SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State newcomer Peyton Huslig helped the Bears No. 1 offense accumulate 467 yards of total offense in Thursday’s annual Maroon and White Spring Football Game at Robert W. Plaster Stadium.
Huslig, a sophomore transfer from Garden City (Kan.) Community College, completed 19-of-33 passes for 345 yards and a touchdown to help the White side to a 23-0 decision. He also rushed for 15 yards and a touchdown as part of his impressive debut.
Huslig called his own number from three yards out for the game’s first score near the end of the first quarter to cap a 55-yard scoring drive. The play was set up with a 47-yard pass to fellow newcomer Tyler Currie. Huslig punched it in three plays later.
The No. 1 offense scored three times behind Huslig’s direction in the third quarter. The first TD came on an 8-yard run by Nick Masoner that came after thrilling 35-yard run from scrimmage by Calan Crowder. Ninety seconds later, Huslig connected on a 66-yard scoring pass to Currie for another touchdown.
“I like the big passes from Peyton,” said Bears’ head coach Dave Steckel. “Calan broke that long run which was very encouraging as well. Currie continues to get better and better and he is really coming along well.”
The final scoring play of the evening came on a 22-yard field goal by Zach Drake to cap a 10-play, 56-yard drive that stalled at the three-yard line. Rickey Nichols’ 22-yard reception took the White club into the red zone, and seven plays later, Drake split the uprights to make it a 23-0 game.
Crowder finished with a game-high 78 rushing yards on seven carries, while Currie was the game’s top receiver with 142 yards on four receptions.
The Bears’ No. 1 defense also had some standout plays, essentially shutting out the second- and third-team offenses and holding the Maroon side to 108 total yards. Colby Isbell, Claudio Martin and Eric Johnson each produced eight total tackles for the No. 1 defense with Isbell registering 4.0 tackles for loss and the unit producing 13.0 total tackles for loss and five sacks.
Steckel noted the improvement from both the offensive and defensive lines, and also the team’s mental and physical outlook headed into the offseason.
“I really want to see how everything unfolds and who will step up to be a leader and take charge of things,” Steckel explained. “Looking ahead, I’m ready for us to get stronger and tougher both mentally and physically.”
The Bears, who return 18 total starters from last season, will open fall camp on July 26 in preparation for the club’s 2017 season opener at Missouri on Sept. 2 in Columbia.
