(From Missouri Southern Athletics)
JOPLIN, Mo. - Missouri Southern football used a dominant fourth-quarter performance, highlighted by a 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by David Bethune, to defeat rival Pittsburg State, 23-13, Saturday afternoon at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.
With the victory, Missouri Southern reclaimed the Miners' Bowl Trophy from rival Pittsburg State for the first time since Nov. 16, 2013, when the Lions earned a 35-21 victory in Pittsburg, Kansas.
The win also marked Southern's first victory over the Gorillas in Joplin since Sept. 18, 1993, when MSSU claimed a 20-3 win.
The Lions (3-6, 2-5 MIAA) scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Gorillas (3-6, 3-4 MIAA), earning their second consecutive victory.
Missouri Southern opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 10-play, 43-yard drive. Behind runs from Allen Mitchell and Narkel LeFlore and completions from Tillman Martin, the Lions moved into field-goal range before Asher Huffman connected on a 39-yard attempt at 8:41 to give MSSU a 3-0 lead.
The Southern defense followed with a strong opening quarter, highlighted by Kason Messenger's 5-yard tackle for loss and 13-yard sack to force a Pittsburg State punt. The Lions added another promising possession, moving into Gorillas territory before Mitchell Cory pinned PSU at its own 14-yard line with a punt. Southern carried its 3-0 advantage into the second quarter.
Pittsburg State found the end zone early in the second quarter, capping a lengthy possession with a 2-yard rushing touchdown to take a 7-3 lead. The Lions' ensuing possession ended with a sack and punt, but the defense came up with a pivotal play when Brody Egglestonintercepted a pass at the Missouri Southern 23-yard line with 4:39 remaining in the half.
The Lions capitalized on the takeaway with a 14-play, 77-yard scoring drive. Key conversions from LeFlore, Jackson Marrs and Martin helped sustain the possession, while Mitchell contributed runs of 16, 5 and 6 yards to move Southern into scoring position.
Martin added a 13-yard run before a Pittsburg State holding penalty set up a 2-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Green with 11 seconds remaining in the half. The extra point attempt was unsuccessful, giving the Lions a 9-7 lead at the break.
Missouri Southern's defense continued to hold firm in the third quarter, keeping the Gorillas off the scoreboard. Peyton McKee and Noah Conner recorded pass breakups on Pittsburg State's opening possession before the Gorillas were forced to punt.
The Lions moved the ball on their ensuing possession behind a third-down conversion by Mitchell and an 8-yard completion from Martin to Green but were unable to extend their lead.
On Pittsburg State's next drive, Nyjahl Vaughn stopped Diego Cearns for a 3-yard loss on third down, and Austin Schmitt missed a 46-yard field-goal attempt. Southern responded with its best offensive drive of the quarter, moving 39 yards behind runs of 8 and 17 yards by LeFlore and a first-down carry by Marrs. However, the possession ended with an interception at the PSU 6-yard line.
The Gorillas connected on a 55-yard pass in the final minute of the quarter, but the Lions' defense kept them out of the end zone to preserve a 9-7 advantage heading into the fourth.
Pittsburg State regained the lead early in the fourth quarter when P.J. Wallace scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, putting the Gorillas ahead 13-9 with 13:02 remaining.
The Lions responded in spectacular fashion on the ensuing kickoff. Bethune fielded the return and raced 91 yards for a touchdown, swinging the momentum back to Missouri Southern. Huffman's extra point gave the Lions a 16-13 advantage.
For Bethune, a redshirt senior from Jefferson City, Missouri, it marked his second kickoff return for a touchdown this season and his second in the past four games.
After Pittsburg State missed a 53-yard field-goal attempt, Missouri Southern put together an eight-play, 64-yard scoring drive to extend its lead. LeFlore broke off a 25-yard run to help move the Lions downfield before Mitchell capped the possession with a 9-yard touchdown run with 5:05 remaining. Huffman's extra point pushed the Southern advantage to 23-13.
The defense then delivered another pivotal stop on the Gorillas' ensuing possession. Pass breakups by Daimond Casseus and Vaughn helped put Pittsburg State in a difficult position before Messenger recorded his second sack of the game on fourth-and-17 at the PSU 48-yard line, forcing a turnover on downs.
Missouri Southern took over and ran out the clock to secure the 23-13 victory and reclaim the Miners' Bowl Trophy.
The Lions finished with 239 yards of total offense, including 194 on the ground.
LeFlore led the rushing attack with 110 yards on 20 carries, while Mitchell added 74 yards on 17 attempts and a touchdown.
Martin completed 7-of-12 passes for 45 yards and a touchdown, connecting with Green for four receptions and 29 yards.
Defensively, Missouri Southern limited Pittsburg State to 264 yards of total offense and just 68 rushing yards on 29 attempts. The Gorillas, who entered the contest averaging more than 200 passing yards per game, were held without a passing touchdown. Bobby Bacon completed 18-of-28 passes for 196 yards and an interception.
Messenger led the Lions with seven tackles and two sacks.
Missouri Southern also controlled the time of possession, holding the ball for 32:57 compared to 27:03 for Pittsburg State.
With the victory, MSSU has matched its win total from the 2025 season. The Lions also recorded their most MIAA victories since 2023, when they finished 5-6 overall and 4-6 in conference play.
Missouri Southern returns to Fred G. Hughes Stadium next Saturday, Nov. 7, to host Central Oklahoma for Senior Day. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.
