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NOTES

Missouri State returns to the road this Saturday when the Bears put their five-game win streak on the line against fellow MVFC charter member Northern Iowa at 4 p.m. (ESPN+). MoState has won three of the last four meetings against the Panthers, including a 35-16 win over UNI last season in Springfield.

Missouri State's five-game win streak matches the 6th-longest active streak in the FCS ranks headed into this week's competition. The Bears are also ranked in the official FCS top 25 poll for the third straight week, checking in at No. 18 this week in the AFCA rankings as well as No. 9 in the MasseyRatings.com metrics.

• A Missouri State win against Northern Iowa would give the Bears a:
• 4-0 start in conference play for the first time since 1992 (coach Jesse Branch)
• 6-2 overall start for the first time since 1996 (coach Del Miller)
• 6-game winning streak for the first time since 2001-02 (Oct. 27, 2001 to Sept. 7, 2002) (coach Randy Ball)

Quarterback Jacob Clark (Sr., Rockwall, Texas) completed 22-of-27 passes for 379 yards and 3 TDs in the Bears' homecoming victory over Indiana State last week. He also rushed for a touchdown and led MoState to seven scores in 10 offensive possessions. His 82-yard TD pass to tight end Lance Mason in the third quarter was the 10th-longest passing play in team history. Clark posted his 5th 300-yard passing game of the season and his 7th in 11 career starts. In the win over Indiana St., Clark also became the 14th MSU passer to eclipse 2,000 passing yards in a season and the 13th Bear to hit the 3,000-yard mark in career passing yards. He is a 3-time MVFC Offensive Player of the Week. See p. 6 for Clark national rankings.

MSU tight end Lance Mason (Jr., Rockwall, Texas) leads the MVFC in yards per reception (20.14) and shares The Valley lead in receiving touchdowns (6). He ranks 9th nationally in both categories. Mason has scored 6 touchdowns over the last 6 games and has multiple receptions in 6 straight games. 

MSU's defense has allowed less than 30 points in 4 of the last 5 games. The Bears are 8-1 under coach Ryan Beard when allowing less than 30 points. UNI has eclipsed 20 points just once in its first 7 ball games. 

MoState's offense ranks in the FCS top 25 in the following categories: 3rd in passing offense (323.9); 3rd in completion percentage (.722); 3rd in pass efficiency (175.87); 11th in third-down efficiency (.481); 15th in passing yards per completion (13.82); 16th in total offense (426.3); 17th in scoring offense (34.6); 22nd in first downs (156); and 25th in red zone offense (.893). MSU leads the MVFC in passing offense and pass efficiency, while ranking 2nd in total offense, completion percentage and yards per completion.

Jacardia Wright (Sr., Decatur, Ill.) has 421 carries for 1,880 yards and 24 touchdowns in 27 games as a Bear. He is 120 yards away from becoming the 11th Missouri State player to rack up 2,000 career rushing yards, while his 24 rushing scores is tied for 6th on MSU's career list. He ranks 12th nationally in rushing touchdowns (9), 16th in total touchdowns (9) and 30th in scoring per game (7.7).

Standout receivers Hunter Wood (Sr., Springdale, Ark.) and Jmariyae Robinson (So., Cocoa, Fla.) have both snagged pass receptions in 18 straight games. Wood ranks 2nd in the MVFC and 32nd nationally in receptions per game (5.1), while Robinson ranks 6th in the MVFC in receiving yds/game (61.0), 56th nationally.

MoState's defense ranks in the top 25 nationally in the following: 8th in defensive touchdowns (2); 9th in sacks (2.86); 12th in fumble recoveries (6); 13th in turnover margin (0.86); 16th in takeaways (13); 21st in interceptions (7). The Bears lead the MVFC in all of those categories except turnover margin (second).

The Bears have scored on their opening drive 3 straight games and 4 of their last 5. Likewise, Missouri State has scored second-half opening drive touchdowns in back-to-back games and 5-of-7 overall.

Standout linebacker Tahj Chambers (Sr., Arlington, Texas) is 3rd in the MVFC (26th nationally) in tackles per game (8.6), while DL Jalen Williams (Sr., Overland Park, Kan.) ranks 3rd/28th in sacks per game (0.71).

Series HistoryIn a series that began in 1980, UNI has dominated with a 36-8 lead. However, Missouri State has won three of the last four meetings, including a 2021 victory at the UNI-Dome. The Bears are 5-17 all-time at home against the Panthers and 3-19 all-time in Cedar Falls.

In the last meeting in Cedar Falls (10/22/22), UNI's Dom Williams scored four touchdowns and amassed 101 rushing yards on 17 carries to help lead Northern Iowa past visiting Missouri State, 41-20. The Bears tried to overcome a slow start and managed to cut into an early 17-point deficit on two occasions. But, Williams and UNI quarterback Theo Day managed to frustrate MSU most of the afternoon, converting 8-of-13 third-down opportunities and converting big gains when they needed them most. Jason Shelley finished 16-of-22 for 151 yards and a touchdown, while Jacardia Wright carried 15 times for 61 yards. Day finished 22-of-37 for 291 yards for UNI, while the Panthers amassed 522 yards of total offense and 31 first downs.



Last season at Plaster Stadium (11/11/23), the Bears racked up 430 yards of total offense and held visiting Northern Iowa to three field goals and a late touchdown to secure a 35-16 senior day thrashing of the No. 15 Panthers. MSU quarterback Jordan Pachot was 27-of-35 for 326 yards and 4 touchdowns to pace the home club with Raylen Sharpe hauling in 11 receptions for a career-high 160 yards and a pair of scores. The Bears never trailed and racked up 24 first downs on the afternoon with their fifth 400-yard offensive output of the campaign. MSU held off a third-quarter push by the Panthers who tacked on field goals of 48 and 38 yards from senior Matthew Cook. His 38-yarder was his third of the day and made it a 21-9 game with 5:09 left in the stanza. But Pachot and company were up to the challenge, embarking on a 12-play, 85-yard touchdown march that consumed the next seven-plus minutes. Pachot hit an open Sharpe on the far sideline for a 10-yard score to put things on ice. The Bears converted two third-down opportunities on the drive, including a 35-yard strike to Sharpe to the UNI 10-yard line. | Final Stats