JOPLIN, Mo. — Missouri Southern football fell to Central Missouri, 24-14 Saturday afternoon at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.
MSSU put together a 16-play, 81-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter, but the second-half push was not enough to overcome Central Missouri.
The Lions are now 1-3 overall and 0-2 in MIAA conference play. UCM is 3-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
Isaiah Green caught six passes for 84 yards and added an 11-yard punt return.
Allen Mitchell rushed 14 times for 72 yards and a touchdown and added two receptions.
Riley Hammons led the Lions with 14 tackles.
Noah Conner recorded five tackles and an interception with a 24-yard return.
Southern held the Mules scoreless in the first quarter despite facing three red-zone trips, getting a
Peyton McKee interception and a fourth-down stop at the MSSU 13. Earlier,
Khelton Reed sacked Central Missouri for a 7-yard loss at the MSSU 18, and McKee intercepted the next pass at the MSSU 9 to end the opening drive.
The Lions offense moved the chains once behind Mitchell, who had runs of seven and six yards on Missouri Southern's second possession, but MSSU finished the quarter with 20 rushing yards, no completions and two punts.
Brody Eggleston and
Jayden Hypolite combined on the fourth-down tackle with 7:00 left, and although UCM drove to the MSSU 3 on the final play of the first quarter, the segment ended tied 0-0.
The Lions were held scoreless in the second quarter as Central Missouri scored on a 3-yard run at 14:52 and later returned a
Tillman Martin interception 21 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0. Earlier, Southern moved to midfield after Martin hit
Harold Trainer for seven yards and UCM added a 15-yard penalty, but the drive ended with a sack before
Mitchell Cory pinned the Mules at their 3 with a 55-yard punt.
The Missouri Southern defense produced stops after that, including pass breakups by
Pierre Fertil and
Holt Chappell and a
Bruno Likio sack that forced a punt with 2:54 left.
Kason Messenger followed with another sack, and
Tugase Williams hurried a throw that Conner intercepted and returned 24 yards, giving MSSU a late possession at the Central Missouri 36 after a penalty. The Lions reached the UCM 24 on an 8-yard completion to Green, but the Lions' 40-yard field-goal attempt missed as the half ended with Central Missouri ahead 14-0.
Missouri Southern opened the third quarter by turning
Daimond Casseus' 19-yard kickoff return into a 16-play, 81-yard drive that lasted 10:01 and ended with Martin's 4-yard touchdown run. The drive included Mitchell's 14-yard run on the first snap, Martin completions to Green and
Jace Whatley for first downs, and
Jackson Marrs' 2-yard fourth-down conversion at the UCM 18.
Asher Huffman's extra point made it 14-7 with 4:54 left in the quarter.
Central Missouri moved for three rushing first downs on the ensuing possession, but Williams' third-down sack pushed the Mules into fourth-and-24 before Green's 11-yard punt return gave MSSU the ball back at its 25. The third quarter ended with Central Missouri still ahead 14-7.
Missouri Southern answered a 21-7 deficit with a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, converting twice on fourth down before Mitchell scored from 12 yards out at 3:00 and Huffman's kick made it 21-14.
Earlier, Martin opened the fourth frame with a 13-yard completion to Green, but the drive ended with a punt before UCM put together a 12-play, 80-yard scoring possession.
On the Lions' touchdown march, Martin hit Green for gains of 23 and 18 yards, found
Isaiah Padello for a fourth-and-4 conversion at the Central Missouri 28, and ran for nine yards to set up Mitchell's fourth-down score.
The Mules recovered the ensuing onside kick at the Missouri Southern 27 and added a 35-yard field goal with 1:02 left, and Southern's final possession reached the UCM 45 before a turnover on downs with one second remaining in a 24-14 final.
Saturday marked the Lions' Hall of Fame Game. Missouri Southern honored
2026 MSSU Athletics Hall of Fame inductees Jason Adams (Men's Basketball, 2008-12), Dr. Al Cade (Meritorious Service), Jeff Fraley (Men's Track & Field, 2011-16), Stephanie Gockley-Johnson (Volleyball, 1994-97), Melissa Grider (Softball, 1994-96 & Women's Basketball, 1993-96), Nicole Green Ragsdale (Women's Track & Field, 2009-12) and Landon Zerkel (Football, 2008-12) during halftime of the Southern contest against UCM. The group was formally inducted into the MSSU Athletics Hall of Fame Saturday morning at Young Gymnasium.
The Lions also sported pink accents in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness.
The Lions next head to Fort Hays State on Saturday, Oct. 3. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., CT in Hays, Kansas.
Fall MSSU Athletic tickets are currently on sale
online. Fans can also purchase an
MIAA Network subscription to support Missouri Southern Athletics and catch all the Lions action this 2026-27 season.
