Missouri State keeps the last possession and beats Kennesaw State 24-21

Yousef Obeid’s field goal on the final play gave Missouri State a 24-21 win over Kennesaw State on Wednesday in Springfield, ending a back-and-forth Conference USA game with a drive that used the final 6:06.

Henry Belin IV threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns to Isaiah Myers in his first start for the Bears. Missouri State improved to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in conference play, while the Owls fell to 1-5 and 0-2.

The teams had exchanged second-half leads before Boogie Woods scored on a 1-yard run with 6:06 remaining. Daniel Kinney’s extra point tied the game at 21, and Kennesaw State did not get the ball back.

Missouri State’s response began at its own 25. Belin completed a third-down pass to Connor Lair to keep the possession going, then found Myers for a 32-yard gain that brought the Bears into scoring position. Missouri State continued working downfield and called timeout with two seconds remaining before sending Obeid out for the winning kick.

The CBS Sports College Football condensed game shows the lead changes and the final possession that decided the game.

The Bears finished with 421 yards and 26 first downs. Belin completed 28 of 39 passes with two touchdowns and one interception. Myers caught seven passes for 135 yards, accounting for both touchdown receptions and another important gain on the last drive.

Obeid had supplied all six Missouri State points in the first half with field goals from 24 and 25 yards. Kennesaw State moved in front 7-6 on the final play before halftime, when Rickie Collins hit Dylan Gary for a 10-yard touchdown.

Belin and Myers put Missouri State back ahead in the third quarter. Their 14-yard touchdown connection, followed by Lair’s two-point conversion, made it 14-7. Collins answered with a 9-yard touchdown run to bring Kennesaw State level again.

After a missed Kennesaw State field goal early in the fourth quarter, Belin led another scoring drive. Myers’ 12-yard touchdown catch with 9:20 remaining made it 21-14, setting up Woods’ tying run and Missouri State’s long final answer.

Gary gave the Owls a major receiving performance of their own, catching 10 passes for 135 yards and the first-half touchdown. Kennesaw State totaled 337 yards, but Missouri State’s ability to retain possession at the end kept the visitors from getting a final chance to respond.

Jmariyae Robinson added eight catches for 77 yards for Missouri State. The Bears’ postgame report credited him with the school’s career receptions record at 155, passing former tight end Clay Harbor. Jared Lloyd led the defense with 10 tackles.

Missouri State travels to Delaware on October 20. Kennesaw State returns home to face Liberty on October 22.

Sources

• CBS Sports College Football: Kennesaw State–Missouri State condensed game
• ESPN: Kennesaw State–Missouri State final and box score
• Missouri State: Bears walk off Kennesaw State
• AP: Missouri State beats Kennesaw State

Sources

ESPN: Kennesaw State–Missouri State final and box score · Bears walk off Kennesaw State · AP: Missouri State beats Kennesaw State