FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2007

Broussard runs for four touchdowns, but Lions fall 31-28 to sixth ranked Pittsburg State in Miner's Bowl

Box Score

Joplin, Mo. - Alley Broussard ran for 173 yards and four touchdowns, but the Missouri Southern football team lost a heartbreaker tonight, falling 31-28 to sixth ranked Pittsburg State in front of more than 9,000 fans at Hughes Stadium in the tenth annual US Cellular Miner's Bowl.

Southern (2-1, 0-1 MIAA) racked up 300 yards rushing for the second game this season as both Broussard and Renard Johnson reached the century mark. Johnson ran for 132 on on 16 carries. 

The Lions fell down early as Pitt scored first with a 25 yard field goal from freshman kicker Jared Witter. Brandon Clark would later score on a one-yard run, making the score 10-0 with nine minutes left in the first half.

After a Pitt State (3-0, 1-0 MIAA) three and out, Southern started from their own 33 with 4:50 left in the half. Broussard promptly put the Lions on the board as the LSU transfer broke open on the far sideline and ran for 67 yards and a score cutting the PSU lead to 10-7 at the half. Broussard had 118 yards of Southern's 193 at the half.

The Gorillas started quick in the second half as quarterback Mark Smith and running back Caleb Ferabi moved the ball down the field with ease, and PSU took up over six minutes off the clock on their first drive of the half, culminating in a two yard touchdown run from Smith.

The Lions punted on their next possession and Nathan Thomas took the ball and ran it back 32 yards to the MSSU 28. After an end around with Thomas and Marques that went for 16 yards, Ferabi took the ball in for a 12-yard touchdown to give the Gorillas a 24-7 lead.

The fourth quarter would be all Southern as the Lions outscored PSU 21-7. Broussard would cap off a 16 play drive that took up over seven minutes off the clock with his second TD of the game, cutting the lead to ten at 24-14. After a 40 yard Ferabi TD run to put PSU up 31-14, Broussard added his third touchdown of the game, this one a two-yarder, cutting the lead to ten once again.

After the Southern defense forced a PSU turnover on downs, quarterback Adam Hinspeter completed four passes and the Lions went for it on 4th and seven. The pass was incomplete, but PSU was flagged for a pass interference and on the next play Broussard added his fourth touchdown of the game. That would be all Southern could get, however, as time ran out on the comeback.

Southern beat Pitt in almost every offensive category including rushing yards (302-295), passing yards (102-71), and total yards  (404-366), but a key interception and nine penalties for 76 yards hurt the Lions in the end.

Colin Bado caught five passes for 37 yards and went over 2,000 receiving yards in his career. He is just the third Lion to accomplish that feat joining NFL Pro Bowler Rod Smith and Heath Helsel. Rudy Mascaro had 16 tackles, including two for a loss, while Jared Brawner had 14 tackles and a half a sack. He teamed with Jamel Smith on a sack of Smith.

The Lions will travel to Bolivar, Mo. next week as they take on the Bearcats of Southwest Baptist University. This will be the last time Southern will face off with SBU as an MIAA opponent as the Bearcats will leave the conference next year to be an independent in football only. Kickoff is slated for 6 pm.