The Central Missouri Mules scored 15 unanswered points to force overtime and hit a 33 yard field goal in extra time to take out Missouri Southern 34-31 today at Fred G. Hughes Stadium inside the Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex.
The Lions (2-3, 2-3 MIAA) scored on the game's opening possession, as 53-yards pass from Scott Lathrop toJocqui Davis set up a 12-yard rushing touchdown from Giresse Forchu to put Southern up 7-0. The Southern defense forced a Central (3-2, 3-2 MIAA) punt and the Lions started their next drive at their own two yard line. Forchu capped off a 15-play, 98-yard drive that took 9:02 off the clock with a 22-yard score, putting the Lions up 14-0.
Central answered back in just two plays on its next drive as LaVance Taylor rushed for a 62-yard score to cut the lead in half.
A fumble on the punt attempt from the Lions on their next possession gave Central the ball on the Southern 15-yard line and Hayden Hawk hit Cullen Rosine on the first play to cut the lead to 14-13 after the extra point was missed.
The Lions picked up a 39-yard field goal from Brock Renken to go up 17-13 and after the first of Michael Burks' two interceptions on the day, the Lions converted the turnover to a score when Michael Nelson scored from four-yards out to give the Lions a 24-13 lead. That score would stand going into halftime.
Central added a 27-yard field goal from Will Mondragon with 5:51 left in the third to make the score 24-16, but the Lions added a two-yard rushing score from Forchu, his third of the game, to make the score 31-16 with just under a minute in the third quarter. The Southern defense forced a three and out from Central and got the ball back with 12 seconds left in the quarter. The Lions punted and both teams traded punts until Hawk scored from two yards out to make the score 31-22 and the two-point conversion was good, making the score 31-24.
The Mules forced a four and out from the Lions and scored when Hawk hit Kyle Echols from 18 yards out to tie the game.
The Lions were forced to punt, but kept the Mules at bay on their next possession and the two teams went to overtime. It was the first time a Southern team had played in an overtime game since the 2001 season when Southern win 23-17 over Emporia State in double overtime.
Southern got the ball to start the overtime period and drove to the five-yard line, but were forced back to the ten and fumbled on the next play giving Central the ball and a chance to win. Mondragon hit from 33-yards out to give the Mules the win.
The Lions had a more than 20-minute advantage in time of possession on the game, and out-gained the Mules by 50 yards, but 18-unanswered points from the Mules sealed the Lions' fate.
Lathrop rushed for 93 yards and threw for 87, while Forchu had 89 yards on the ground and three scores. Nelson added a score on the ground and Renken hit a career-long 39-yarder.
Defensively, Breon Matlock had nine tackles, while Michael Burks had two interceptions and a forced fumble.Johnquavious McBride had a fumble recovery, while Eric Dago had a sack.
The Lions will be back in action next weekend when Southern travels to Edmond, Okla. to take on Central Oklahoma. Kickoff from Wantland Stadium is slated for 2:07 pm and the game will be the MIAA TV Game of the Week.
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