By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
To close the chapter from last week, Pittsburg State’s game-winning touchdown was inbounds.
A shot taken by KODE weekend sports anchor Andy Searcy clearly shows that wide receiver Marques Nelson dragged his right foot in the back of the end zone for a touchdown with 16 seconds remaining, giving the Gorillas a 21-14 victory over Missouri Southern.
After the last-minute loss to the No. 7 Gorillas, the task facing the Lions is to move on and prepare for Saturday night’s home game against No. 5 Nebraska-Omaha.
“It’s tough to lose in a big game like that, a rivalry game,” tight end Scott Clipp said. “But after practice (Tuesday), it seems like everybody has moved on. Everybody is focused on the game to come.”
“A loss to Pitt is always tough, but it was a building experience for our team,” outside linebacker Rudy Mascaro said. “How we played, we did well ... I think we’ll respond well.
“I know the team has moved on from that. It’s still on my mind, but we know we have another opponent who is just as good or better.”
The Mavericks, former North Central Conference powerhouse now making their first journey through the MIAA, are 2-0 and bidding for their 13th consecutive winning seasons. The Mavericks have advanced to postseason play in seven of the last 12 years.
The loss last week was the Lions’ fourth setback by seven points or less in the last two seasons.
“Of course it’s frustrating,” Mascaro said, “but you have to keep preparing. We just want to give ourselves opportunities to win in the fourth quarter every game. We’ve been able to do that since I’ve been here.”
“The loss to Pittsburg was very disappointing, but no more disappointing than any other loss,” head coach Bart Tatum said. “If we had really severe concerns about the way we fundamentally approach coaching, playing, practicing, lifting and training, we would be pushing the panic button right now. But nobody is pushing the panic button, and we’re not going to push it because we feel like we’re doing things right. I’m certainly proud of the effort our guys gave.”
Last year the Lions followed the PSU game with a contest against Southwest Baptist. But now, with SBU going independent in football and UNO filling the vacancy on the schedule, the opponent is much tougher.
“I’d much rather be playing UNO right now than Southwest Baptist,” Tatum said. “I lamented the change and how much better Nebraska-Omaha makes our league and tougher to get victories, but our guys are going to respond favorably, I hope. And so far they have.
“You’re going to have some hangover from a game like we had at Pittsburg. It’s impossible to avoid that. But you can limit some of it and you can motivate your way out of the hangover. Our guys have responded very well.”
Clipp said it doesn’t matter who the next opponent is.
“I think we come into every game looking the same ... we have to perform our best to get the victory,” he said. “I really don’t think a No. 5 ranking in the nation has much to do with it.”
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