Kansas City Royals), John Q. Hammons (businessman, hotel developer), Bob Holden (43rd governor of Missouri), Bill Mueller (2003 American League batting champ), Jackie Stiles (NCAA Division I women's basketball career scoring leader), and Blake Ahearn (NBA D-League MVP and All-Star Game co-MVP).
Streaks and Milestones: Jonathan Davis needs 1 carry 100 in his career and 8 rushing yards for 400 ... Tyler Horner needs 2 passing yards for 1,000 in his career ... Cody Kirby needs 63 rushing yards for 500 in his career, and 40 pass attempts for 700 in his career ... Kirby also needs 195 passing yards to give him 4,500 career yards ... Jared Emery needs 23 receiving yards for 400 in his career ... Byron Hightower needs 7 tackles for 100 in his career ... Derek Miller needs 1 tackle for 150 in his career ... Cedric Alvis needs 10 tackles for 100 in his career.
Starting to Become a Habit: Four Bears have started at least 10 consecutive games. Leading the list is Clay Harbor (Sr., TE, Dwight, Ill.) with 27 straight starts, followed by David Arkin (Jr., OG, Wichita, Kan.) 26, Cody Kirby (Jr., QB, Rogers, Ark.), 23, and Cedric Alvis (Sr., CB, Columbia, Mo.) 15.
 Overall, MSU returns five offensive starters from last season -- Harbor, Arkin, Kirby, Brent Chojnacki (Jr., OC, Olathe, Kan.) and Justin Fuselier (Jr., WR, Tulsa, Okla.). The Bears also return four regular defensive starters -- Alvis, Waylon Richardet (Jr., DT, Perryville, Mo.), Byron Hightower (Jr., LB, Raytown, Mo.), and Skylar Smith (Jr., S, Springfield, Mo.).
Honors Continue for Tight End Harbor: Bears' tight end Clay Harbor (Sr., Dwight, Ill.) continues to collect preseason All-America honors from various publications and organizations.
 During the 2009 preseason, he has been named to All-America teams by The Sports Network, College Sporting News, Consensus Draft Services, and Lindy's College Football Preview.
 After collecting 40 receptions for 457 yards in 2008, Harbor earned Associated Press FCS All-America second-team honors. Harbor is a two-time, first-team All-MVFC pick as well as twice being recognized on the AP All-America list, including a third-team honor in 2007. He was also named to the Sports Network Fab 50.
 Harbor is also ranked as the No. 12 overall player -- and top tight end -- in the NCAA FCS, according to the ranking source for Phil Steele. The top 20 players are: 1. QB Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State, Sr.; 2. WR/RS Andre' Roberts, The Citadel, Sr.; 3. QB Cameron Higgins, Weber State, Jr.; 4. WR Terrell Hudgins, Elon, Sr.; 5. FS Mark LeGree, Appalachian State, Jr.; 6. DE Larry Hart, Central Arkansas, Sr.; 7. QB Dominic Randolph, Holy Cross, Sr.; 8. RS Leroy Vann, Florida A&M, Sr.; 9. RB Trevyn Smith, Weber State, Sr.; 10. OT James Williams, Harvard, Sr.; 11. DE James Ruffin, Northern Iowa, Sr.; 12. TE Clay Harbor, Missouri State, Sr.; 13. OG Matthew McCracken, Richmond, Sr.; 14. WR/RS Marc Mariani, Montana, Sr.; 15. TE Scott Sicko, New Hampshire, Sr.; 16. RS Scotty McGee, James Madison, Sr.; 17. OT Vladimir Ducasse, UMASS, Sr.; 18. RB William Ford, South Carolina State, Sr.; 19. DE Austen Lane, Murray State, Sr.; 20. DT Mychal Savage, Youngstown State, Sr.
MSU Player of the Week: Linebacker Antoine Wilkinson (Jr., Magnolia, Miss.) has been named as the MSU Player of the Week for his efforts against Northern Iowa last Saturday. The Bears' starting inside linebacker posted a game-high 13 tackles against Northern Iowa, giving him nine or more tackles in three of the team's first four games this season. He took over the team lead for the season with 36 stops. On Saturday, he had 4 solo tackles, 9 assisted tackles, a fumble recovery, one pass break-up, and a near interception. This is Wilkinson's second MSU Player of the Week honor this season.
 In 2008, Cody Kirby (QB, Rogers, Ark.) was named 2008 Missouri State Coors Player of the Year after earning second-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Honors and throwing for 2,014 yards and 15 touchdowns, finishing second in the league in total offense and 53rd nationally. He led the Bears to three fourth-quarter go-ahead or tying scores in 2008. Coors is no longer sponsoring the MSU Player of the Week and Player of the Year awards.
MVFC Preseason All-Conference Team: The Missouri Valley Football Conference released its preseason all-conference team on July 20 at its annual Media Day festivities in St. Louis.
 Three Bears were named to the Missouri Valley Football Preseason Team, including Clay Harbor (Sr., TE, Dwight, Ill.), David Arkin (Jr., OG, Wichita, Kan.) and honorable mention selection Cody Kirby (Jr., QB, Rogers, Ark.).
 Harbor, a preseason All-America pick by several agencies, snagged 40 receptions for 457 yards in 2008 for the Bears, both tops on the squad, and earned Associated Press FCS All-America second-team honors. Harbor is a two-time, first-team All-MVFC pick as well as twice being recognized on the AP All-America list.
