First Opponent Check-In: Missouri State Better Than Most FCS Opponents

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State starts the 2021 football season at home in just about 60 days on Sept. 4 against Missouri State out of Springfield, Mo. Oklahoma State is a perfect 8-0 over the Bears and has won those games by an average of 45.5-points to 12.5 for Missouri State. The closest game was  a 23-20 overtime win by a Bob Simmons coached Cowboys team in 1996. The biggest win was 57-13 over the Bears in 2008 with Mike Gundy and company including quarterback Zac Robinson and receiver Dez Bryant. All that said, Missouri State is better. In one season former Arkansas, Louisville, and NFL head coach with the Atlanta Falcons Bobby Petrino has made a difference.

Missouri State University Athletics

Bobby Petrino

Petrino is know for a lot of things, but his teams have been competitive and beyond during his tenures. Last season the Bears started in Norman against Oklahoma and were run ruled by the Sooners 48-0. Also in the fall, Missouri State lost twice to Central Arkansas 27-20 and 33-24.

Then the Bears started their spring season as an FCS program and after a 30-24 win over Western Illinois, a team Oklahoma State was supposed to play last season before the COVID-19 schedule scale down, and a loss to No. 6-North Dakota State 25-0; Missouri State got with it.

The Bears beat No. 10-Northern Iowa 13-6, No. 10-Southern Illinois 30-27, before losing to No. 7-North Dakota in the FCS playoffs 44-0.

Here are some numbers that reflect both the ugly losses, but also the close wins over ranked opponents and the Bear reliance on defense.

The Bears return their defensive leaders in junior corner Montrae Braswell, who was first-team All-Missouri Valley and had 36 tackles and three interceptions, two that he returned for touchdowns. He also had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Southern Illinois. 

Missouri State University Athletics

Braswell goes 100-yards with kickoff return.

Braswell is 6-0, 185 and has lots of speed. He is a potential NFL prospect off the Bears roster. 

The other defensive leaders are junior defensive end Kevin Ellis (6-4, 241) who averaged a sack a game in the spring season and also had 8.0 tackles for loss. Safety Kyrig McDonald is a 6-0, 202 tackling machine with 49 total tackles and he averaged 7.0-yards on punt returns. Junior Tyler Wiltz is a linebacker that is 6-1, 230 and did lead the team with 75 tackles including 12 solo tackles in the loss at Oklahoma. 

Southern Miss transfer Jaden Johnson is the quarterback and the 6-2, 216 pound sophomore threw for 1,028-yards last season with three touchdowns and six interceptions. he is also a run threat which is why he won the job over 6-4, 200 pound Idaho State transfer Matt Struck. 

Cladon Manning is a sophomore running back that is dangerous. He had a 3.8-yards per carry average but in the win over Southern Illinois had 182-all-purpose-yards and four touchdowns.

Missouri State University Athletics

Vick is a player.

Oklahoma State fans might remember former Westmoore star Damoriea Vick. The 6-3, 213 pound Vick is the top receiver for the Bears with 40 catches for 544-yards and two touchdowns last season. 

The Bears aren’t a threat to come in and beat the Cowboys, but they are a team that has imporved and if Oklahoma State intends to flex their muscles this season then they had better respect Petrino and his team and come ready to brawl.