The Bears opened the Dave Steckel era with a loss to Memphis (photo/gotigersgo.com)
No coach wants to start his head coaching career with a loss, but this one for Dave Steckel was ugly. Missouri State allowed 519 yards of total offense and lost 63-7, the largest victory for an MSU opponent since 1968.
The Bears turned the ball over twice in the first quarter and Memphis scored four touchdowns in the first 11-minutes of the game.
Mose Frazier caught six passes for 89 yards on the night, and hauled in two touchdown receptions in the opening quarter, as the Tigers scored the first 49 points of the contest.
The Tigers totaled 315 yards of total offense in the first half, scored four times in the first 11 minutes of the game with the help of two MSU fumbles, then tacked on two more touchdowns in the second quarter to take a commanding 42-0 lead into intermission.
The Bears were held to 54 yards of total offense in the first half and finally scored on Breck Ruddick’s two-yard scoring pass to Malik Earl with 5:24 to play in the third period. U of M held the Bears to 18 rushing yards on 30 carries and 125 yards of total offense overall in the debut game for Stec.
Missouri State opens its 2015 home slate next Saturday (Sept. 12) with a 2 p.m. game against Chadron State.
Game details courtesy of MSU Athletics
