The Chart Online

Southern prepares for PSU
Philip Martin

Sports Editor

For the first time in Miner s Bowl history, the two teams will meet with undefeated records.

Pittsburg State, ranked nationally as No. 3, will host this year s game with Missouri Southern. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Carney Smith Stadium in Pittsburg, Kan. The Lions and Gorillas are both 4-0 going into the game.

Chuck Broyles, PSU head football coach, said his team will be preparing for this game like any other game. He said the teams in the MIAA trade game films with each other, and PSU already knows what to expect from Southern.

In our profession, half of the teams lose each week, Broyles said.

He believes PSU does not have a home-field advantage, even though it is playing at home. Broyles said if it was a real advantage, Pitt State would have seven points going into the game. He said like any other team, the Gorillas feel more comfortable at home than away.

Broyles thinks Saturday s game will be fun, and Jerrod Murphy, Lion sophomore linebacker, agrees.

Murphy said Southern is going to win by the offense running the ball and the defense flying around and hitting people.

Chris Turner, junior wide receiver, said PSU has never seen running backs like Southern s. He said this year the Lions have a pretty good shot at winning the game.

Dustin Drake, junior offensive line, said as long as Southern comes out and plays its best, it can beat PSU.

Hands down, they re a good defensive line, Stewart said. We have to bring our A game.

Josh Elmer, junior linebacker, said he was ready to play the game. He said a win at the Miner s Bowl will show people Missouri Southern is back.

Turner said the game will be a test for the Lions, and they will be testing PSU at the same time.

Bill Cooke, head football coach, said one way to beat PSU is by not having any self-inflicted wounds.

He said it is impossible to play a flawless game, but Southern will want to avoid penalties that could cost points. Cooke believes there is no intimidation from PSU going into Saturday s game.

Everything in life is an attitude, Cooke said. No one can make you feel intimidated or inferior without your consent. We re not going to be all over intimidated by them. We re a very talented football team together - when we play with emotion, intensity and purpose.

He said the game is going to come down to mistakes by both teams. Cooke said if a team turns the football over to PSU, it s like a feeding frenzy at the shark tank.

PSU s starting quarterback has been out for the past two weeks. As yet, Broyles doesn t know who will start.

Cooke said the Lions will give PSU some problems when it comes to the defense.

We re going to go out there, play the best we can, and let the chips fall where they may, he said.