Missouri Southern’s offense struggled today and the Truman State University Bulldogs used 28 second half points to defeat the Lions, 38-7 in Kirksville.
Southern (4-6, 2-6 MIAA) started the game on the right foot with Fred Smith taking the opening kickoff back 49-yards to the Truman (4-5, 3-5 MIAA) 46 yard line. The drive was short lived, however, as Truman’s Robert Massop picked off an Adam Hinspeter pass. The Bulldogs would make the turnover hurt and they ended a nine play, 61-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown run from Phil Kenney.
Truman added a 27-yard Mickey Masucci field goal to make the score 10-0 with 3:36 left in the first quarter. Neither team moved the ball well in the second quarter, but the Lions were threatening as the half was coming to an end and moved the ball to the Truman 27-yard line. Southern converted a fourth down on the drive, but the Bulldogs would stop the threat as Matt Burel intercepted a Hinspeter pass at the 10-yard line.
Southern had eight penalties for 60 yards in the first half, including a 61-yard punt return from Johnny Johnson called back due to a block in the back.
Truman came into the game averaging 103 yards per game on the ground, but the Bulldogs rushed for 200 yards in the first half, including 112 yards from Anton Bernard, becoming the first 100-yard rusher for Truman this season. In contrast, Ticich came into the game averaging 217 yards per game through the air, but the junior completed just 2-10 passes for 12 yards in the first half. The second half was much different for Ticich, as he completed nine of his first 11 passes 138 yards and three touchdowns putting the Bulldogs up 31-0 with 13 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
The Lions added a touchdown pass from Hinspeter to Isaac Norman before Truman backup quarterback Phillip Davis hooked up with Deotis Brown for the games’ final score.
Southern was out gained 429-380 as the Lions struggled to get anything done offensively on the ground, rushing for just 77 yards on 27 attempts.
Hinspeter went 29-46 for 303 yards and a touchdown today. He currently has 8,817 yards passing, placing him 280 yards from second place in the MIAA. Hinspeter has 8,693 yards of total offense, putting him just 108 yards away from tying Josh Chapman’s school record of 8,801.
Johnny Johnson had a career game catching nine passes for 130 yards, while Norman caught seven for 80 yards and a touchdown. Brian Malette placed himself among the kicking elite in Southern history connecting on his only point after attempt of the day, but it gave him 39 consecutive PAT’s and placed him atop the Southern record books.
Jared Brawner had a game-high 12 tackles in the game with a pass break up. Corderial Collier had ten tackles and Brandon Williams had a career-high nine stops.
