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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Southern (6-4, 4-4 MIAA) secured themselves the program's first winning season since 1996 when the team went 6-4. Quarterback Adam Hinspeter also became the all-time leading passer in Southern history. With his 180 yards through the air, the junior now has 6,975 yards, passing Matt Cook, who held the record with 6,830. Hinspeter also moves up to sixth on the MIAA all-time list in that category. His 6,941 yards of total offense in his career ranks third at Southern, just behind Cook. The Lions got on the board first. After the Southern defense forced a three and out, Alley Broussard capped off a six play, 64 yard drive with a two yard run into the end zone. The defense then put the Lions on top 14-0 when just two plays later, Elbert Johnson intercepted a pass at the line of scrimmage and lumbered 30 yards for the score. Truman State (5-5, 4-5 MIAA) got on the board with a 27 yard field goal from Mickey Masucci with 5:49 left in the first quarter. Southern scored once more in the first when the Lions faked a punt on fourth down and Bado ran 67 yards for a score. A Truman score and another Bado touchdown made the score 28-10, Lions with 4:31 left in the half. Both teams scored once more in the half when the Bulldogs ran back a Southern punt 60 yards and Brian Malette connected on a 33 yard field goal, making the score 31-17 at the half. Malette added another field goal from 33, before Broussard scored his second touchdown of the game, this one a 42 yard scamper to make the score 41-17, Southern at the end of the third. The Lions added two more scores, both on rushing touchdowns from Renard Johnson and Anthon Aiono. The Lions out gained Truman, 535-206, including 355 yards on the ground. Southern was a perfect 5-5 on fourth down conversions, and scored on all five trips to the red zone. They held a 40:27 - 19:33 advantage in time of advantage and had 13 more first downs than the Bulldogs. Bado was the star of the game for Southern. The senior, playing in his last game at Hughes Stadium, caught six passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. He had a 67 yard rushing score on a fake punt and also had 62 returning yards for 241 yards of total offense. Broussard finished with 22 carries for 125 yards and two scores, including a long of 42. Malette was perfect on the day, connecting on two field goals, and seven extra points. He also averaged 58.4 yards per kickoff. The Lions' defense was stellar today and was led by sophomore linebacker Jared Brawner. The Kirksville native had 12 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss of 13 yards, an interception and a quarterback hurry. Kellen Anderson had eight tackles, while Corderial Collier had five tackles and an interception. Elbert Johnson had five tackles, a sack, an interception return for a touchdown and a pass break up, while Jordan Patton added an interception of his own. The Lions defensive backfield now has 21 interceptions on the season, the most since the school record of 28 was set in 1975 and the second most all-time. Southern will now finish out the regular season with a matchup with sixth ranked Northwest Missouri at 1 pm in Maryville. The Bearcats wrapped up their seventh MIAA title in the last 12 years today with a 24-7 win over Emporia State. |