April 11, 2015 Final Stats | Stec Interview
SPRINGFIELD -- It took just over 100 plays, but after the 90-minute clash between Missouri State's offense and defense ended here Saturday, it was the maroon-clad defensive unit that prevailed, 55-53, in Missouri State's annual Maroon and White Spring Football Game.
Using a complex scoring system based on key plays throughout the afternoon, the scrimmage included five scores, including a pair of touchdown passes from redshirt freshman Breck Ruddick.
"The effort was good on both sides of the ball," said first-year head coach Dave Steckel. "Our kids responded well, particularly in certain situations. Our energy level needs to improve, but we saw some good things."
Ruddick connected with sophomore Malik Earl for a 75-yard TD strike late in the first quarter to cap a four-play, 90-yard drive for the game's first score. Earl finished with team highs on 5 receptions for 124 yards on the afternoon.
In the third quarter, Ruddick completed another impressive scoring march, this time capped by a 12-yard pass to senior Eric Christophel to wrap a 65-yard series. Reddick finished 13-for-22 for 186 yards and no interceptions.
The key play for the MSU defense -- and likely the play that made the difference in the final scoring margin -- came just after Christophel's touchdown when junior Dylan Cole stepped in front of an Alex Lawson pass and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown. The pick-six put the exclamation point on a great day by Cole who also posted 6 solo tackles, including one for ss.
Senior Marcelo Bonani converted a 23-yard field goal late in the third quarter to cap a 59-yard drive that took nine plays to complete. The senior also made both extra points he tried during the scrimmage, as did sophomore Shelby Harris.
In the final quarter, the running game clock kept things moving, but a 10-play, 65-yard scoring drive engineered by Brody Lambert may have been the most impressive march of the afternoon. Running backs Phoenix Johnson and Doug Cook led the charge with walk-on Cook making a mad dash to the end zone from 27 yards out for the final score of the afternoon to wrap the drive.
MSU ran 59 of its 102 plays on the ground with Calan Crowder collecting 7.8 yards per carry on 11 attempts, while Ryan Heaston finished with 47 yards on 9 carries. Lambert was an effective 12-for-20 through the air for 120 yards and no interceptions.
Sophomore Kurran Blamey led all defenders with 7 total tackles, while Cecil Bratton, Brandan Reeve and Tre Betts finished with 5 apiece, just behind Blamey and Cole for the overall lead. As a unit, the defense broke up 8 passes, finished with 12 tackles for loss and secured a pair of sacks.
The Bears will head into the offseason a lot of momentum from their 15 spring practices as they now make the mental shift to preparations for the 2015 season opener at Memphis on Sept. 5.
"I think we need to get stronger and work on our speed a little bit more," Steckel said. "I think we all have to be committed to our fundamentals and work during the summertime and get better each day."
#MSUBears
