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    • Missouri State Football Review After Close Win Over Montana
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    Missouri State Football Review After Close Win Over Montana

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    Missouri State football had a chance to pull off a big upset in the season opener, but failed to win the game, losing 29-24 to FCS No. 3 Montana.

    The Bears had the ball, down by five points with 1:38 to go, but they went four-and-out and gave up three straight sacks, ending their potential winning drive.

    The Bears were plagued by penalties and injuries all night long, even as they could have matched their highest-record win in program history.

    Here’s how we rated Missouri State’s offense, defense, special teams and coaches after the opener in Montana:

    More: Can Missouri State AD Patrick Ransdell Get Mizzou to Springfield? What He Said About Scheduling.

    Attack: C

    It’s a tough one to judge because Missouri State had two starting offensive linemen injured, in addition to the one it already missed for the night. Starting quarterback Jacob Clark, in his first game after missing the final eight of last season due to season-ending shoulder surgery, was solid as he threw for 257 yards and one interception against one of the subdivision’s best secondaries.

    Defense: C

    Montana scored on its final three drives of the game, when one stop could have had a different outcome. MSU entered the game needing to limit big plays, but allowed six runs of 10 or more yards and five passes of 15 or more yards.

    More: Missouri State AD Patrick Ransdell’s New Contract Details: Salary, Buyout, Incentives

    Special teams: B

    New kicker Yousef Obeid had a 33-yard field goal and all of his extra points, but a pooch kick late in the game went out, giving Montana good field position. Connor Lair’s special teams tackle, in his first game back after beating cancer, was one of the highlights of the night.

    Coaches: C-

    Offensive coordinator Nick Petrino has been fantastic with his play-calling, playing against one of the best defenses in the FCS and having a battered offensive line, but some of the questionable late decisions, penalties and lack of discipline have been the fault of the coaches.

    More: New Missouri State AD Patrick Ransdell celebrated orientation. ‘This is a new day’

    General: C+

    Not many expected Missouri State to be so competitive against one of the best FCS teams in the country. There is plenty of reason for optimism for the Bears heading into the rest of their final FCS season, but there were plenty of missed opportunities that might have led to a win.

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