April 2, 2015

Interviews/Video | Spring Game Release | 2015 Season Tickets | Spring Prospectus | Alumni Weekend

SPRINGFIELD -- With periodic rain storms throughout the morning, the Missouri State football Bears managed to squeeze in 92 intrasquad plays Thursday at Robert W. Plaster Stadium in their second official scrimmage of the spring.

First-year head coach Dave Steckel said afterwards that he saw some good things, but he wants to see his club make considerable improvements during his club's final week of spring drills next week.

"They're trying to learn the playbook and know what we're doing, but it's going slow," Stec explained. "They need to make things bigger and better in the spring (practices). Right now they're looking past their noses, but they're not looking into the future. I'm just looking to get better than today. If we keep making steps, we'll get better. I just want us to get better every day, and that's all you can ask for."

For its part, the Bears' offense stepped up its game in terms of yardage since Saturday's first spring scrimmage. After rolling up just over 300 yards in 94 plays five days earlier, Missouri State's white-clad offensive unit tallied 514 yards Thursday in 92 snaps.

Highlighting the day was a 47-yard pass completion from Alex Lawson to LeMarcus Stewart. The eight-play drive concluded with a 21-yard field goal by Marcelo Bonani and was the first scoring series of the day.

Bonani later converted kicks of 21, 27 and 22 yards but narrowly his other attempts, including two over 40 yards. Shelby Harris, however, converted all four of his field goal attempts, including a 32-yarder that capped a three-play scoring drive late in the session.

Penalties wiped out two touchdowns, but one of the two scores that stood up was a three-yard carry by redshirt freshman Jason Randall to finish off a short-field, 18-yard scoring drive. Later, sophomore Calan Crowder wasted little time converting a touchdown run on an 18-yard scamper to paydirt and cap a one-play drive.

All three MSU quarterbacks -- Breck Ruddick, Brodie Lambert and Alex Lawson -- each completed at least 7 passes while keeping the ball away from the defense. Bears' defenders collected one take-away on a fumble and posted 6 sacks, but did not record an interception in a practice that included 40 pass plays.

The Bears will have the weekend off before resuming drills next Monday and conducting three practices prior to the April 11 Maroon and White Game at Plaster Stadium, starting at Noon.

Tailgating for the spring game, which is part of MSU's football alumni weekend, begins at 9 a.m. in the parking lots south of Plaster Stadium -- Lots 22 and 24. Due to other campus activities on the morning of the game, the BearFest Village area north of the stadium will not be utilized for this year's spring game.

 

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