Aug. 22, 2015
Stec Interview | Season Tickets | Tickets for Home Opener
SPRINGFIELD - With the season opener at Memphis just two weeks away, the Missouri State football Bears took to the field at Robert W. Plaster Stadium on Saturday morning for the squad's final full preseason intrasquad scrimmage.
Deion Holliman scored two touchdowns, both on passes from Breck Ruddick, to lead the offense which collected just over 400 yards in 92 plays. Holliman's first score came on a 26-yard play in the first half to cap a 10-play, 75-yard march down the field. The tandem latter connected from 18 yards out in a short-field situation for the second score of the morning.
The only other score came on an athletic snag in the corner of the end zone by Malik Earl who hauled in a 2-yard TD pass from Brodie Lambert.
On the defensive side of the ball, Sean Bernard and Dylan Cole both snagged interceptions, while James Barnes recovered a fumble as part of three take-aways for the white-clad defenders.
"Our offense has done a phenomenal job of protecting the football so far, but our defense got two interceptions and a fumble recovery today," said head coach Dave Steckel. "So it's a double-edged sword. I can't wait to play somebody else so we just have one sword and we're poking somebody else with it."
The rest of Saturday's scoring came from kickers Marcelo Bonani and Shelby Harris who combined for four field goals in regulation before they both split the uprights on 39-yard attempts on the final two "tie-breaking" plays of the day.
Harris collected three other field goals, the first of which was a 25-yarder in the first half to finish off a 65-yard scoring drive with the first-string offense that consumed just 4 plays. He also connected on kicks from 19 and 31 yards.
Bonani also scored a 29-yard field goal to cap a short scoring drive for the second-team offense in the second half.
Steckel said the club's final scrimmage included some nice plays on both sides of the ball, and he is excited about what he saw today.
"I think we're getting better," he said. "I'm really encouraged with a lot of things we've seen. I really like the competition out there today."
After the scrimmage, Steckel introduced his 2015 team captains to the squad with junior Cole joining seniors Barnes and Eric Christophel with the elite captain honors.
Fans can meet Stec and his inaugural MSU team on Sunday afternoon with a free Meet the Bears event just north of the stadium in BearFest Village. The event begins at 2:15 p.m., and includes autographs, free ice cream and soft drinks, games, entertainment and giveaways for Bears fans of all ages.
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