Missouri State wins 31-7 over Indiana State

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.(AP)—Cody Kirby threw for a touchdown and ran for another to lead Missouri State to a 31-7 win over Indiana State Saturday.

Kirby’s touchdown pass gave the junior 37 in his career and moved him into first place in Missouri State history for touchdown passes.

Missouri State (6-4, 4-3 Missouri Valley) scored twice early in the second half, including on its opening drive, to add to its 10-0 halftime lead over Indiana State (1-9, 1-6).

Kirby scored on a 2-yard plunge with 10:52 left in the third quarter.After a Missouri State interception of a Matt Seliger pass, Chris Douglas scored on a 15-yard run with 7:52 left to put Missouri State up 24-0. It was the second Indiana State turnover that led to a Missouri State score.

A field goal by Matt Hottleman in the first quarter and Kirby’s 11-yard pass to Jared Emery, after Missouri State recovered an Indiana State fumble, gave the Bears their early 10-0 lead.

Indiana State, who had been shutout four times this season, scored a touchdown with 5:27 left in the game on a 1-yard run by Chris Stutzriem.

Missouri State final score came on a 43-yard run by Douglas with 5:15 left.

Kirby finished with 158 yards passing and also caught a pass from halfback Cadarriu Dotson that was good for 27 yards in the opening drive of the second half.

Douglas finished with 75 yards rushing and Michael Cooper-Falls had 59. Missouri State had 349 yards of offense.

Indiana State’s starting quarterback Ryan Roberts, who left the game with an injury in the third quarter after a hard hit, finished with 82 yards. Antoine Brown had 47 yards rushing for the Sycamores.