Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Sophomore quarterback TJ Fleeton ran for two short scores and tossed a 73-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter to lift Missouri Southern State over Nebraska-Kearney, 24-14, Saturday night in Joplin, Mo.

This was a battle of the two new head coaches in the MIAA in MSSU's Denver Johnson and UNK's Josh Lamberson. With the win, the Lions improve to 1-2 while the Lopers fall to 0-3.

Kearney had a seven minute advantage in time of possession, 33:15-26:45, and ran 25 more offensive plays, 85-60, but the Southern out gained the Blue and Gold, 296-276.

One big reason was Fleeton's long scoring toss to junior Chad Nolan with 14 seconds left in the third quarter. On 1st and 10 from its own 27-yard line, Fleeton find Nolan on a wide receiver screen and he raced down the field for the night's final score.

"We came back and fought (after the TD pass) but it was a play that made a big difference," said UNK linebacker/special teams coach Jake Willrich. "Overall, they really stuck to what they had shown over the first two weeks."

UNK had four drives after the big play, amassing 63 yards, but they ended with a punt and three failed fourth down conversions. Two of the drives ended as Southern's 32 and 40 yard lines.

In the first half, MSSU took advantage of field position to grab a 14-7 lead. UNK's average starting field position was the 18-yard line in the first quarter and its own 16-yard line in the second.  That led to Southern's average drive starting near mid field.

MSSU's first drive of the game was its best as it went 62 yards in 10 plays. Other than the 73 yard pitch and catch, no other Lion drive tallied more than 42 yards.

An 11-yard completion, plus a 15-yard personal foul penalty on 3^rd and 7, helped Fleeton keep that first drive alive. Later, he tossed an 11-yard pass on 3^rd and 5 and then ran for a score on 3^rd and goal.

The Loper defense really stiffened after that as Southern failed to score after taking over at the UNK 35 and 38 yard lines. One of these drives resulted in a 53-yard missed field goal.

UNK responded by tying the game, thanks runs of 12 and 35 yards by senior back Romero Cotton (Hutchinson, Kans.). An eight-yard TD pass from senior QB Bronson Marsh (Millard South H.S.) to sophomore receiver Tityus Mitchell (Hastings, Fla.) tied things up with 51 seconds left in the quarter.

"You have to be able to establish the run game in this conference and we finally got it going tonight," said tight ends coach Kevin Bleil. "But we've got to do it at a more consistent level."

Southern again failed to convert after a 59-yard punt pinned the Lopers at its own two-yard line. Taking over at the Loper 41-yard line, the Lions went three and out but another punt put the Kearney offense in a precarious position. This time, the Lopers took over at its' eight-yard line.

The Lions finally converted one of these short drives, taking over at the 33-yard line and getting a 31-yard pass from Fleeton to junior Ricky Nichols on first down. Fleeton scored two plays later.

Prior to half, sophomore Brendan Wentling (Grand Island H.S.) was just short on a 51-yard field goal try. A personal foul hit by Caleb Domingue gave UNK a first down on 3^rd and 11. Due to helmet contact, Domingue was ejected from the game.

To start the second half, UNK got great field position for once as a 12-yard punt allowed them to take over at mid field. Three plays later, Cotton rumbled 33 yard for his first score of 2015.

However, Southern responded with a 39-yard kick return by Ty'Quan Hayes and an off sides penalty on the Lopers moved the ball all the way to mid field. Later, MSSU was apparently stopped on 3^rd and 2 but two Kearney penalties, resulting in 21 yards, kept the drive alive.

UNK kept MSSU out of the end zone but sophomore Brock Renken booted a 26-yard field goal with 8:33 left in the quarter.

"Our guys believe in what we're doing and they are competing and playing hard," said Bleil. "We just have to execute at a higher level and make sure the players keep believing."

A transfer from FCS-member Northwestern (La.) State, Fleeton was 13 of 22 for 194 yards, one TD and no INT's. Sacked once, he rushed nine times for a net gain of 15 yards.

Junior Terrell Crawford (five recep., 52 yards) was Fleeton's favorite target with senior back Will Gregory running 16 times for 49 yards.  Defensively, junior safety Johnquavious McBride had 14 tackles (nine solo), two PBU's's and one INT.

UNK saw Cotton run for 116 yards on just 16 carries. This marks his seventh career 100 yard day. Also, Marsh worked around five sacks to end with 57 yards on a team-best 20 carries.

Marsh had one of his busiest days in the air, going 16 of 41 for 96 yards, one TD and one INT. He threw completions to nine different teammates, led by senior receiver Traveon Presley-Freeman (five recep., 34 yards).

Finally, junior linebacker Tyke Kozeal (Sargent) had 4 tackles, including seven solo, with junior linemen Peyton Lange (Elkhorn) making eight and senior corner Shai Harris (Glendale, Ariz.) one of three Lopers with six.

UNK hosts Central Missouri (1-2) next Saturday at 3:00 p.m. The Mules led No. 3 NW Missouri State 23-6 late in the third quarter but the Bearcats rallied for a 34-30 win.
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