 Arkin was named a preseason Third-Team All-America pick at offensive guard by the Sports Network. He graded out at 86 percent during the 2008 season, starting all 11 games at offensive guard. He was named the team's Offensive Lineman of the Week four times in 2008, also gaining the squad's Offensive Player of the Week distinction twice. He was a 2008 All-Valley preseason selection in addition to being named to the league's All-Newcomer Team and Second-Team All-Conference squads the past two seasons.
 Kirby, who found a spot on the MVFC Preseason Team as an honorable mention pick, earned All-Valley second-team honors as a sophomore in 2008 after throwing for 2,104 yards and 15 touchdowns while posting 2,227 yards of total offense and scoring nine touchdowns. At 183.1 yards per game, he is the league's top returning passer and No. 2 returnee in total offense (202.5 ypg). Kirby was the league's preseason All-Valley quarterback in 2008 and was the 2007 MVFC Freshman of the Year.
Individual Statistical Leaders: The following active Missouri State players rank among the Missouri Valley Football Conference's top 10 individual performers in the categories indicated:
Valley All-Time Football Team: As a part of the Missouri Valley Football Conference Silver Anniversary Celebration, fans are invited to participate in the selection of the Valley's All-Time Football Team. The ballots are accessible through the the Missouri Valley Football Conference web site or at www.Valley-Football25.org. (one ballot per site visit).
 There are 14 Bears on the ballot, including: DeAndre Smith (QB, 1987-90), Clay Harbor (TE, 2006-present), Brad St. Louis (TE, 1996-99), Mark Christensen (OL, 1986-89), Matt Irvin (OL, 1989-92), Wayne Boyer (PK ,1993-96), Travis Brawner (PK, 1997-99), Jon Scifres (PK, 2002-05), Michael Fox (DL, 1989-90), Bill Waler (DL, 1988-91), DeLaun Fowler (LB, 1992-95), Matt Soraghan (LB, 1985-87), Adrion Smith (DB, 1989-91), and Marcus Shipp (DB, 1989-91).
MVFC All-Select NFL Team: Former Missouri State football Bears Brad St. Louis and Jason Whittle have been named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference "All-Select NFL Team," the league announced Monday (July 20) in St. Louis.
 Whittle, most recently an offensive lineman with the Buffalo Bills, finished his 11th season in the NFL in 2008. He signed a free agent contract in the 2003 off-season with the New York Giants. He later moved to the Minnesota Vikings for the 2006 campaign before joining the Bills in 2007. An offensive and defensive line standout at Missouri State from 1994-97, Whittle signed with the Giants in 1998 and was a regular lineman and deep snapper for the team. His play in the 2001 Super Bowl was the first time an MSU product had played in the NFL title game.
 St. Louis is entering his 10th year with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2009, making him the longest-tenured player on the Bengals' roster. He starred for MSU at tight end from 1996-99 and played in both the East-West Shrine Game and the Hula Bowl after his senior MSU season prior to signing with Cincinnati. He has operated as the Bengals' regular deep snapper each of the past six seasons with additional work at tight end.
 The team includes 35 players from current and former MVFC schools. The team includes four NFL MVPs, 15 Pro-Bowl selections and other 23 Super Bowl appearances by 12 players. Sixteen former league players are active in the NFL.
National Leaders: Bears ranking among the nation's top 50 players in this week's statistics are: Miguel Warren (Sr., TB, Raytown, Mo.) is 14th in kickoff returns (29.40). Jordan Chiles (So., P, Hillsboro, Ill.) has jumped 15 spots to 18th in punting (41.53), and Derek Miller (Jr., S, Olathe, Kan.) is tied for 39th in interceptions per game (0.50). Mike Daniels (Sr., DT, Leesburg, Ga.) is tied for 46th in sacks (0.67). As a team, the Bears rank in the national top 20 in three categories: 14th in net punting (37.63), 19th in kickoff returns (24.33), and 20th in sacks (2.75). Likewise, the Bears are among the bottom 20 teams in four categories: 115th in punt returns (0.00), 110th in pass defense (273.75), 101st in sacks allowed (3.25), and 98th in passing offense (141.25).
Postseason History: The Bears have appeared in three postseason games during their NCAA Division I era (1982-present).
 In 1989, the Bears were ranked No. 9 in the FCS poll when they hosted Maine at Plaster Field on 11/25/89. A 33-yard field goal by Chris Potthast with eight seconds left sent MSU to the national quarterfinals at Stephen F. Austin with a 38-35 win.
 The Bears gave up 613 yards in total offense at SFA and fell 55-25, despite trailing just 23-10 at the half. MSU finished the year 10-3.
 In 1990, MSU hosted No. 13 Idaho at Plaster Field in the first round of the playoffs. After a field goal by Richard Grote on the first play of the fourth quarter tied the game, 35-35, the Bears gave up field goals of 29 and 50 yards later in the quarter, and the potential game-winning drive stalled at the Idaho 45 with 30 seconds remaining in a 41-35 defeat.
 Prior to their Division I days, the Bears appeared in three bowl games, falling 34-20 to Emporia State in the 1948 Mo-Kan Bowl, dropping a 21-14 decision to Northern Illinois in the 1963 Mineral Water Bowl, and coming up short, 14-8, to Adams State in the 1966 Mineral Water Bowl.
 MSU is 1-5 all-time in postseason.
Up Next: The Bears host South Dakota State on Saturday, October 10 at 2 p.m. in the first-ever meeting between the league foes at Plaster Field.
