Late Drive Falls Just Short in Hard-Fought Loss to Marshall

Saturday, September 19

Springfield

5:30 p.m.

Missouri State University

1-2 , 0-0

Marshall

2-1 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Marshall	14	3	10	3	30
Missouri St.	10	0	14	0	24

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Late Drive Falls Just Short in Hard-Fought Loss to Marshall

September 19, 2026 | Football

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By: MSU Athletics Communications

SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State quarterback Skyler Locklear led the home-standing Bears on an 86-yard drive on their final possession of the night, but visiting Marshall slammed the door at the 7-yard line to spoil Mo State's comeback hopes in a hard-fought 30-24 loss here Saturday.

Locklear completed 19-of-28 passes for 309 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the night for his third career 300-yard passing game.

The Bears (1-2) outgained Marshall by a 506-464 margin, but Marshall (2-1) chewed up more than 34 minutes in possession time and converted 7-of-13 third downs to sustain several key drives.

On Missouri State's last possession, Ramone Green Jr. accounted for 28 rushing yards before Locklear hit Isaiah Myers for 29 yards to the Marshall 8 yard-line with under 3 minutes to play. After a one-yard pickup by Connor Lair on first down, Locklear tried to connect with Myers in the end zone on consecutive plays before a pass interference penalty on fourth down appeared to give the Bears a new set of downs inside the five.

However, a holding call against MSU on the same play yielded off-setting penalties, and the resulting fourth-down pass was broken up by Javae Gilmore in the end zone to end the MSU threat.

Marshall took over with 1:56 remaining at their own 7-yard line, and the Bears responded with two stellar defensive plays to force a third-and-three at the Marshall 14. But the Thundering Herd responded on a key third-and-three play with a jet sweep by Khalil Wilkins for a game-clinching first down.

Missouri State's final drive was set up by a forced fumble and recovery by Jashawn Cooper and Antonio Smith, respectively, with Marshall driving deep into Bears territory. Mo State took over at its own 7-yard line and covered 86 yards in 11 plays before turning it over on downs at the Marshall seven.

Green was one of Missouri State's top play makers, logging 76 rushing yards on a career-high 15 carries in addition to 28 receiving yards on a pair of receptions. Myers was Locklear's top target on the night, reeling in a career-high 7 receptions for 141 yards.

MSU's Bird Lloyd led all players with 13 tackles to match his career high and eclipsing double-figure stops for the fourth time in six games.

Marshall QB Carlos Del Rio-Wilson completed 16-of-25 passes for 176 yards and a TD, in addition to 73 rushing yards and a ground score to lead the visitors.

The official attendance of 16,010 was the fourth-best in stadium history.

After Marshall scored on its opening drive of the second half to lead 24-10, Missouri State allowed just two field goals the rest of the night. The Bears chipped away with a one-yard touchdown rush by Breezy Dubar to cap a 75-yard drive by the home club to make it 24-17. Mo State then answered a 32-yard field goal by Jorge Diaz-Nichols with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Locklear to Jeron Askren late in the third quarter to make it 27-24.

Missouri State's defense held strong again early in the fourth quarter to stop the Thundering Herd at the Bears' 13-yard line. Diaz-Nichols converted a 31-yard attempt to make it 30-24 and keep coach Casey Woods' squad in the hunt.

In the first half, the Bears outgained Marshall by a 255-241 margin, but the Thundering Herd mounted scoring drives on its first three possessions of the night to build a 17-10 lead at the midway point.

Missouri State got a 25-yard field goal from Yousef Obeid at the 5:45 mark of the first quarter before putting up a 38-yard touchdown reception from Locklear to Witt Edwards on the final possession of the opening frame.

The Bears got as close as the Marshall 5-yard line on their final possession of the half before settling for a 22-yard field goal by Obeid which Marshall blocked.

The Bears will conclude nonconference play next Saturday with an 8 p.m. kickoff at No. 16 SMU in Dallas on ACC Network. After an Oct. 8 CUSA opener at Western Kentucky, Mo State returns to Plaster Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 14 vs. Kennesaw State at 6:30 p.m. for another national telecast.

Tickets for the Kennesaw State game are available now at MissouriStateBears.com or by visiting the Great Southern Bank Arena Box Office, (417) 836-7678, during regular box office hours.

#GoBears.