Aug. 27, 2015
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Missouri State continued to fine tune it's game in preparation for the Bears' Sept. 5 season opener at Memphis Thursday (Aug. 27) afternoon at Robert W. Plaster Stadium. Calan Crowder provided one the few highlights against a stout Bears defense, bursting up the gut for a 51-yard touchdown scamper for one of just two scoring plays turned in by MSU offensive units.
After forcing three takeaways in their last scrimmage Saturday, the Bears defense was tough on its opposition again in the final preseason intrasquad tussle of the preseason, holding the offense to just 157 total rushing yards on 45 carries -- just 3.5 yards per attempt. Phoenix Johnson scored on a 10-yard run late in the 80-play scrimmage, while the MSU defense gave up just 2.2 yards per attempt on the other 43 offensive carries.
Brodie Lambert engineered the late scoring drive with six completions on the series which helped the offense rack up 223 yards through the air overall. Lambert and fellow quarterback Breck Ruddick combined to complete 77 percent of their pass attempts, despite being under frequent pressure from a defensive front that recorded five sacks--four by defensive linemen--on the afternoon.
Senior kicker Marcelo Bonani accounted for the only other scoring by booting a 45-yard field goal try, while Shelby Harris converted both of his PAT attempts.
MSU opens its 2015 campaign next Saturday (Sept. 5) with a 6 p.m. game against preseason American Athletic Conference favorite Memphis at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, then returns to Plaster Stadium the following weekend to open the home slate against Chadron State.
Season tickets packages for the Bears' 2015 five-game home schedule start at $50 for reserved bleachers with reserved bleacher-back seat packages for $80 and upper-level chair-back seats for $100. Discounted season packages are available for Missouri State faculty and staff, and families, beginning at just $25.
Single-game tickets, which start at just $10 for an adult bleacher seat, are also available online at MissouriStateBears.com/Tickets, by calling (417) 836-7678, or visiting the JQH Arena ticket office during normal box office hours.
