Kearney, Neb. -- Josiah Bennett caught five passes for 159 yards and a touchdown, while the Lions defense forced two big turnovers as the Missouri Southern football team won 24-14 today at Nebraska-Kearney.
Southern (1-4, 1-4 MIAA) was led by Bennett's huge performance. The true freshman caught five passes for 159 yards, a 31.8 yard per catch average, and a long of 56, while adding a receiving touchdown.
TJ Fleeton threw 16-33 for 195 yards and two scores, while
Anthony Cannon caught one pass for 23 yards and a score.
Fleeton also added a rushing touchdown, while
Devin Chafin led the Lions with 11 carries for 33 yards. Braydon Scott went 3-4 passing for 60 yards, including a long of 52 yards.
It is the third win in a row over the Lopers (0-5, 0-5 MIAA) in the series. UNK quarterback Steve Worthing went 25-48 with two touchdowns and an interception, throwing for 213 yards. Lucas Quinn rushed for 117 yards on 30 carries.
Defensively, the Lions were led by
Patrick Cheek and
Justin Legier as the pair had 12 tackles each. Legier added a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for 28 yards.
Romel Hill and
Akel Beard had seven stops each, while
Ricky Green had six tackles and a blocked field goal.
Xavier Marsden had an interception return for 11 yards in the game.
Southern was forced to punt on its first possession, but the Lions' defense held strong as Marsden would end the UNK drive on its first possession with an interception, giving the Lions the ball at their own 28 yard line.
Neither team scored on their next possession, but the Lions got a touchdown pass from Fleeton to Cannon for 23 yards to go up 7-0 with 4:42 left in the first.
After a huge punt return from
Scott Lathrop (41 yards to the UNK 19) the Lions made the score 13-0 on a one-yard rush from Fleeton. The initial point after was no good, but an offsides call gave the Lions another chance. This time, Lathrop pulled in a high snap and
Brock Renken kicked it home to make the score 14-0 with 2:07 left in the first.
The Lopers got their first touchdown, a four-yard pass and score from Worthing to Malcom Moore to cut the lead to 14-7 with 4:46 left in the quarter and that's how the half would end.
Legier helped make a turnover count as he ripped the ball from a Lopers receiver giving the Lions the ball with 5:26 left in the third. He forced the turnover on the Southern 41, but returned it 28 yards to the UNK 31. That play set up a 20-yard field goal from Renken to make the score 17-7 with 2:40 left in the third.
Southern went up 24-7 after a 56-yard touchdown strike from Fleeton to Bennett, his second of the game of more than 50 yards, with 5:48 left in the fourth.
UNK added a late score, a pass from Worthing to Blake Holtmeier for ten yards to make the score 24-14, but the Lions' defense would keep it at that for the final tally.
Southern used the big play and key turnovers to win the game.
Stetson Broce had a big game punting, averaging 42.1 yards per punt, with two inside the 20, one of over 50 and two touchdbacks.
The Lions will be back in action next weekend as Southern plays host to Washburn University for Homecoming 2016. Kickoff from Fred G. Hughes Stadium inside the Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex is slated for 3 pm.
