JOPLIN, Mo. — The Missouri Southern football team trailed just 10-7 heading to the fourth quarter but a pick six from the 14th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney with ten minutes to go proved to be the turning point as Southern fell 24-7 to the Lopers inside Fred G. Hughes Stadium.
The Lions (0-1, 0-1 MIAA) got a 4-yard rushing touchdown from Dawson Herl, his first of his career, while Nathan Glades rushed for 47 yards. Herl was 12-of-27 passing for 105 yards with a long of 30. Jaedon Stoshak had four catches, while Chris Boudreaux had two catches for 54 yards.
Nick Williams punted the ball seven times for an average of 47.6 yards and a long of 61 yards including three inside the 20.
Defensively, Richard Jordan Jr. had 16 tackles, including nine solo, and two for a loss of six yards. Jordan moves up to No. 7 on the all-time tackle list and has 305 in his career passing Jared Brawner. Colton Winder had eight tackles, while Coleman Booker had seven, including two for a loss of seven yards and a sack. Dylan Bolden had a key interception that led to a Lions’ touchdown.
The Southern defense held Harlon Hill runner up TJ Davis to just 44 yards passing and 129 on the ground and zero touchdowns. The 44 yards passing is 134 yards lower than what he averaged a season ago.
The Lopers got on the board first with a five-yard rushing score from Montrez Jackson with 7:18 left in the first quarter.
As the second quarter was winding down, Bolden picked off a pass in the UNK zone setting up a Lions’ score. After getting to the four-yard line, Herl lined up and took the ball right up the middle for the four-yard score.
From that point, neither team scored until 9:55 left in the fourth quarter when Darius Swanson picked off a pass and returned it to the endzone for a touchdown. The Lopers added a late score.
The Lions will be back in action next week when Southern travels to Northeastern State. Kickoff from Tahlequah is set for 6 p.m.
