Oct. 18, 2014 Final Stats | Quotes
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Missouri State notched its first Missouri Valley Football Conference victory of the season with a 31-12 homecoming decision over South Dakota Saturday afternoon at Robert W. Plaster Stadium. The Bears built a 25-point lead thanks to a strong all-around performance, including a season-high 288 rushing yards and a big day from quarterback Kierra Harris.
Harris matched a career high with three touchdown passes and rushed for another to lead the Bears' rejuvenated offensive attack in front of 15,537 spectators--the eighth largest home crowd in school history. The senior recorded three separate runs of 20 yards or more en route to a career-best 90 rushing yards on just seven carries--an average of 12.9 yards per attempt. He also climbed to fifth on MSU's single-season chart for touchdown passes, moving past A.J. Porter with his 14th scoring toss of the year late in the first half.
The Bears (4-3, 1-2 MVFC) averaged 6.5 yards per carry as a team to finish with their best team rushing effort since a 366-yard performance at Murray State on September 14, 2013. MSU, which moved to 6-3 in homecoming games under head coach Terry Allen, used the big play to pull away, recording 10 offensive gains of 10 yards or more in the victory.
Each of Harris's three scoring passes came in the opening half to help the Bears build a commanding 24-3 advantage by intermission, including a 53-yard scoring strike to Malik Earl that put MSU on the board midway through the first quarter. Harris, who completed 7-of-15 passes for a total of 133 yards in the half, also found Gannon Sinclair on a 29-yard touchdown connection with 11:51 left in the second quarter, before a 12-yard shovel pass to Julian Burton stretched the Bears' lead to 21 points with just 40 ticks left on the clock.
The Bears rolled up 259 yards of total offense in the first 30 minutes of the contest, rushing 23 times for 126 yards thanks in large part to the duo of Calan Crowder and Ryan Heaston, who combined for 81 ground yards on 16 carries. MSU's defense turned in a strong showing in the opening half as well, holding the Coyotes to 84 yards in the second quarter.
South Dakota (2-5, 0-3 MVFC) gained the early edge, using 10 plays to complete an opening scoring drive that ended in a Miles Bergner 47-yard field goal. Coyote quarterback Kevin Earl registered four of his nine first-half completions for 42 yards on the drive, but Brady Pryor sacked the USD signal caller on third and six at the MSU 28 to halt the drive and force the Bergner kick.
MSU needed just four plays to claim the lead, as Crowder and Burton ripped off nine-yard runs, and Phoenix Johnson carried for four more before Harris found a wide-open Earl on a play-action call. The Bears freshman receiver waltzed untouched into the end zone on the Bears' longest scoring play of the season, handing the home team a 7-3 lead.
A special teams miscue would cost the Coyotes late in the opening quarter, as Jasper Sanders mishandled Chris Sullens' punt, and Caleb Schaffitzel pounced on the loose ball at the USD 15. The Coyote defense held its ground, however, forcing a 32-yard Marcelo Bonani field goal that made it a 10-3 Bears' lead with 1:08 left in the first period.
On the heels of a South Dakota season-long 32-yard rush by Trevor Bouma, the Coyotes moved the ball into MSU territory on their ensuing drive. But the Bears' defense stood strong, forcing four straight incompletions from Earl to reclaim possession of the ball.
Following the defensive stand, the Bears kept the ball on the ground five straight plays, as Crowder racked up 16 yards on three attempts before Harris broke free for a 20-yard gain to the USD 29. On first down, another play fake allowed Sinclair to spring free over the middle, and Harris connected with the senior tight end for another scoring pass that extended the lead to 17-3.
MSU closed the half on a high note, covering 86 yards on nine plays to push its lead to 24-3. Harris hit Heaston for a 13-yard pickup, then found Earl for 19 more after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Coyotes moved the ball into USD territory. A streaking Burton then outraced the Coyote defense to the end zone after taking a forward pitch from Harris.
USD engineered a pair of extended third-quarter scoring drives, moving the ball 58 yards deep into MSU territory on its first possession of the half before settling for another Bergner field goal. The Coyotes would find the end zone for the first time late in the period, this time marching 75 yards on 10 plays to score on a Sanders five-yard run.
But the Bears kept USD at bay with a strong rushing attack led by their senior quarterback. Harris turned in rushes of 17 and 21 yards, then streaked through the Coyote secondary to pay dirt for a 20-yard scoring run that capped a 72-yard drive and pushed the MSU lead to 31-6 at the time.
A trio of Bears led MSU's stalwart defensive front that allowed just 354 yards of total offense, including only 47 in a scoreless fourth quarter. Dylan Cole led the Bears with 12 stops to establish a new MSU season high and match his personal single-game best total, while Schaffitzel and Jeremy Springer each registered 11 total tackles. Additionally, Sullens turned in a strong day for the Bears on special teams, pinning the Coyotes inside the 20-yard line six times and booting a 74-yard punt in the second quarter that represents the fourth-longest in school history.
Earl finished the day with 165 yards on 22-of-39 passing for the Coyotes, seven of which went to Riley Donovan for 54 yards. Bouma paced the USD rushing attack with 82 yards on 12 carries, while Sanders totaled 68 rushing yards on 15 attempts. Tyson Graham posted a game-high 13 tackles to lead a USD defense that limited MSU to just two third-down conversions in 10 attempts.
Up next, the Bears travel to Normal, Ill., for another MVFC contest against No. 9 Illinois State next Saturday (Oct. 25). Kickoff from Hancock Stadium is set for 6 p.m.
