Bears Roll Past Lindenwood in Home Opener

Saturday, September 12

Springfield

6:00 p.m.

Missouri State University

1-1 , 0-0

Lindenwood

1-2 , 1-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Lindenwood	0	0	7	7	14
Missouri St.	14	20	14	0	48

Bears Roll Past Lindenwood in Home Opener

September 12, 2026 | Football

Box Score Final Stats Highlights Postgame Presser Photo Gallery

By: MSU Athletics Communications

SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State racked up 584 yards and 27 first downs to dismantle visiting Lindenwood, 48-14, here Saturday in the home opener for the Bears.

Mo State (1-1) completed 84 percent of its passes on the evening – the second-highest percentage in school history -- with starter Skyler Locklear completing 17-of-20 attempts for 258 aerial yards and a touchdown. He was relieved in the third quarter by Henry Belin IV who was 3-for-4 for 55 yards, while Elijah Leonard finished out the night by completing his only pass attempt for 7 yards.

Isaiah Myers collected a game-high 155 receiving yards on 5 receptions with a touchdown. He also had a 24-yard rushing touchdown to start the MSU scoring on a first-quarter lateral from Locklear to give the Bears the early lead less than five minutes into the game.

Lindenwood (1-2), which was held to just 50 yards in the first half, got 171 yards in total offense from starting QB Pops Battle. Elijah Roy caught 4 passes for 72 yards, including a 32-yard TD reception from Battle on the final score of the fourth quarter.

The Bears led 34-0 at the half, thanks in part to a balanced effort of 188 passing yards from Locklear and 155 ground yards. The Bears featured four rushing scores from four different players in the opening 30 minutes to help pace 17 first downs and 343 yards.

Myers capped an 11-play opening drive for Missouri State with his 24-yard lateral from Locklear before Connor Lair's one-yard carry to paydirt late in the quarter made it 14-0. MSU's second scoring drive was set up by a 42-yard pass from Locklear to Mekhi Miller two plays earlier.

In the second period, Missouri State put up 20 more points in the span of six minutes. Ramone Green Jr. started the production outburst by the home side with a one-yard score he set up himself two plays earlier on an 18-yard rush into the red zone. Less than 90 seconds later, Locklear hit Myers on a 72-yard TD strike on a flea flicker to make it 27-0. Breezy Dubar then capped off the first-half scoring with a 10-yard rush to make it 34-0.

Green added his second TD rush of the night midway through the third quarter to give the Bears their biggest lead of the night, 41-0. Missouri State's opening drive of the second half included 10 plays and covered 69 yards with precision execution from Locklear and company. It was Green's first career multiple-touchdown game.

Belin also led the Bears to a third-quarter scoring drive, knifing through the Lindenwood defense in just 3 plays over 37 seconds before he carried it to paydirt himself from 16 yards out on the final play of the period.

Battle had two second-half TD passes for the Lions to break up the shutout and help the St. Charles squad finish with 223 total yards on the night.

The Bears' defense was led by Bird Lloyd and Jashawn Cooper with 6 tackles apiece. Lloyd racked up a sack and two tackles for loss, while Cooper had a TFL and the game's only interception. Stratton Shufelt added a fumble recovery for the maroon side, while MSU's defense tallied 3.0 sacks, 7.0 tackles for loss and a pair of takeaways.

Missouri State concludes its two-game home stand next Saturday with a nationally-televised matchup against visiting Marshall at 5:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. Tickets for the game are available at MissouriStateBears.com or at the Great Southern Bank Arena Box Office, (417) 836-7678, during regular box office hours.

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