The Missouri Southern football team scored 17 points in the third quarter and the Lions' defense held strong as Southern took out Nebraska-Kearney 34-17 inside Cope Stadium in Kearney, Neb.
The Lions (1-2, 1-2 MIAA) rushed for 374 yards on the ground and held a 430-215 advantage in total offense, averaging 5.7 yards per play. Southern also held a 38:45-21:15 advantage in time of possession, where the Lions had over ten minutes of possession in each of the second and third quarters.
UNK (0-3, 0-3 MIAA) scored two late touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but couldn't overcome the deep hole the Lions' total team effort put the Lopers in, trailing 31-3 at one time.
The Lions forced the Lopers to punt on their opening possession, and Southern drove the length of the field withGiresse Forchu capping off a 10-play, 46-yard drive with a one-yard dive into the endzone.
Kearney picked up a 32-yard field goal with 7:33 left in the second quarter and that would be all the scoring the two teams would account for in the first half.
Southern came out of the locker room and started with a statement. The Lions took the ball on their own three and ran it out ten yards to start the second half on the Southern 13-yard line. After an injury to Jay McDowell left the Lions' starter on the bench, Scott Lathrop came out and ran the offense for the Green and Gold. He hitMichael Nelson for a 17-yard catch in the possession, while Forchu, Nelson, and Chris Jeffries had carries during the drive that culminated in a 35-yard touchdown pass from Lathrop to Anthony Cannon to put the Lions up 14-3.
After the Southern defense forced a three-and-out, the Lions drove to the UNK 18 and Brock Renken hit the first of two field goals for the freshman on the day, this one from 35 yards to put the Lions up 17-3.
Another three-and-out from the Lions' defense led to a score as Jeffries got in on the party and ran for a 27-yard score to put Southern up 24-3 with 3:24 left in the third quarter.
The Lions started the fourth quarter with an 11-play, 72-yard scoring drive that saw Shannon Saunders pick up a five-yard touchdown run to make the score 31-3, Southern.
The Lopers picked up two late touchdowns and Renken hit from 39-yards to make the final tally, 34-17.
The Lions' defense forced five three-and-out situations in the game, including back-to-back in the second half that led to scoring drives on each possession. They held UNK to 0-3 on third down conversions in both the second and third quarters and 4-13 total in the game.
Gaige Washington and Johnquavious McBride led the way with seven tackles each. McBride had a sack, one of four on the day for the Lions. Molik Slade, Dalvin Taylor and Erik McKinnon each had a sack for the Lions, while the team as a whole picked up 12 tackles for a loss.
Offensively, Forchu ran for 110 yards and a score, while Lathrop went 2-8 with 52 yards passing and a touchdown and also rushed for 64 yards on the ground. The Southern offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage, allowing just ten yards lost on the day.
Renken hit 2-3 on the day, connecting from 35 and 39, while going 4-4 on extra points and averaging 61 yards on kickoffs.
The Lions will be back in action next weekend, playing host to Washburn at 6:30 pm from Fred G. Hughes Stadium at the Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex. The game will be part of Hall of Fame Weekend when the Lions will induct four individuals (Tim Doss - Baseball, Brad Cornelsen - Football, Margaret (Miklovic) Lyons - Women's Track and Field, Brian Lyons - Men's Track and Field).
No comments:
Post a Comment