Missouri State football's 4th quarter scoring not worth the concern

Springfield, Missouri — Missouri State’s offensive performance has been strong throughout their first two games, but the team has struggled to score in the fourth quarter. The Bears have failed to score in any fourth quarter this season, raising the question of whether this is a cause for concern. Head coach Casey Woods remains unperturbed, stating, “That’s the first that it’s been brought to me attention.” Woods suggests that the issue may be circumstantial rather than a systemic problem.

The Bears exhibited a strong offensive performance against Lindenwood and Marshall, gaining 569 and 506 total yards respectively. However, these yards have not been translated into late-game points. One factor could be the opposition’s defense; against Texas A&M, Missouri State’s momentum was stifled in the final quarter. In the game against Lindenwood, the Bears relied heavily on reserve players to secure their victory.

The team also failed to score in the final quarter against Marshall, gaining 86 yards in their last drive.

Woods acknowledges the need to improve their red zone scoring efficiency, stating, “We have to finish the drives in the red zone, for sure.” Currently, Missouri State is one of three teams in the country to have failed to score in the final quarter, making them the only Conference USA team without this achievement. With conference play approaching, finishing strong offensively will be crucial for Missouri State to contend for the league title.