Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Missouri State

Game Week 6 FB

Grid Bears Return Home for Key Valley Matchup vs. SIU

October 03, 2022

#19 Missouri State Bears (2-3, 0-2 MVFC) vs. #17 Southern Illinois Salukis (3-2, 2-0 MVFC)
Date and Time Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022 | 2:02 p.m. (Central)
Location Robert W. Plaster Stadium (17,500) | Springfield, Mo.
Promotions Springfield Public Schools Ticket Promo | Future Bears Kids Club Membership Drive
BearFest Village Tailgating Starts at 11:00 a.m. 
Game Information Stadium Procedures | Shop BearWear | Tailgating & BearFest Village | Weather | FCS Top 25 Polls
Program Digital Program
Tickets MissouriStateBears.com | (417) 836-7678 | Stadium Box Office Opens at 10 a.m. on Game Day
Radio KWTO (101.3 FM) (Corey Riggs, Dennis Heim) | MSU Radio Network | Listen Live
Television ESPN+ (Don West, Tom Mast) | Watch
Series Series tied, 22-22 | Last Meeting: MSU 38, SIU 28 (10/6/22) | Final Stats
Live Stats Live Stats
Game Notes Missouri State | Southern Illinois | MVFC | MSU Media Guide
Follow Athletics Facebook | Athletics Twitter | Football Facebook | Football Twitter | Instagram | Petrino Weekly Presser | #MSUBears | #BearsUnite | #WakeTheBears | @MoStateFootball
Up Next Missouri State will travel to UNI on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 4:00 p.m. | Tickets

