Missouri State still searching for first fourth-quarter points

The Bears have piled up yards but remain scoreless in the final period, and coach Casey Woods says context explains much of it.

Missouri State has not scored in the fourth quarter this season, one of only three FBS teams in that position and the lone Conference USA program without a final-period point.

Head coach Casey Woods said the statistic had not been raised with him before and suggested it may reflect circumstances more than a flaw. The Bears rolled up 569 yards against Lindenwood in Week 2 and 506 yards against Marshall the following week, so moving the ball has not been the issue.

Woods pointed to context: Texas A&M's SEC-caliber defense stalled Missouri State in the opener, and reserves played much of the fourth quarter in the lopsided win over Lindenwood. The Marshall game was a truer test, and the Bears failed to reach the end zone late.

Missouri State has run seven fourth-quarter drives totaling 134 yards, with the final drive against Marshall — an 11-play, 86-yard march — accounting for most of that production. Two of the seven drives have stalled inside the red zone.

"We have to finish the drives in the red zone, for sure," Woods said. With Conference USA play approaching, improved late-game finishing will matter if the Bears hope to contend for a league title.