Well, that was an adventure.
Many football fans in the Show-Me State watched the first meeting between the Bears and Tigers in 94 years. Some playfully predicted a Missouri State romp on social media, but it’s a safe bet that very few would have called… THAT.
As Dave Steckel returned to Columbia to face fellow defensive-minded coach Barry Odom, the resulting contest produced 1,307 total yards, 115 points, 11 lead changes in the first half, star-making performances, and a handful of program records.
Fans got their money worth while two programs conjured plenty of raised eyebrows and impending questions. Here are three takeaways from the 72-43 Mizzou win:
1. Peyton’s (in the right) Place
Dave Steckel spoke time and time again about the poise and demeanor of incumbent quarterback Peyton Huslig during fall camp. On Saturday, the man who led Garden City Community College to a national championship less than one year before faced not just his first Division I defense, but one from the Southeastern Conference.
He delivered a 353-yard, two touchdown performance on 24-35 passing while punching in another score with his legs. After Mizzou took a single 65-yard play to find the end zone, Huslig led the Bears on a methodical 12-play drive that covered the same distance, capped by his first MSU touchdown connection with Jordan Frazier.
Though he took four sacks and threw one interception, he largely made the right decisions. He helped the Bears convert on their first five attempts on third down, making tight throws under pressure. Halftime adjustments flummoxed Huslig in the second half as the only MSU score out of the locker room came on a 10-yard keeper, but the Bears should feel good about its signal caller heading into MVFC play, especially considering….
2. Big-time weapons were solidified (when healthy)
Cramps did a number on the Bears as the game wore on, otherwise the offensive numbers could have been even more impressive. Despite a quiet day for FCS All-American Deion Holliman, MSU sliced through the Tiger defense for 492 yards and 43 points, its third-most under Dave Steckel.
Calan Crowder appears to be the right call as the top dog in a respectable running back stable. He broke off touchdown runs of 75 and 34 yards in the first half, finishing with 124 total.
Most of that came before halftime.
Malik Earl reminded everyone that he is one of the most dangerous targets in the MVFC, putting up a career high 163 yards on 8 catches, including an 89-yard strike from Huslig. He spun out of a trio of tackles for a brilliant 33-yard game in the third quarter before heading back to the locker room.
We also caught a glimpse of the tight end tandem of Erik Furmanek and former Lighthouse Christian standout Jordan Frazier. They combined for 108 yards on seven catches, with Frazier coming through with a score while Furmanek set up a touchdown by Nick Masoner with his own 64-yard reception.
Then Frazier injured his left leg in the third quarter and put no weight on it while exiting the field onto a cart. If the Oklahoma State transfer can be back in relatively short order, those are two matchup problems that will come in handy, given that….
3. Which defense should be more concerned?
Missouri State could have some shootouts in store.
Granted, an SEC offense with weapons like J’Mon Moore, Damarea Crockett, and Drew Lock should put a fat total on an FCS school. Still, the Bears just allowed the second most points for a Steckel team, only topped by 73 from Southern Illinois in 2015.
After the opening kickoff return, the next four Mizzou touches were as follows:
65-yard touchdown pass
51-yard kickoff return
35-yard catch
8-yard touchdown run
The MSU offense got its opportunities to deliver, because it was on the field early and often.
Mizzou set program records with 815 total yards, 521 passing yards, and registered 35 first downs, the most ever against he Bears. The MSU defense had its moments, like Lamar product Jared Beshore intercepting Lock after the first five drives of the day finished in the painted grass, but more times than not it appeared to be in the wrong position or physically outmatched.
Damarea Crockett gutted his way to 202 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns. His third was taken off the board due to a questionable unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after he dove into the end zone.
In all: this defense showed signs of the 2015 unit that allowed 55 points or more in five games. It came against a Mizzou attack loaded with stars, but with five ranked FCS opponents ahead, there is plenty for the Bears to fix.
Even with that, Mizzou should be the more alarming case, giving up 492 yards to a lower-tier school that had won five games in two seasons. The unit managed 12 tackles for loss and an interception via Logan Cheadle, but poor tackling littered the afternoon.
Adjustments allowed the Tigers to limit their opponents to 112 yards in the second half, but with South Carolina coming to town in one week, there is cause for concern.
Time will tell what this does for the interest level around either program, but we couldn’t have asked for a much more interesting start to the 2017.
