By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
Ten Missouri Southern football players conclude their college careers Saturday afternoon when the Lions play host to Fort Hays State.
“Last week it started hitting me a little more than it has the rest of the season,” said defensive tackle David Benham, a fifth-year senior. “I was talking to my father, and after this last game, I’m going to feel what all my other teammates in high school felt after the last game. I didn’t feel that because I knew I was going on to college.
“But this is it. It finally hit (Tuesday) night. I’m starting to see it’s over this week.”
Other seniors facing their final game are receivers Isaac Norman and Daniel Thompson, running backs Toderick Hunt and Johnny Johnson, center Chris Norris, guard Kenton Stephens, defensive end Jairius Jarvis, linebacker Rudy Mascaro and defensive back Terrance Scott.
“It seems like just yesterday it was my freshman year,” said Norman, a four-year player for the Lions. “I thought about it (Tuesday) ... wow, there’s one week left before my career is over.”
“This game is to honor our senior class,” Lions head coach Bart Tatum said. “We’d really like to have a great game to send them out with some style and some class because that’s what they are.
“They are good people who worked tremendous amounts of time. They’ve invested a lot of effort in what we’re trying to do here. Everything we’ve asked them to do this year, they’ve done. We’re very appreciative of what they’ve meant to the football program here at Southern. There is still a lot to play for, and we intend to show up and give our best effort.”
The Lions (3-6, 3-5 MIAA) and Fort Hays State (5-5, 3-5) will be playing for at least a tie for sixth place. Pittsburg State (5-5, 3-5) also comes in sixth if the Gorillas win at Truman State.
Asked about top memories from his MSSU career, “The 2007 season, going 6-5,” Norman said. “And two weeks ago beating Missouri Western at Missouri Western.”
“My biggest memory will be the friendships I’ve made with some of these guys,” Benham said. “There are a lot of things about playing college football that I would never have experienced being in a small, sheltered town that I was in from northwest Oklahoma (Okeene).”
