HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jacob Clark engineered a thrilling 80-yard, game-winning scoring drive late in the fourth quarter here Saturday to lift visiting Missouri State to a 21-20 comeback win over Marshall and secure the Bears' first-ever win as an FBS program.
 
With less than four minutes left in the game, Clark's 55-yard pass to Ramone Green Jr., on third-and-14, set up the game-winning touchdown for Missouri State three plays later. Subsequent Clark completions to Makai Cope to the Marshall eight-yard line and an eight-yard TD strike to tight end Jeron Askren gave the Bears the go-ahead score and the win. Yousef Obeid's extra point added the exclamation point for the visitors.
 
It was Askren's first career touchdown and capped a 359-yard passing performance for Clark, the fifth-best single-game total and ninth 300-yard game of his career.
 
Missouri State (1-1) trailed 20-7 midway through the third quarter before mounting the dramatic road comeback.
 
MSU's game-winning drive was made possible after Marshall kicker Lorcan Quinn bounced a 26-yard field goal attempt off the right upright with 7:37 to play, keeping it a 20-14 game. The missed attempt spoiled a 73-yard drive by Marshall (0-2) but was highlighted by a huge red zone stand by Missouri State's defense.
 
The Bears took the ball back at their own 20 and survived two sacks on the game-winning, nine-play drive with Clark completing 5-of-5 passes on the excursion. A third-and-six completion to Tristian Gardner moved the chains to the MSU 31 three plays before Clark hit Green down the right side for 55 yards to the Marshall 18.
 
Clark finished 22-of-32 with 3 touchdown passes and a 187.7 QB rating. He also pulled in a 29-yard pass reception – the first of his career.
 
After Quinn's 33-yard field goal with 9:08 to play in the third quarter gave Marshall a 20-7 lead, the Bears took just 63 seconds to start their move. A 19-yard pass from Clark to Cope moved the chains to begin the march, and two plays later, Clark's 52-yard TD strike to Jmariyae Robinson drew the visitors within 20-14.
 
The Bears' defense stepped up on Marshall's next drive, forcing what appeared to be a three-and-out before they ultimately stuffed a fake punt to take over at the Thundering Herd 34. From there, Clark moved the Bears all the way to the Marshall one-yard line where the visitors were knocking on the door for a go-ahead score.
 
However, MSU fumbled on the very next play to move back to the five, before the visitors were flagged for their third offensive pass interference penalty of the game on the ensuing play. Moved back to their own 20, MoState had to eventually settle for a field goal attempt, but Obeid's 40-yard try missed just right with Marshall dodging MSU's first attempt to push ahead late in the third.
 
The teams would exchange punts from there, before Marshall's missed field goal midway through the final stanza gave the Bears fresh hope and an opporunity they would soon take full advantage of.
 
Green finished with a game-high 123 receiving yards on 4 receptions, while Robinson had 85 yards on 3 catches. Shomari Lawrence added 49 ground yards on 17 carries to lead the Bears' ground attack.
 
Marshall's Zion Turner completed 13-of-24 passes for 83 yards and added 60 ground yards for the Thundering Herd.
 
MSU's Kanye Young led Missouri State with 7 total tackles and added a game-clinching interception on Marshall's final drive of the night.
 
Missouri State outgained Marshal 474-274 on the night, converting 18 first downs to 12 by the home club. The Bears' defense also held Marshall to 3-of-15 on third down and controlled the clock to the tune of 34:34.

In addition to being Missouri State's first win as an FBS program, it also marked the Bears' first win over an FBS foe since 1990 (UNLV).
 
In the first half, the Bears built an early lead but trailed 17-7 at the intermission. MoState demonstrated its ability to move the football and come up with key defensive stops, outgaining the Herd by a 220-152 margin and forcing Marshall into three straight three-and-outs to start the game.
 
MoState also manufactured the game's first scoring drive, jumping out to a 7-0 lead on a 57-yard TD strike from Clark to Green on a third-and-long play with 13:57 to play in the second quarter.
 
Marshall responded with a touchdown drive of its own, capping a 75-yard series on a 14-yard scramble to paydirt by Turner to knot things up, 7-7, at the 11:07 mark.
 
The home club then pushed ahead 14-7 at the 3:36 mark on a 37-yard run by Justin Williams Thomas on a fourth-and-one play. The go-ahead score would not have taken place were it not for an unfortunate personal foul against MSU earlier in the 10-play drive after the Bears appeared to have a three-and-out stop before a personal foul penalty sustained Marshall's possession.
 
Marshall tacked on a 50-yard field goal by Quinn with 44 seconds left in the half that capitalized on a Clark interception moments earlier – MSU's only turnover of the opening game.
 
The Bears return to Robert W. Plaster Stadium next Saturday for their home opener against No. 17 SMU (1-1) at 2:30 p.m. Tickets for the FBS home debut are available online at MissouriStateBears.com or at the Missouri State Box office at Great Southern Bank Arena, (417) 836-7678, during regular box office hours.

To celebrate the victory, Missouri State is offering $21 bleacher tickets (after fees) for next week's game against SMU, until 5 p.m. Monday. CLICK HERE to take advantage of the victory special.  Likewise, online tickets for all home games will be 20-percent off until Friday.