Missouri State football can capture its first five-game winning streak since 1996 when it takes the field to play Indiana State for its annual homecoming game.
The FCS No. 20 Bears (4-2, 2-0) will host the Sycamores (2-4, 1-1) on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Plaster Stadium in Springfield.
Bears coach Ryan Beard could help his team surpass its win total from a year ago when it finished 4-7. The last coach to lead MSU on a five-game winning streak was Del Miller in his second year before a 7-4 finish.
Here is our scouting report ahead of Saturday’s game:
More: Missouri State football QB Jacob Clark making case to be among program’s GOATs
Indiana State football has a mediocre offense but takes care of the ball
The Sycamores have one of the nation’s worst passing offenses and an OK ground attack but they do a good job of not turning the ball over.
Indiana State QB Elijah Owens is a 70.3% passer for 808 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions. He’s not pushing the ball down the field, averaging 8.3 yards per completion, ranking near the bottom of the FCS.
The Sycamores will try to run the ball with a pair of backs including Plez Lawrence and former Waynesville High standout Shen Butler-Lawson. The two combine for 70.6 yards per game with Owens adding an average of 62.2 yards on the ground.
Indiana State has only turned the ball over five times this season, ranking third in the MVFC.
Missouri State football QB Jacob Clark should be in for another big day
There’s not a hotter quarterback in the MVFC than the one behind center for Missouri State. Star quarterback Jacob Clark is coming off his fourth-straight 300-plus-yard passing performance and he has the Bears’ offense rolling.
Indiana State’s done OK against the pass, having not allowed more than 300 yards through the air since its Week 1 loss to Purdue when the Boilermakers went for 335 yards and four scores. It could be safe to say Missouri State’s passing attack is better than the one Purdue has had, having fired its offensive coordinator in recent weeks.
Missouri State will want to run the ball and this could be a sort of “get right” game for the ground game. It’s averaging 99.8 yards and Jacardia Wright hasn’t gone for more than 58 since his 143-yard outburst against Lindenwood.
However, throwing the ball works. There might be more balance if the Bears build up a lead.
What did Indiana State coach Curt Mallory say about Missouri State?
“We’re playing another great team in our conference and that’s what we are… a great team. We have to start fast. These guys are as explosive of a football team, especially on offense. They’re as an explosive team as we’ve seen this year.”
Score prediction: Missouri State 38, Indiana State 17
The Bears should follow last week’s win over Illinois State by winning comfortably against Indiana State this week. The Sycamores continue to be one of the worst Missouri Valley Football Conference teams and the Bears are starting to show glimpses of one that could be among the best. It would be an upset if backup quarterback Brock Bagozzi and the rest of the second-teamers weren’t on the field in the fourth quarter.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State football vs Indiana State: Scouting report, prediction
