GAME NINE - #17 Missouri State Bears (6-2, 4-0 MVFC) vs. Southern Illinois Salukis (2-6, 0-4 MVFC)
Date and Time	Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 | 2:02 p.m. (Central)
Stadium Info	Robert W. Plaster Stadium (17,500) | Springfield, Mo. Parking Map | Bag Policy | Tailgating Info
Promotions	Hosting Heroes Day | 2024 Promo Calendar
Tickets	MissouriStateBears.com/tickets | (417) 836-7678 | Stadium Box Office Opens at 10 a.m.
Radio	KWTO (101.3 FM) (Art Hains, Corey Riggs) | Bears Radio Network | Varsity Network App
Television	ESPN+ / MC22 (Don West, Tom Mast) | Watch
Tailgating / Pregame	Tailgating & BearFest Village (Opens at 11:00 a.m.)
Game Information	Shop BearWear | Weather | FCS Top 25 Polls
Coverage	Ryan Beard Weekly Presser | MoState Update / Audio Clips | Thunder and Lightning Lead Way for Win at UNI
Program	Digital Program
Series	Southern Illinois leads 24-22 | Last Meeting: SIU 33, MSU 20 (9/30/23) | Final Stats
Live Stats	Live Stats
Game Notes	Missouri State | Southern Illinois | MVFC Notebook | MSU Media Guide
Bears Mobile App	App Store (Apple Devices) | Google Play Store (Android Devices)
Follow	Athletics Facebook | Athletics Twitter | Football Facebook | Football Twitter | Instagram | #GoBears | #OutHitOut Hustle | @MoStateFootball

Accessibility
Missouri State University is committed to providing an accessible and supportive environment for those with disabilities. To request reasonable disability accommodations, contact the Deputy Compliance Officer at (417) 836-6755 or DeputyComplianceOfficer@MissouriState.edu.

First and Ten Notes

• The nationally-ranked Missouri State football Bears return to Robert W. Plaster Stadium on Saturday to take on long-time rival Southern Illinois at 2 p.m. It will be MSU's annual Hosting Heroes Day with veterans, first responders and active military receiving free admission.
• Missouri State is one of two teams still unbeaten in MVFC play, along with North Dakota State. MSU's 6-game win streak is its longest since Oct. 27, 2001 to Sept. 7, 2002. It also matches the 6th-longest active streak in the FCS ranks headed into this week's competition. The Bears are ranked in the official FCS top 25 poll for the fourth straight week, checking in at No. 17 this week in the AFCA rankings as well as No. 8 in MasseyRatings.com.
• A Missouri State win against Southern Illinois would give the Bears a:  
          - 5-0 start in conference play for the first time since 1989 (coach Jesse Branch)
          - 7-2 overall start for the first time since 1990 (8-1 start under coach Jesse Branch)
          - 7-game winning streak for the first time since 1990 (coach Jesse Branch)
          - 5-game home winning streak for the first time since 2021 (coach Bobby Petrino)
• MoState is 16-5 in its last 21 home games (12-4 vs. Valley foes) and has scored two or more touchdowns 20 times in that span, dating back to March 13, 2021. The Bears have also scored 30 or more points 16 times in that run. MSU has won 4 straight home contests and has cemented its fourth straight winning home season.
• Three-time MVFC Offensive Player of the Week Jacob Clark (Sr., Rockwall, Texas) has passed for 250 yards or more in all 8 games this season, eclipsing 300 yards 5 times. He needs 1 passing TD to reach 30 for his career, a feat done just 7 times in MSU history.  See p. 6 for Clark national rankings.
• MSU tight end Lance Mason (Jr., Rockwall, Texas) leads the MVFC in yards per reception (19.74) and is 3rd in The Valley in receiving touchdowns (6), which is 16th nationally. He is the top-ranked tight end nationally in both categories. Mason has 6 pass receptions of 25 yards or better this season.  
• With last week's win at Northern Iowa, the Bears completed their first unbeaten October since 1990. 
• Cash Hudson (So., Tulsa, Okla.) was named this week's MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week after anchoring an MSU unit that rolled up 575 total yards, 300 ground yards, 49 points, and 28 first downs. He had a 98 percent assignment grade, 96 percent effort grade, and 90 percent technique grade for the week.
• Jacardia Wright (Sr., Decatur, Ill.) has 438 carries for 2,025 yards and 26 touchdowns in 28 games as a Bear. He recently became the 11th Missouri State player to rack up 2,000 career rushing yards, while his 26 rushing scores is tied for 5th on MSU's career list. He ranks 9th nationally in rushing touchdowns (11).
• The Bears rank 21st nationally (3rd in the MVFC) in home attendance average (11,013).
• MoState's defense ranks in the top 25 nationally in the following: 7th in sacks (2.88); 12th in defensive touchdowns (2); 19th in turnover margin (0.75); 25th in fumble recoveries (6); and 25th in takeaways (13). The Bears are 1st in the MVFC in sacks and are 2nd in the other five categories.
• MSU is coming off its first 300-yard rushing game since Oct 28, 2017 (339 yards vs. Indiana State). 
• Standout LB Tahj Chambers (Sr., Arlington, Texas) is 3rd in the MVFC (32nd nationally) in tackles per game (8.4), while DL Jalen Williams (Sr., Overland Park, Kan.) is 4th in The Valley in sacks per game (0.63). 
• The Bears have scored 40 or more points in 3 consecutive games, a feat not achieved by the Bears since 2003 (under coach Randy Ball). Missouri State has never scored 40 points in 4 straight games. 
• MoState's offense ranks in the FCS top 15 in the following categories: 3rd in completion percentage (.719); 5th in passing offense (317.8); 5th in pass efficiency (176.65); 9th in third-down efficiency (.494); 11th in total offense (444.9); 12th in scoring offense (36.4); 12th in red zone efficiency (.909); 14th in yards per completion (13.82); and 14th in fewest turnovers (7). MSU leads The Valley in passing offense and total offense.

