Joplin, MO -- The SBU Bearcats stayed close for most of the contest, but 21 fourth quarter points by the Missouri Southern Lions doomed the Bearcats Saturday night in Joplin. The 42-21 loss was the Bearcats' MIAA opener.
MSSU opened the scoring in the first quarter with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Adam Hinspeter to Colin Bado. SBU's senior quarterback Robert Clardy matched the Lions with a 4-yd TD run to end the quarter. Ronnell Newman scored on a 1-yd TD run with five minutes left in the second quarter to give Southern a 14-7 lead, which they would take into halftime. SBU began the third quarter with a 1-yd run touchdown by Clardy, which evened the score.
Missouri Southern's Colin Bado ran in a 10-yard touchdown at the 6:45 mark in the third quarter to take a 21-14 lead, one which the Lions would keep until time ran out. The Lions increased their lead to two touchdowns on a 56-yard pass from Hinspeter to Isaac Norman. The Bearcats answered right back the next drive with a 49-yard kickoff return by Jeff Finnell and quick 31-yard touchdown catch by Nick Smart from John McCoy. But two fourth quarter TD runs by the Lions' Newman pushed the deficit to its final margin.
SBU's offense racked up 130 yards on the ground and 200 in the air, well below their season average of over 440 total yards per game. Finnell led the rushing attack with 69 yards on 13 carries while Smart led the receiving corps with 116 yards on seven catches. McCoy and Clardy split the QB duties with McCoy completing 8 of 11 passes for 145 yards and one TD. Clardy was 6 of 9 for 55 yards, but rushed for 2 touchdowns and 39 yards. Missouri Southern had 430 yards of total offense, including 254 yards by air from Hinspeter and 155 yards on the ground from Newman.
The SBU Bearcats' next MIAA contest will be September 23 at SBU's Plaster Stadium at 6:00 p.m. versus Emporia State. The Bearcats will look for their first win of the season against the Hornets. This will be SBU's annual “Take A Kid To The Game Day.” Emporia State defeated MIAA newcomer Fort Hays State 48-10 in the MIAA opener for both teams.
