Nov. 1, 2014 Recap | Final Stats
Head Coach Terry Allen
Opening statement …
"We did everything right and so did they. We came down and kicked the go-ahead field goal. We did just what we wanted to do as far as the power squib [kickoff]. They did a nice job with the scatter from it. We had a guy there to tackle him and he just ripped through his arms, and they didn't have very far to go, and they ended up putting themselves in a position to kick the game-winning field goal."
Had you seen that kind of return on game film?
"No, that's one of those [plays] that people have. And we were great, he just ran through the guy's arms … it happens."
On the team's rally to get in position in the fourth quarter …
"It's going to be a long bus ride home. Those kids fought offensively, they played well defensively and they made enough plays to put themselves in the lead with 43 seconds left, but Indiana State's had a magical ride and it was costly for us."
Senior Quarterback Kierra Harris
How is the team feeling after the loss?
"It's a tough one because I know hard we prepared, I know how hard we practiced, I know how hard we worked in spring and summer … so we just have to swallow it and just go prepare for next week."
On the poise of the team during Missouri State's last drive …
"We always have confidence [in late-game situations]. We work the two-minute drill everyday on offense, so we were pretty confident that we were going to drive the ball on them and go down there and kick a field goal, and that's what happened. You know, Bo came through in the clutch once again."
What is the mindset with three games to play?
"We just have to stay together because, with a 1-4 record [in the league], all your dreams of becoming a conference champion and making the playoffs are slim to none right now. So we just have to stay together and be a family. What we do after this week will determine a whole lot of character for this team."
Senior Safety Caleb Schaffitzel
How are you feeling right now?
"It hurts. I know it hurts a lot of the guys, especially the seniors, but we've got to keep our heads up. There's another football game next week that we've got to concentrate on, learn from our mistakes in film tomorrow and move on there from there."
On the how the final kickoff return unfolded …
"We just squib kicked and they fielded it, got in a little huddle and just burst out of it. It was hard to tell who had the ball and it was a good game plan by them."
Is that a play you will see over and over in your head?
"I mean, how do you game plan for that? It was a good call by them and they executed it well, so it's, I guess, something that we'll have to look at in the future."
Sophomore Linebacker Dylan Cole
What are you emotions right now?
"It hurts, there's no other way to put it. It hurts a lot. We're trying to play together, play for each other - we always say 'just play for the man next to you' - and we know that we've got to execute. And towards the end, they just had our number. They did some good things. That trick thing - I don't even know what they did - I didn't even know where the ball was until the end of the play. … At the end of the day, we just didn't win and it hurts. I wanted to really get this win for our coaches and for our players, and it just hurts that we couldn't come out with it."
