SPRINGFIELD — Missouri State will look to rebound in a key Conference USA game on Tuesday, Oct. 27. After the Bears surrendered 61 points in a loss to Delaware last week, Missouri State needs to win against Sam Houston.
All season, head coach Casey Woods has talked about playing meaningful games in November. It’s why this game against Bearkats is a must-win.
Woods agrees his team must win at 7 p.m. inside Plaster Stadium.
“We’ve got to win the next game,” Woods said. “I don’t want to jump off of a plan and say, ‘Boy, if we lose the game, our season.’ Because that’s not the case at all.
"For all of the goals that we have, they are still sitting in front of us."
Missouri State needs to exploit
a Sam Houston (1-6, 0-3) team that can’t secure a win. The Bearkats have yet to defeat an FBS opponent this season. They’ve also lost two conference games by multiple possessions.
Luckily, the Bears have played their best football at home. Missouri State’s big win over Lindenwood and last-second win over Kennesaw State highlight this, along with a last-minute defeat to Marshall.
“This is going to be a clash,” Woods said. “They have one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league. We certainly anticipate a fighting football team rolling in here.”
Missouri State’s pass defense will have to step up against Sam Houston. Quarterback Landyn Locke has thrown for 1,653 yards, which leads CUSA. The Bears rank 115th, out of 138 teams, in pass yards allowed this season. The Bears are surrendering 247 yards per game in conference games, just a shade under the season average of 250.1 yards.
“My biggest concern is that we do not want to be one dimensional,” Sam Houston head coach Phil Longo said previewing the game.
Another area Missouri State will have to juggle is Sam Houston’s secondary. The Bearkats rank No. 3 in all of college football in passing yards allowed. With injuries to many running backs, the Bears have relied heavily on the pass game, led by quarterback Henry Belin IV, over the last few games.
Wide receiver Isaiah Myers has been a breakout star for the Bears. He ranks No. 6 in the nation in total receiving yards. Last week, Myers went for 242 yards against Delaware. That’s the highest mark in college football this year.
Myers will have his hands full against a top-tier secondary, which might leave Jmariyae Robinson, who has Missouri State’s all-time receptions record, open for opportunities.
“You are going to look at what they do well and what they don’t do well,” Longo said. “You are going to attack all of their weaknesses.”
Missouri State and Sam Houston will both think their teams are better than their records indicate. The final mid-week game of the season in Plaster Stadium will settle it.
Liam Keating covers high school sports and Missouri State athletics for The Springfield News-Leader. Send stats or information to him at Lkeating@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State football must win versus CUSA winless Sam Houston
