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James Renfrow, Kenny Culbertson vs. Missouri Southern State
James Renfrow and Kenny Culbertson bring down a Missouri Southern running back Saturday in Joplin (Photo provided by SPORTS Photography and Design)
7
Northeastern State NSU 0-7 , 0-7
34
Winner Missouri Southern MSSU 3-4 , 3-4
Northeastern State NSU
0-7 , 0-7
7
Final
34
Missouri Southern MSSU
3-4 , 3-4
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
NSU Northeastern State 7 0 0 0 7
MSSU Missouri Southern 0 7 14 13 34

Game Recap: Football |

Big second half propels MSSU past RiverHawks, 34-7

Northeastern State drops second-straight 34-7 decision, falls to 0-7 this season

Box Score (HTML)  I  Box Score (PDF)

JOPLIN, Mo. – The Northeastern State football team lost 34-7 to Missouri Southern State Saturday afternoon on the MIAA TV Network at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.
 
The RiverHawks fell to 0-7 on the year, while the Lions improved to 3-4 on the season. This was the second-straight week that NSU lost by a 34-7 margin.
 
Northeastern State controlled the tempo in the first half and held a 222-84 advantage in total offense. NSU also led in passing yards 148-0. The Lions completely flipped the script in the second half, however, as the home team outgained NSU 317-72 in the final 30 minutes. They also led in rushing yards 262-27 and in passing yards 55-45.
 
Overall, Missouri Southern led in total yards 401-294 and in rushing offense 346-101. The RiverHawks held a 193-55 advantage in passing yards.
 
Northeastern State got on the board first. Both teams punted on their opening drives, and NSU used an 8-play, 58-yard drive to march down the field and take a 7-0 lead. Sophomore quarterback Kevin Pantastico capped the scoring drive with a 26-yard strike to junior wide receiver Garrett Powell.
 
Missouri Southern answered on the first play of the second quarter when Shannon Saunders plunged in from two yards out. The two teams would go back and forth the rest of the first half, but the score would remain tied at intermission.
 
NSU ventured on a season-long 17-play drive that resulted in a missed field goal with 12 seconds remaining in the first half. The drive consumed 85 yards in just 2:29. The RiverHawks also had a 10-play drive early in the second quarter that also resulted in a missed field goal. Northeastern State is 0-for-3 on field goal attempts this season.
 
The Lions took control in the second half, scoring 14 third-quarter points and 13 fourth-quarter points. NSU could not regain its momentum from the first half as the home side earned the victory.
 
Redshirt freshman running back Derrick Moore recorded a season-best 83 rushing yards on 16 carries. Pantastico finished with 184 yards, one touchdown and one interception on 15-of-30 passing. Powell had a game-high five receptions for 61 yards.
 
Three different Lions rushed for 100 yards, led by 134 from Giresse Forchu. Saunders tallied 103 and two scores, and Will Gregory added 101 on just four carries.
 
Northeastern State will now prepare for its homecoming game. NSU will play host to Central Missouri at 1 p.m. Oct. 25 at Doc Wadley Stadium.
 
GAME NOTES
  • -After the loss, Northeastern State fell to 12-7 all-time with Missouri Southern. The Lions have won all three meetings since the RiverHawks joined the MIAA.
  • -Northeastern State has now lost 34-7 in back-to-back weeks. NSU has scored exactly seven points in three-straight games.
  • -NSU fell to 4-9 when scoring first since joining the MIAA in 2012. This was also the third time this season that the RiverHawks scored first.
  • -This was the first time in 2014 that the RiverHawks were not trailing at halftime.
  • -James Renfrow made his team-leading 27th career start.
  • -Quarterback Kevin Pantastico has thrown an interception in all but one game in 2014. He has an MIAA-leading 11 INT's this season.
  • -Missouri Southern recorded 346 rushing yards. The last time the RiverHawks gave up more than 300-yards rushing in a game was against Central Missouri on Oct. 26, 2013.
  • -The Lions also had three 100-yard rushers in Giresse Forchu (134), Shannon Saunders (103) and Will Gregory (101).
  • -Tony Newman had his first career fumble recovery in the third quarter.
  • -The RiverHawks had a season low two penalties.
  • -NSU missed both of its field goal attempts (one by Blake Williams and one by Dylan Beers), and the team is now 0-3 this season on field goals.
  • -Running back Derrick Moore had a season-high 83 yards rushing. NSU reached the 100-yard rushing plateau (101) for just the second time this season.
  • -Wide receiver Garrett Powell had a receiving touchdown, his team-leading third of the season, in the first quarter. He finished with a team-high five receptions for 61 yards.
  • -This is the second season in a row that the RiverHawks have started 0-7.  
  • -Northeastern State dominated in time of possession, 34:09-25:51. Missouri Southern entered the game eighth in the nation in time of possession (34:25).
  • -The Lions came into the game leading the nation in red zone offense (96 percent). The team finished with a season-worst 57 percent (4-for-7).
 
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