SPRINGFIELD – A 33-yard field goal as time expired from Missouri State’s Jose Pizano lifted the Bears to their third straight win – all fourth-quarter victories over top 25 opponents – in a thrilling 30-27 effort against No. 10 ranked Southern Illinois here Saturday.
Pizano’s 33-yarder capped a game-winning scoring drive for Missouri State that covered 50 yards in just six plays and helped the home side erase a 19-7 halftime deficit. It was set up after a three-and-out series by the Salukis forced the visitors to punt from their own 33 and give the ball back to MSU with 1:42 to go.
Celdon Manning was Missouri State’s other star, snagging a team-high 6 pass receptions for 117 yards and carrying 12 times for 65 yards. He racked up four total touchdowns on the afternoon, including three on the ground on a 75-yard catch-and-run score on the opening play of the game.
Manning was also instrumental on the game-winning drive as he racked up 22 rushing yards on three carries in addition to a 13-yard pass reception from starter Matt Struck on MSU’s final march.
The victory propelled Missouri State (4-1) into a four-way tie for first place in the Missouri Valley Football Conference alongside North Dakota State, North Dakota and South Dakota State. The win also marked the first time the Bears have reeled off three straight wins over ranked foes since 1989 and pushed the Bears to their first 4-1 start in league play since 1992.
Pizano’s game-winner capped a 16-point fourth quarter for Missouri State that saw the home club manufacture scoring drives of 51, 75 and 50 yards in the final 7:13 as the Bears put up points on four of their last five possessions to close things out.
After trailing 19-7 at the midway point, Manning got the Bears back within 19-14 as he capped an 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive with 5:25 remaining in the third. His two-yard touchdown run made it a five-point game. Manning and Tobias Little did the heavy lifting on the series, while a clutch completion from Struck to Ron Tiavaasue on third-and-three from the SIU 6 kept the drive alive and set up Manning’s score on the next play.
In the fourth, Missouri State’s defense came up with an improbable stop at the Bears 10 after the Salukis drove 59 yards on the ensuing series deep into the red zone. As SIU set up for a 28-yard field goal that would have extended their lead, a bad snap forced SIU’s holder Jack Colquhoun to throw a hurried pass into traffic, which Lucas Eatman picked off for MSU to end the threat.
The Bears couldn’t turn the interception into points, but it kept hope alive until better field position arrived on their next possession. That’s when Bobby Petrino’s squad took over at its own 49 with 9:28 to play. After a 31-yard completion from Struck to Damoriea Vick on first down took the Bears to the SIU 20, Manning capped the drive four plays later on a three-yard TD run to give the Bears a 20-19 lead. Missouri State’s two-point attempt failed to keep it a one-point game.
The Salukis bounced back on the game’s next possession with their only scoring drive of the second half. Avante Cox, who finished with 7 receptions for 61 yards for SIU, capped a 75-yard scoring drive with a 7-yard pass from Stone Labanowitz to give SIU a 27-20 advantage with 5:34 to go. The pair then teamed up again on the two-point conversion as the No. 10-ranked Salukis pushed back in front by seven.
But in the clutch, it was all MSU. Manning’s 23-yard rush to paydirt tied the game, 27-27 with 2:42 to play and capped a 75-yard scoring drive for the home side. Then, after SIU was pinned in at its own 25 on the next series, the Salukis punted it back.
Missouri State took over at its own 34 with 1:42 remaining and covered 50 yards in the blink of an eye to set up Pizano’s game winner. Manning had a 13-yard and an 11-yard carry on the drive and a critical pass interference penalty on SIU sustained the drive.
Struck finished 18-of-26 for a 69-percent completion percentage to go with 245 passing yards and a touchdown. Little (68 yards on 16 carries) and Manning (65 yards on 12 carries) combined for 133 yards on the ground to keep things balanced. Manning became the first Bear since Jason Randall in 2017 to score four touchdowns in a game.
The Bears finished the game with 18 first downs, 377 total yards and an impressive 7-of-15 on third down.
Southern Illinois racked up 431 total yards, including 270 passing yards by Labanowitz who was 25-of-34 with a pair of touchdowns. Justin Strong caught 9 passes for 96 yards.
After Manning’s 75-yard touchdown catch to open the game for Missouri State, the Salukis owned the second quarter as they reeled off 19 unanswered points to take a 12-point lead into the half.
A safety, a 29-yard touchdown pass from Javon Williams to Branson Combs, and a 28-yard pass from Labanowitz to Strong preceded a 23-yard field goal by Nico Gualdoni to help the Salukis regain control at the game’s midway point.
The Bears had 112 total yards in the first half and 265 in the second half.
Missouri State is slated to return to the road next week at No. 6 North Dakota (4-1) at 11 a.m., before closing out the spring at home on April 10 against Youngstown State (2 p.m.).
