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VERMILLION, S.D. – A late rally by Missouri State came up just short here Saturday as the Bears fell 20-13 against home-standing South Dakota in Missouri Valley Football Conference play.
 
The Bears started the fourth period down 20-3 and found themselves with the ball and down seven with 97 seconds to go. The potential game-winning drive, however, stalled at the MSU 41-yard line on a fourth-and-three incompletion to end the game and MSU's comeback bid.
 
Jason Shelley tied a Bears career record with his 18^th 200-yard passing game, completing 23-of-38 attempts for 233 yards and a touchdown on the afternoon, tying Jeremy Hoog (1994-97). He also extended his club record by throwing a TD pass for the 14th straight game. 

Ty Scott, Naveon Mitchell and Jacardia Wright all had four receptions to lead the sleuth with Wright also rushing 45 yards on 16 carries. 
 
MSU outgained South Dakota 332-327 for the afternoon with both teams accounting for 18 first downs.
 
For its efforts, MSU's defense held a Valley foe to 20 points or less for the second straight week. Kevin Ellis, Ferrin Manuleleua and P.J. Hall led MSU's defense with five total tackles apiece.

It was USD's 6-of-11 third-down conversion ratio that ultimately kept the Coyotes on the field for some key drives and ultimately decided the outcome. Coyotes QB Aidan Bowman was 17-for-25 for 235 yards and two touchdowns. Travis Theis averaged 3.1 yards per carry on 24 attempts to finish with 74 net rushing yards for the home side.
 
The Bears began the contest with a huge takeaway to capture the early momentum. Jamal McMurrin forced and recovered a South Dakota fumble on the first drive of the afternoon, giving Missouri State great field position at the USD 45. The ensuing Bears' series would stall at the three-yard line, but Jose Pizano gave the visitors an early 3-0 advantage with a 20-yard field goal at the 6:18 mark.
 
The Coyotes rebounded on their next drive, converting two key third-down plays on a 67-yard scoring march to take a 7-3 lead. An 11-yard TD rush by Shomari Lawrence capped the nine-play drive late in the opening quarter.
 
The teams volleyed four punts back and forth to start the second period before the Coyotes pulled off the biggest play of the first half. A 44-yard touchdown pass from Bouman to Wesley Elodor on second-and-25 pushed South Dakota ahead 13-3 with less than a minute left in the second quarter. The extra point attempt failed, but MSU was unable to rally before the intermission and took a 10-point deficit into the break.
 
South Dakota extended its lead to 20-3 late in the third quarter, again capitalizing on a timely Bouman pass into the corner of the end zone. HIs 23-yard strike to Carter Bell pushed the home club up by 17 with just over 17 minutes remaining in the contest.
 
But to MSU's credit, it worked back into the fray early in the final period. A four-yard TD strike from Shelley to Mtichell capped a six-minute scoring drive that covered 67 yards and woke the Bears from their scoring slumber. The march included a fourth-and-one completion to Stetson Moore to set the Bears up in the red zone and ultimately gave Mitchell a chance to snag his fourth touchdown reception of the season five plays later.
 
The Bears forced USD into a punt early in the fourth quarter and capitalized with a 60-yard scoring drive to trim their deficit to seven. A 37-yard field goal by Pizano made it a 20-13 game with 2:02 to play. The drive included two key strikes from Shelley to Booker for 28 and 20 yards, respectively, the second of which gave Pizano a chip shot attempt to get MSU within a score of the lead.

Missouri State held USD to a three-and-out punt on the ensuing series and took over on their own 22 with 1:37 to go. But facing a thrid-and-three at their own 41, MoState was unable to convert on third or fourth down, turning the ball over on downs and ending its comeback hopes.

For the game, Missouri State tallied 99 rushing yards on 32 carries and held USD to 92 yards on 31 tries. The passing yards were also congruent with USD holding a narrow 235-233 edge through the air. 

Missouri State (3-6, 2-4 MVFC) did not commit any turnovers, marking the fifth time this season the Bears have played turnover-free football. 

Grant Burkett was also noteworthy for MSU, averaging 45.2 yards on four punts with two downed inside the 20, helping the Bears control field position throughout the game. 

The Bears return home next Saturday (Nov. 12) when they host Youngstown State for senior day.  Tickets for the YSU game are available at MissouriStateBears.com or at the MSU Box Office at Great Southern Bank Arena, (417) 836-7678, during regular box office hours.