Saturday, November 20
St. George, Utah
8:00 p.m.
Missouri State University
at
Dixie State
Game Preview: No. 14 Bears Wrap Regular-Season at Dixie State
November 15, 2021 | Football
| #14 Missouri State Bears (7-3, 6-2 MVFC) at Dixie State (1-9) | |
| Date and Time | Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021 | 8:05 p.m. (Central) |
| Location | Greater Zion Stadium (10,000) | St. George, Utah |
| Game Information | Weather |
| Tickets | Order Tickets Online |
| Radio | KWTO (101.3 FM) (Art Hains, Dennis Heim) | MSU Radio Network | Listen Live |
| Television | ESPN+ (Devin Dixon, Andy Thompson) | Watch |
| Series | First Meeting |
| Live Stats | Live Stats |
| Game Notes | Missouri State | Dixie State | MVFC | MSU Media Guide |
| Follow | Athletics Facebook | Athletics Twitter | Football Facebook | Football Twitter | Instagram | Bears Weekly Presser | #MSUBears | #BearsUnite | @MoStateFootball |
| Up Next | The 2021 NCAA FCS Playoff Selection Show is Sunday (Nov. 21) at 11:30 a.m. on ESPNU |
First and Ten
- Missouri State closes out its regular-season Saturday when the No. 14 Bears travel to FCS Independent Dixie State for an 8 p.m. (Central) kickoff against the Trailblazers in St. George, Utah. The Bears enter the week with the No. 2 strength of schedule according to Massey and the No. 6 according to WarrenNolan -- both tops among ranked FCS programs.
- The Bears concluded their regular-season home slate last week vs. UNI by winning their 7th straight home contest. Missouri State was unbeaten at home (5-0) during the regular season for the first time since 2010 and averaged 11,173 in home attendance, which currently ranks 18th among all FCS programs.
- Bears quarterback Jason Shelley (Frisco, Texas) played last season at Utah State and began his college football career at Utah before coming to Missouri State. He has played in 12 career games in the state of Utah. He is this week's MVFC Offensive Player of the Week and is on the Walter Payton Award Watch List.
- The Bears also have Utah connections in kicker Jose Pizano (Lehi, Utah), who played at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, and TE Ron Tiavaasue (Auckland, New Zealand) who also played at Snow. Bears tight ends coach Nelson Fishback was an assistant coach at Snow College before coming to Missouri State.
- The Bears defense has forced 3 turnovers in six different games this season while ranking 4th nationally in takeaways (22) and 9th in interceptions (9).
- Jason Shelley (QB, Frisco, Texas) is coming off his 10th straight 200-yard passing game to start his Missouri State career, a Bears season record, racking up 320 passing yards and accounting for three touchdowns in Saturday's win over No. 20 Northern Iowa. He also eclipsed Jay Rodgers' (1999) MSU single-season passing record with 2,817 yards through his first 10 games. Shelley's next start will be the 20th of his career.
- For the first time since 1990 (10 games), the Bears have scored 30 or more points in 8 different games. MSU has hit the 30-point plateau in 8 of its last 9 games overall and ranks 23rd nationally in scoring (32.5).
- The Bears are shooting for their first 8-win season since 1990 (9-3).
- Shelley ranks 10th nationally in total offense (313.4*); 10th in yards per completion (14.1); 11th in passing yards (2,817), 12th in passing yards per game (281.7); 14th in points responsible for (164*), 23rd in passing TDs (18); 23rd in passing efficiency (144.9) and 25th in completions per game (20.0). (*Leads MVFC).
- WR Tyrone Scott (Estill, S.C.) has 8 receiving TDs and five 100+ yard receiving performances this season, both MSU season records. He ranks 14th nationally in receiving yards (865), 15th in receiving TDs (8) and 18th in receiving yds per game (86.5). He is 48 yards shy of Jermaine Saffold's 2011 season receiving yards record (913).
- The Missouri State offense ranks 4th nationally in 3rd-down efficiency (.473)*; 10th in yards per completion (14.0); 11th in first downs (230); 11th in red zone offense (.900); 15th in passing (284.3); 21st in time of possession (32:12); 23rd in total offense (427.1); and 23rd in scoring (32.5). (*leads MVFC)
- Grant Burkett (P, Joplin, Mo.) ranks 1st in the MVFC and 5th nationally in punting average (46.4), while helping the Bears rank 3rd nationally in net punting (42.35). He has 13 punts this season of 50 yards or more.
- Jose Pizano (K, Lehi, Utah) leads the MVFC and ranks 3rd nationally in field goals per game (1.80). He also ranks 13th nationally in scoring (8.9) and 11th in FG accuracy (.857). His season FG total (18) is the 3rd-best in MSU history. He has also converted 11 straight FG attempts, the second-longest streak in Missouri State history.
- The Bears have scored on their opening drive in 5 straight games (2 TDs, 3 FGs) while MSU opponents have punted or turned the ball over on their opening drive 6 straight games and 8-of-10 games on the season.
- Montrae Braswell (CB, Avon Park, Fla.) is coming off his 4th interception of the season in last week's win vs. UNI. He ranks 15th nationally in interceptions (0.4) and 20th in passes defended (1.2). He also ranks 5th nationally in kickoff return average (30.2), which leads the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
- The NCAA FCS Playoff Selection Show will air Sunday at 11:30 a.m. (Central) on ESPNU.
- Bobby Petrino is in his second season as Missouri State's head football coach after joining the Bears program on January 16, 2020. He is currently 131-64 (.672) in his 16th season as a head coach and is 12-8 at Missouri State, including a 7-2 ledger at Plaster Stadium and 5-6 road record. As Bears head coach, Petrino is now 11-3 in Valley games (6-1 at home). He is 0-0 all-time against Dixie State.
- He picked up his 75th career conference victory on Oct. 2 at Illinois State and his 130th all-time win on Nov. 6 at Southern Illinois..
During the 2020-21 season, Petrino helped lead the Bears to a 5-1 mark in Missouri Valley Football Conference play to earn a share of the MVFC regular-season title. His efforts not only landed him the prestigious Bruce Craddock MVFC Coach of the Year Award, but also led the Bears to their first NCAA FCS playoff appearance in 30 years. - ESPN recently ranked Petrino #77 on its Top 100 college football coaches of the last 50 years.
- Petrino previously served as head coach in two stints at Louisville as well as Arkansas and Western Kentucky. He spent 14 seasons at the FBS level and led his programs to 11 bowl appearances with seven teams ranked in the top 25 at season's end.
- The Helena, Mont., native is in his 33rd year of collegiate coaching overall, having guided his programs to AP top-six final rankings three times (2004, 2006, 2011) and directing some of the nation's top offensive programs along the way. His clubs have finished in the top five nationally in scoring offense three times, while his 2004 club at Louisville led the country in scoring (49.8 ppg). He has developed 34 NFL Draft selections during his illustrious career, including four in the first round, and Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson.
- Petrino and his wife Becky have four children: Kelsey, Nick, Bobby and Katie — and six grandchildren. Nick Petrino is Missouri State's offensive coordinator, while sons-in-law Ryan Beard (defensive coordinator) and L.D. Scott (defensive line) are also on the MSU coaching staff this season
- This is the first-ever meeting between Missouri State and Dixie State.
Â
Players Mentioned
CB
/ Football
P
/ Football
K
/ Football
WR
/ Football
QB
/ Football
TE
/ FootballMonday, June 22
Wednesday, June 17
Wednesday, June 17
Wednesday, June 17
