Game Preview: Missiouri State Univeristy Bears

The Jackrabbits travel to Springfield, Missouri to take on the Missouri State University (MSU) Bears.  MSU is a team that has struggled for a long time.  However, they always compete hard and seem to have a dangerous receiver or returner every year.  The Bears come in to the game with a 1-5 record and are winless in MVFC play.  However, their offense can be explosive and the Jackrabbit defense will need to be on their toes.  MSU is also averaging 10,416 fans per game as well at Plaster Field. 

Dave Steckel Press Conference: https://t.co/ay9ZDq29qE via @YouTube

— Missouri State Bears (@MissouriStBears) October 16, 2017

Offense 
The Bears have been inconsistent on the offensive side of the ball so far in 2017.  The are scoring 20.2 points per game, 144 yards per game rushing, and 191 yards per game passing.  Against FBS Missouri in their season opener, they passed for 353 yards but since then have not broken the 200 yards passing mark. Their running has been pretty consistent this season.

At quarterback the Bears start juco transfer #15 Peyton Huslig.  Huslig is a dual threat with good size (6-3, 205).  Huslig has completed 60% of his passes for 1120 yards and 4 touchdowns.  He has also run for 156 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Huslic has been sacked 17 times so far this season while throwing 8 interceptions.

Huslig does have dangerous weapons on the outside with #17 Malik Earl leading the way with 37 receptions for 506 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Earl has good size (6-3, 217) and I would expect Jordan Brown to lock up with him for most of the game.  Earl is joined by #9 Jalen Esters and #5 Deion Holliman at the receiver positions.  Esters has 17 receptions for 146 yards while Holliman has 13 receptions for 118.  The tight end #18 Erik Furmanek is dangerous and is an equally capable blocker or receiver.  Furmanek has 16 receptions for 244 yards on the season.

The running back position has 6 players who have more than 13 rushing attempts on the season.  the group is lead by #28 Calan Crowder who has 377 yards and 4 tds to go with a 6.9 ypc average.  Talented freshmen #14 Myron Mason looks like the next running back in line with 117 yards.  The Jacks will need to be aware of #5 Deion Holliman also in the run game.  He has 13 carries for 118 yards on the season.  Watch out for the gadget plays with him!

The starters at the offensive line have been pretty consistent so far for the Bears.  At left tackle, MSU has returning starter, sophomore, #62 Coleman Clanton (6-5, 302) who was named to the MVFC All-Newcomer Team in 2016.  He is joined at left guard by #77 Jordan Turner (6-6, 322) who is in his second year starting.  At center #79 Aaron Clardy (6-5, 306)  is in his first year starting.  Right guard features #68 Marquis Prophete (6-5, 308) who has started his previous two season at right tackle.  The new right tackle is #75 Cole Christensen (6-5, 296).  This line has good size, but I am curious to see how well they move.  Giving up 17 sacks is significant so I'm curious to see how our defensive front 7 holds up.

Defense
The Bear defense has struggled so far in 2017 to gain much traction.  They are allowing 41.3 ppg, 213 yards rushing, and 294 yards passing.  They only have forced 4 interceptions and have reached the opposing quarterback 8 times.  Opposing offenses have scored 91% of the time when they reach the red-zone with 61%  being red-zone touchdowns.

On defense the group is lead by its defensive line.  #90 Colby Isbell is in his 3rd year starting for the Bears.  This season he has 3 sacks, 17 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 2 pass defended.  Isbell is a force and the Jacks will need to be sure to know where he is.  The other defensive end starter is #33 Skyler Hulse.  Hulse has 10 total tackles and 1 sack on the year.  On the interior, MSU starts a combination of #99 EJ Sutton (6-3, 281), #97 Colin Bess (6-5, 271), and #93 Eric Johnson (6-5, 256) who have combined for 22 tackles and a sack on the season.

At linebacker MSU features leading tackler and returning starter #52 McNeece Egbim who has 33 tackles, 2.5 for loss, a quarterback hit, and 1 fumble recovery.  Egbim has played at both outside linebacker positions so far this season.  In the middle, the Bears have started three different players this season.  Sophomore #8 Angelo Garbutt (29 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery),  red-shirt freshman #23 Jordan Wilkes (19 tackles), and senior #35 Kurran Blamey (22 tackles, 1 sack).  I have no idea who will line up as the starter this week.  The most recent WLB has been #22 Austin Henderson (21 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 3 passes defended) who looks like a safety hybrid.

The cornerback position is lead by sophomore #2 Darius Joseph who has started 13 consecutive games for the Bears and has 28 tackles and 2 pass break-ups.  The opposite corner is #4 Matt Rush who has 18 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 pass break-up.  #26 Zack Sanders will also see significant playing time.  Sanders has 19 tackles, 1 interception, and 3 passes defended along with a forced fumble.  The leading safety is #30 Jared Beshore, a junior, who is the second leading tackler with 29.  He is also a ball hawk having 3 interceptions already this season.  Next to Beshore is a pair of sophomores in either #21 Cameron Price (13 tackles) or #47 Kam Carter (22 tackles).

Special Teams
Obviously, this unit is headlined by Deion Holliman.  It feels like he has been around forever but he is only a junior.  On the season, Holliman has 20 returns with a 22.8 average.  I would be surprised if Chase gives him a chance to return one this week.  I'd love to see him just force a touchback.  Holliman is also a dangerous punt returner, averaging 10.8 yards per attempt on 9 attempts so far this season.

The punter, #49 Brendan Withrow, is solid with 33 punts for an average of 42.9.  He has a long of 70 yards, landing 7 inside the 20 yard line, and 7 punts have sailed greater than 50 yards.

The kicking game is their week area of special teams. #36 Zach Drake is only 3-8 on field goal attempts with two of his makes coming from 40+ yards and has made 3 of his last 4 attempts.  MSU has had one field goal attempt blocked this season.  Lets see if Soulek can get his paw on one this week.  Drake has kicked off 24 times this season for only a 56.1 average and 5 touch backs.  This should be a great opportunity for Cade Johnson to catch fire on the fast playing surface of Plaster Field.

Prediction
I would most certainly not want to be the Missouri State University Bears right now.  The Jacks are embarrassed and have been backed into a corner.  If the Rabbits don't win this game their season is essentially over with the meat of their schedule coming up.  This also feels like a game for the offense to get right before the daunting final four games of MVFC play.  I hope to see passes to Dallas Goedert early and often and I would also expect the starters to play into the 4th quarter.  At this point, establishing a rhythm and chemistry should be the most critical piece (outside of winning on the scoreboard).  I predict a Jacks 53-10 victory.

Go Jacks!
Matt