Series History

• In a rivalry that dates back to 1965, Southern Illinois leads the all-time series, 24-22. The Bears are 12-10 in Springfield, 10-13 in Carbondale and 0-1 in St. Louis [1968] vs. the Salukis. The Bears have won four of the last eight meetings, including a "walk-off" 30-27 victory in Springfield on 3/27/21 with Jose Pizano's 33-yard field goal as time expired. MSU has scored 30 or more points in five of the last eight contests between the clubs. 
• Last year in Carbondale (9/30/23), No. 10 Southern Illinois rode the arm of quarterback Nic Baker to a 33-20 win in a game the Bears lingered but were unable to catch the Salukis. Baker finished 25-of-35 for 285 yards and a touchdown. Missouri State posted 336 yards of total offense and 23 first downs but had to fight through an injury to starting QB Jacob Clark late in the second quarter. A tenacious SIU defense held the Bears to 31 rushing yards on 27 carries and racked up 4 sacks. After trailing 23-13 at the intermission, the Bears closed the gap to 23-20 late in the third quarter on a pass from Jordan Pachot to Hunter Wood from 31 yards out. The drive included a key 26-yard completion to J'mariyae Robinson on third-and-18. A Saluki personal foul extended the drive to the 31 before back-to-back passes to Hunter Wood drew the Bears within three points of the lead at the 5:45 mark of the third. It would be as close as the Bears would get as the home club responded with a 65-yard drive of its own. Baker's 19-yard TD pass to Aidan Quinn with 1:57 left in the third pushed the Salukis' lead back to 10. | Final Stats
• In the last meeting in Springfield (10/8/22), MSU jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first eight minutes, but the visitors rallied for 38 unanswered points to stun the 19th-ranked Bears, 38-21. MSU accumulated 144 yards in the opening quarter, using a 10-yard touchdown run by Jacardia Wright and a five-yard scoring pass from Jason Shelley to Carson Buddemeyer to take the early lead. But the Salukis stormed back with a vengeance, outgaining the Bears 364-29 in the second and third quarters combined and reeled off five touchdowns and a field goal to lead 38-14 heading into the final quarter. SIU's Nic Baker was an efficient 21-of-30 for 253 yards and a pair of touchdowns. | Final Stats

Coach Ryan Beard

• Missouri State University officially presented Ryan Beard as its new head football coach on Dec. 19, 2022. At the time of his hire, Beard was the program's youngest coach on record and was the 22nd person to hold the football Bears' top coaching position. Beard is 10-9 overall in his second season as MSU head coach (0-1 vs. Southern Illinois).
• His elevation to head coach came on the heels of three seasons as defensive coordinator (2020-22) at Missouri State under former head coach Bobby Petrino.
• In his inaugural head coaching season, Beard guided the Bears to a 4-7 overall record and a 3-5 ledger in the MVFC. The team's strong November surge included and a 35-16 home win over No. 18-ranked Northern Iowa.
• The 2023 Bears finished No. 5 in the nation in passing offense (300.3), No. 7 in pass efficiency (158.77), 26th in total offense (400.8) and 31st in scoring (29.8).  
• Missouri State was rewarded with seven All-MVFC selections in Beard's first campaign as head coach, including first-teamers Grant Burkett (P) and Raylen Sharpe (WR). Sharpe finished fourth in the MVFC Offensive Player of the Year voting. Likewise, Burkett (second team) and Sharpe (third team) were named to the Associated Press FCS All-America Team, while the Bears also boasted three Phil Steele Freshman All-America honorees, including first-teamers Cash Hudson (OL) and Avery Powell (CB).
• At season's end, Beard was named to the American Football Coaches Association's exclusive 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute. 
• During his three seasons as MSU's defensive coordinator, Beard played a significant role in the team's resurgence, managing a defensive unit that boasted 18 all-conference selections, four All-Americans and three professional players in his tenure at MoState.
• Before coming to Missouri State, Beard spent the 2019 season at Central Michigan as the special teams and safeties coach for head coach Jim McElwain. He joined the Central Michigan staff in February of 2019 and helped lead the Chippewas to an 8-6 campaign on a defensive secondary that created 13 interceptions.
• Beard served as an assistant at Louisville during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, starting as the defensive backs coach and in quality control before moving on to become the Cardinals' linebackers coach and their co-special teams coordinator. As the DB coach at WKU (2016), Beard was part of a CUSA championship Boca Raton Bowl win. 
• He was a standout defensive back at Western Kentucky himself from 2007-11. He was a two-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection and was named to the league's All-Freshman squad and its All-Academic team. A native of Bowling Green, Ky., Beard was a four-year letterman at Bowling Green High for coach Kevin Wallace, where his efforts helped the Purples advance to the state 3A championship contest each of his last two years.
• Beard, 35, holds two degrees from Western Kentucky: a bachelor of science in Business Management (2012), and a master of science in Recreation and Sport Administration (2014).
• He is married to the former Katie Petrino. The couple have four children with son Beau and daughter Lainey, in addition to twins Jacob and Kailey born in the spring of 2022.