Calen Crowder (photo/MSU Athletics)

Calen Crowder (photo/MSU Athletics)

Missouri State continued to fine tune it’s game in preparation for the Bears’ Sept. 5 season opener at Memphis Thursday (Aug. 27) afternoon at Robert W. Plaster Stadium. Calan Crowder provided one the few highlights against a stout Bears defense, bursting up the gut for a 51-yard touchdown scamper for one of just two scoring plays turned in by MSU offensive units.

After forcing three takeaways in their last scrimmage Saturday, the Bears defense was tough on its opposition again in the final preseason intrasquad tussle of the preseason, holding the offense to just 157 total rushing yards on 45 carries—an average of 3.5 yards per attempt. Phoenix Johnson scored on a 10-yard run late in the 80-play scrimmage, meaning the MSU defense gave up only 96 yards on the other 43 carries by the offense—an average of 2.2 yards per carry.

Brodie Lambert engineered the late scoring drive with six of his 15 pass completions on the day which helped the offense rack up 223 yards through the air overall. Lambert and fellow quarterback Breck Ruddick combined to complete 23 of their 30 pass attempts, despite being under frequent pressure from a defensive front that recorded five sacks—four by defensive linemen—on the afternoon.

Senior kicker Marcelo Bonani accounted for the only other scoring by booting a 45-yard field goal try, while Shelby Harris converted both of his PAT attempts.

MSU opens its 2015 campaign next Saturday (Sept. 5) with a 6 p.m. game against preseason American Athletic Conference favorite Memphis at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, then returns to Plaster Stadium the following weekend to open the home slate against Chadron State.

Story: MSU Athletics