Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.—Missouri State quarterback Kierra Harris threw three touchdowns in the first half and added a 20-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to lead the Bears to a 31-12 win against South Dakota Saturday at Plaster Field.

Harris completed eight passes for 143 yards and ran seven times for a game-high 90 yards. He threw touchdowns of 53 yards to Malik Earl and 29 yards to Gannon Sinclair. His 12-yard touchdown strike to Julian Burton came 40 seconds before halftime and gave the Bears a 24-3 lead.

Missouri State (4-3, 1-2 MVFC) ran for a season high 288 yards. In addition to Harris, Phoenix Johnson had 76 yards, Calan Crowder had 58 yards and Ryan Heaston added 55. The Bears carried 21 times for 162 yards in the second half while putting it in the air four times after the break.

South Dakota (2-4, 0-3) capped its opening possession of both halves with Miles Bergner field goals and got a 5-yard touchdown run from Jasper Sanders late in the third quarter. The Coyotes ran for 189 yards and passed for 165. Neither offense committed a turnover.

USD quarterback Kevin Earl completed 22 of 39 passes, but the Coyotes averaged less than five yards per attempt. The ground game was paced by Trevor Bouma's 82 yards on 12 totes. Sanders added 68 yards on 15 carries.

Bergner tied his collegiate best with a 47-yard field goal on the game's opening possession. He added a 34-yarder in the third quarter and is 12-for-12 on field goal attempts this season. He's made 18 in a row dating back to last season.

The Bears countered both field goals with touchdowns. Earl snuck behind the defense and down the right sideline for an easy 53-yard pitch and catch that gave MSU its first lead at 7-3. The Coyotes muffed a punt late in the first quarter, but the defense didn't allow a yard in three plays and forced a Marcelo Bonani 32-yard field goal attempt that made it 10-3.

It was 17-3 late in the half when Harris ran a two-minute offense to perfection. Starting from his own 14 with 2:12 left before halftime, Harris led the Bears 86 yards in nine plays and 92 seconds, finding Burton from 12 yards away for his third touchdown pass and a 21-point halftime advantage.

Special teams was key for the Bears as punter Chris Sullens pinned the Coyotes six times inside the 20 in seven attempts. He even had a 74 yarder downed on the 7. South Dakota's average starting position was its own 18 and its best starting spot was its own 27.

South Dakota returns to Vermillion and will host top-ranked North Dakota State at 2 p.m. on Oct. 25. The Bison improved to 7-0 after beating Indiana State 34-17 Saturday.