Missouri Western slips by MSSU 31-27

(From MSSU Sports)

St. Joseph, Mo. - The Missouri Southern football team got a pair of passing touchdowns from Luke Sampson and 125 yards and a touchdown from Dwayne Lawson on the ground, but the Lions fell just short, 31-27 at Missouri Western.

Southern (4-5, 4-5 MIAA) got a solid game from Sampson in his first collegiate start as he went 12-for-20 with 154 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

"This is what we've prepped him (Luke) for," said head coach Atiba Bradley. "We have been giving him some looks and some series in games and he made the most of his experience."

Dwayne Lawson ran for 125 yards on seven carries, including a huge 80-yard touchdown run that is the longest rush of the season for the Lions.

Nathan Glades had 11 carries for 58 yards, while Ezekiel Lang caught three passes for 83 yards and a score and Chris Boudreaux added a touchdown reception, as well.

Defensively for the Lions, Southern had ten tackles and a pass break up from Richard Jordan Jr. Colton Winder and Coleman Booker had nine and eight tackles, respectively, while Booker added a forced fumble. Romel Readus and Jamie Tago had a sack each, while Shadon Shannon had a fumble recovery.

Western (4-5, 4-5 MIAA) got on top first as the Griffons got a one-yard run from Jared Scott to go up 7-0 with ten minutes to go in the first quarter.

Southern came right back with 13-unanswered as Sampson and Boudreaux hooked up to tie the game and Marlow put the Lions on top 13-7 after a 30-yard score with 1:46 left in the first.

The Griffons picked up a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter to lead 21-13 at the break.

The Lions had the ball to start the second half and after a nine-yard run from Marlow and a two-yard pass from Sampson to Nike Panella, Lawson went off tackle to the left and reeled off an 80-yard touchdown run, the longest play from scrimmage this season for the Lions.

Western went ahead after a 29-yard field goal from Cody Watson made the score 24-21 to end the third and the Griffons added another touchdown, this time a 23-yard score for Scott to go up 31-21 early in the fourth.

Southern took the ball with ten minutes left in the fourth after Booker knocked the ball loose and Shannon recovered at the Western 34-yard line. Sampson wasted no time as on the ensuing play, he hit Lang for a 34-yard score to get Southern within four.
That was as close as the Lions would get as Western ran the clock all the way down to secure the win.

Southern rushed for 236 yards and the Lions were plus one in takeaways.

MSSU will be back at it next week as the Lions travel to take on Northwest Missouri. Kickoff from Bearcat Stadium is set for 1:30 pm.

Special teams, defense highlight MSSU's 37-14 homecoming win over Lincoln

 (From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern football team got a punt return for a touchdown from Jaedon Stoshak and a pair of interceptions from Colton Winder as the Lions took out Lincoln 37-14 today inside Fred G. Hughes Stadium for Homecoming.

Southern (4-2, 4-2 MIAA) wins for the fourth time for the first time since the 2014 season. The Lions had rushing touchdowns from Nathan Glades who rushed for 96 yards, as well as Luke Sampson and Dawson Herl.

Stoshak caught a pair of passes for 33 yards, but it was in special teams where he shined. Stoshak had a pair of punt returns for 108 yards, including a long of 76 yards which he brought to the house on the Lions first possession. Jeremiah Hawkins had a pair of kick returns for 61 yards including a long of 35.

Nick Williams was perfect on field goals, including a pair from 28 yards out and one from 27 yards.

Defensively, Winder had a pair of interceptions for 13 yards, including one that he brought out of the endzone, stopping a Lincoln drive. Richard Jordan Jr. had eight tackles, while Coleman Booker had six stops and an interception.

Jermaine Young Jr. had two sacks, while Kalepo Fiaseu and Maurion Clemmons had a sack each. Solomon Garcia and Romel Readus combined for a sack.

The Southern defense held the Lincoln (0-6, 0-6 MIAA) to just 1-of-3 in the red zone, while the Lions' offense was a perfect 6-for-6.

Southern started off the scoring after the defense forced a punt and Stoshak returned it 76 yards to the endzone. After a three-and-out for Lincoln, the Lions responded with another big Stoshak return, this time for 32 yards to the Lincoln 18, setting up a 28-yard field goal from Williams.

A four-yard touchdown from Herl on the Lions' next possession made the score 17-0 after the PAT. Lincoln added a late touchdown to make the score 17-7, Lions after one.

Sampson added his touchdown on the Lions' ensuing possession, this one for 14 yards to make the score 24-7 with 12:46 left in the 2nd. Glades added a 15-yarder up the middle to give the Lions a 31-7 lead with just under eight to play.

A 28-yard field goal from Williams pushed the Southern lead to 34-7 on the Lions' first possession of the second half and would be the only score of the third quarter.

Williams hit his third field goal of the game, this time from 27 yards to give the Lions a 37-7 lead.

Lincoln added a late score for the final tally.

The punt return for a touchdown is the first for Southern since 2012 when NeRonte Threatt returned one 40 yards against Southwest Baptist. The pair of interceptions for Winder is the first since Dylan Bolden picked off two against Central Oklahoma last season.

The Lions will be back in action next week as Southern travels to Central Missouri on Saturday. Kickoff from Walton Stadium is set for 1:30 pm.