By Jim Henry
sports@joplinglobe.com
JOPLIN, Mo. —
Missouri Southern’s defensive assignment this week is unique to the rest of the season.
The Lions wrap up nonconference play Saturday night at home against Lincoln University, and the Blue Tigers will employ an option offense that the Lions won’t see during MIAA play.
“The option offense is not something you see all the time anymore,” Lions head coach Bart Tatum said. “You very rarely see it in fact.
“So how are your players going to adjust to that assignment-type of defense that we’re going to have to play against their option ... quarterback, dive, pitch. There has to be somebody accounting for all three of those on every snap.”
“Mentally we have to be disciplined football players,” junior linebacker Richard Williams said. “That’s what (the coaches) keep instilling in us ... everybody do their job. If one person doesn’t do their job, the (play) could pop and be a big play. That’s what we don’t want.”
The Lions opened their season last Thursday with a 30-0 victory over Minnesota State-Moorhead.
Southern’s defense limited the Dragons to 199 total yards and forced them to punt after three plays on each of their first four possessions. For the game the Dragons had seven three-and-outs in 13 possessions.
The Dragons reached the Lions’ 25-yard line in the second quarter, but the drive ended when Williams jumped a pass route and intercepted a quick pass toward the left side.
Then in the fourth period the Dragons drove to the MSSU 9, but defensive back Dexter Fowler picked off a deflected pass near the goal to preserve the shutout.
“I think we played pretty good as a team,” Williams said. “We played high, hard and fast. As a defensive unit we came together and we did a pretty good job. We executed what we wanted to do, and we did get the shutout. That gives us a little bit of confidence going into this week.”
Confidence, not overconfidence.
“Our coaches are saying they don’t want that to get to our heads,” Williams said. “We have to go out there and work.”
Injury report
Stephen Poston, junior wide receiver from Carthage, suffered a wrist injury against Minnesota State-Moorhead and likely will miss the rest of the season, Tatum said.
Senior nose guard Domenique Butler has seen limited practice this week but could still play against Lincoln.