First and Ten
  • Missouri State returns to Robert W. Plaster Stadium this week to take on long-time rival Southern Illinois (2 p.m., ESPN+) in a game that marks the midway point in the regular season for the Bears. MoState is 8-2 in its last 10 home games and 6-2 under head coach Bobby Petrino in home Valley contests.
  • The Bears are coming off their third turnover-free game of the 2022 season. Missouri State ranks 10th nationally in fewest turnovers (4) and 11th in fewest interceptions (2) this season. Southern Illinois shares the national lead in fewest total turnovers (2) this season, which leads the MVFC.
  • The series between the Bears and Salukis dates back to 1965 and is knotted up, 22-22. Missouri State has won 4 of the last 6 meetings overall against SIU, including a "walk-off" 30-27 victory on March 27, 2021 in the last meeting between the teams in Springfield. Jose Pizano's 33-yard field goal as time expired lifted MSU to victory.
  • Linebacker Von Young (So., Buckner, Mo.) is coming off a career-high (and game-high) 12 tackles in last week's game at North Dakota, the most total stops by a Bears defender this season. Young also snagged a key 13-yard interception in the second quarter that led to a Bears touchdown four plays later.
  • Jason Shelley (Sr., Frisco, Texas) has thrown a touchdown pass in 10 straight games, which matches Jay Rodgers' (1999) club record. In just 2 seasons (17 games) in Springfield, Shelley also ranks 5th on MSU's career TD passes list (33), 5th in passing yards (4,723) and 7th in total offense (5,233).
  • Shelley starts this week ranked in the top 20 nationally in eight categories: 8th in passing yards (1,376*); 10th in passing yards per game (275.2*); 12th in passing touchdowns (12*); 12th in total offense (288.8*); 17th in points responsible (78*); 18th in yards per attempt (8.34); and 19th in points responsible per game (15.6*). The 2021 MVFC Offensive Player of the Year also leads the MVFC this season above categories marked with (*).  
  • Milestone Updates: Kevin Ellis is 9 tackles away from 200 for his career (47g) and 1 sack away from 20 ... Jose Pizano is 4 points away from 200 (only 6 MSU players have ever reached 200) ... Ty Scott is 7 receptions away from 100 (17g) (achieved 15 times in program history) ... Jason Shelley is 6 completions from 500 career (38g).
  • With teams avoiding kickoffs to Montrae Braswell (55.0 KO return avg.), D'Vontae Key (So., Raytown, Mo.) has emerged as a national leader in that area, ranking 16th nationally and 2nd in the MVFC with a 24.6 average. As a team, MSU ranks 11th nationally in kickoff returns (25.31). 
  • With a 44.62 career average, All-American punter Grant Burkett (So., Joplin, Mo.) is the active leader among all FCS punters and is on pace to surpass the MVFC career record (currently held by NDSU's Ben LeCompte - 44.55). His 45.4 average this season ranks 6th nationally and leads the MVFC.
  • The Bears' defense ranks 23rd nationally in turnover margin (+0.6), and 32nd in third-down efficiency (.339).
  • In last week's game at North Dakota, Jose Pizano (Lehi, Utah) tied Travis Brawner's (1997-99) school record with his 51st consecutive successful PAT attempt. He currently ranks 4th among all FCS players in field goals made per game (1.41) and is 5th in career points per game (7.3).
  • Missouri State's offense has high national ranks in: 13th in passing offense (275.2), 20th in pass efficiency (152.66), 28th in yards per completion (13.23). The Bears lead the MVFC in passing offense.
  • Running back Jacardia Wright (So., Decatur, Ill.) had 97 yards on 12 carries in last week's game at North Dakota, averaging 8.1 yards per carry. He is beginning to emerge nationally, ranking 34th in rushing yards (355) and 51st in rushing yards per game (71.0), which rank 5th and 7th, respectively in The Valley.
  • Montrae Braswell (CB, Avon Park, Fla.) enters this week ranked 3rd among all active FCS players (and MVFC leader) in career passes defended (37). He is 5 behind active leader Anthony Adams of Portland St. (42) and 2 behind Ferlando Jordan (Southeastern La.) with 39. In 38 career games (including time at Central Michigan), Braswell has 8 interceptions and 29 pass break-ups. 
  • Missouri State has been ranked in at least one of the two major FCS Top 25 polls for 25 straight weeks..   
Coach Bobby Petrino
  • Bobby Petrino is in his third season as Missouri State's head football coach after joining the Bears program on January 16, 2020. He is currently 134-68 (.663) in his 17th season as a head coach and is 15-12 (.556) at Missouri State, including an 8-4 ledger at Plaster Stadium and 7-8 road record. As Bears head coach, Petrino is 11-5 in MVFC games (6-2 at home). Petrino is 2-0 all-time against Southern Illinois. 
  • He picked up his 75th career conference victory on Oct. 2, 2021 at Illinois State and his 130th all-time win on Nov. 6, 2021 at Southern Illinois.
  • Petrino's second season in Springfield in the fall of 2021 was even more impressive than his debut campaign. The Bears finished 14th in both the AFCA and Stats Perform final polls, while rolling to a 6-2 league record and runner-up finish in the MVFC. In addition, the Bears made a second straight appearance in the NCAA FCS Playoffs, while Petrino tied for 11th in the final voting for the Eddie Robinson Award for FCS National Coach of the Year.
  • The Bears boasted a dozen all-conference players in 2021 with QB Jason Shelley earning MVFC Offensive Player of the Year and MVFC Newcomer of the Year laurels. Five other MoState players earned All-America distinction in 2021.
  • During his debut in 2020-21, Petrino helped lead the Bears to a 5-1 mark in Valley 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.
  • In August 2021, ESPN ranked Petrino No. 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 34th 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 eight 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.  
Series History
  • In a rivalry that dates back to 1965, the Bears and Southern Illinois have split the series, 22-22. The Bears are 12-9 in Springfield, 10-12 in Carbondale and 0-1 in St. Louis [1968] vs. the Salukis. The Bears have won four of the last six meetings, including a "walk-off" 30-27 victory in Springfield last spring (3/27/21) on Jose Pizano's 33-yard field goal as time expired. MSU has scored 30 or more points in five of the last six contests between the clubs. 
  • Last season in Carbondale (11/6/21), Missouri State erupted for 28 second-half points and racked up 480 yards of total offense to take down No. 7-ranked Southern Illinois. QB Jason Shelley led the MSU resurgence, throwing for 243 yards and accounting for 3 touchdowns – one passing and two rushing. The Bears trailed 13-10 at the half, surviving three turnovers and seven sacks by the SIU defense in the opening 30 minutes.
  • Bobby Petrino's troops shook off the halftime deficit with three unanswered touchdown drives to start the second-half scoring, building a 31-13 lead with 12 minutes left in the game. Shelley's second rushing touchdown of the game, a 14-yard scamper, made it a 17-13 game late in the third quarter. The Bears then pushed ahead 24-13 on the second play of the final period on a one-yard TD carry from Tobias Little to make it 24-13. Then, just under three minutes into the final period, Kevon Latulas found a seam from his own 13 yard line and turned it up field, virtually untouched, for an 87-yard touchdown run -- the 6th-longest run from scrimmage in school history.  | Final Stats

Print Friendly Version

Sponsors