The Standard

Issue date: 11/18/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Chris Cox

Missouri State coach Terry Allen thinks a game that happened more than three weeks ago is still having a harmful effect on his team.

After North Dakota State beat the Bears 48-27 in Missouri State's home finale Saturday afternoon, Allen said the Bears still haven't gotten over a 23-17 loss to Southern Illinois on Oct. 25.

In that game, Southern Illinois won on a 51-yard touchdown pass on the final play of the game. Since then, Missouri State has gone 0-3 and been out-scored 133-40.

"We, as a team, lack an awful lot of confidence right now," Allen said. "And I think the Southern Illinois game has had a lasting impact on us."

It was painfully evident Saturday as Missouri State was hurt by constant mental mistakes.

The Bears allowed eight sacks and were penalized 11 times for 79.

"We had penalties that sort of set us back, and it was kind of like we were hurting ourselves," quarterback Cody Kirby said. "It just sort of went downhill for us from there."

Most of those penalties were false starts or illegal procedures before the snap on offense.

"We're fragile at best right now," Allen said. "We're waiting for something bad to happen instead of trying to make something good happen."

Despite playing the Bison close for most of the game, the Bears could never get over the hump. Tied 13-13 at halftime, Missouri State got the ball to start the second half, but Kirby was intercepted on third down and 21 on the first series.

North Dakota State scored six plays later. On the Bears' next drive, Kirby fumbled after being sacked and North Dakota State's Joe Lardinois returned it 17 yards for a touchdown.

Protecting Kirby was a difficult task all afternoon, as North Dakota State was able to get heavy pressure.

"Doing that was really important because they have some pass catchers, especially an all-conference guy like (tight end Clay) Harbor, that can really make things happen," Bison coach Craig Bohl said.

Even with all the miscues, Missouri State found itself trailing just 34-27 with 7:50 left after Kirby hit senior wideout Chris Geisz for a 15-yard score.

But the Bison put the game away quickly, as senior running back Tyler Roehl scored on an 80-yard run on the next play from scrimmage.

Continued...

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