FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2007

Lions move to 2-0 with 48-20 win at home over Harding

Box Score

Joplin, Mo. - Adam Hinspeter threw for 215 yards and four touchdowns leading the Missouri Southern Lions to a 48-20 win over Harding University in the 2007 Southern home opener at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.

The Lions (2-0) scored the game's first 14 points as Hinspeter hit Isaac Norman and Korie Henry in the first 10 minutes of the game.

The Lions added another score from Hinspeter to Norman, this time a 22 yard score to go up 21-0. A 45 yard field goal from Brian Malette, tying his career high, as well as a 67-yard touchdown pass to Bado and a 37 yard interception return for a touchdown from Corderial Collier gave the Lions a 38-7 lead at the half. 

Harding (1-1) committed four first-half turnovers, including three interceptions thrown by Bison junior quarterback David Knighton.

Hinspeter threw for 168 yards and four touchdowns on 12-16 passing in the first half. Renard Johnson had 13 rushes for 82 yards, while LSU transfer Alley Broussard saw his first action as a Lion and scampered for 71 yards on nine carries in the first half.

Broussard would get his first touchdown as a Lion eight minutes into the second half, as he broke three different tackles and ran for pay dirt collecting on a 39 yard score. The Lions added another field goal from Malette, this time a 35 yarder, to go up 48-14. A late touchdown from Harding would put the final score at 48-20.

Broussard broke numerous tackles on the night and rushed for 110 yards on 10 carries with a TD. Johnson ended up with 84 yards on 15 carries. Bado had 95 yards on six catches, while Norman caught five passes for 87 yards.

The Lions had 463 yards of total offense including 245 on the ground. Southern was 2-2 in fourth down conversions, as well as a perfect 2-2 in the red zone.

The Southern defense limited Harding to 305 yards of offense on the night and forced five turnovers (three interceptions and two fumble recoveries). Jared Brawner had 13 tackles, including a half a sack he shared with Skyler Vandiver. Vandiver had three tackles on the night including a fumble recovery.

Rudy Mascaro had ten tackles with two for a loss of 11 yards. Mascaro and Josh Woodard both had sacks as the Lions sacked Harding quarterback David Knighton three times on the night. BJ Russow had four tackles including three quarterback hurries. Justin Cowper and Jordan Patton both had interceptions for Southern.

The Lions will start their MIAA schedule next week and play host to Pittsburg State in the tenth annual US Cellular Miners Bowl at Fred G Hughes Stadium Kick off is slated for 6 pm. on Saturday.