Box Score WILBERFORCE, Ohio – Missouri S&T avoided a case of déjà vu Saturday at Central State, holding off a late Marauder rally to escape with a 27-21 victory in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

The last time the Miners visited Central State in 2008, the Marauders overcame a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter and won on the final play of the game.   On Saturday, S&T led 27-12 in the fourth quarter, only to see the Marauders close to within six with just over two minutes to play and have an opportunity in the final moments to steal the victory.

Central State got the ball with seven seconds remaining at the S&T 33-yard line after a bad snap on a punt, but Eddie Rascon (Canutillo, Texas/Canutillo) sacked quarterback Michael Wilson to end the contest as the Miners improve to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in GLVC play.

The story for the Miner offense on Saturday was one of long scoring drives – and of missed chances to break the game open at key moments.

S&T, who never trailed in the contest, broke on top with an 18-play, 80-yard touchdown drive in the opening quarter.  The Miners converted two third down plays and a fourth-and-three during the course of the drive, which culminated in a two-yard scoring run by Curterris Golden (Chicago, Ill./John Hope).

The Marauders answered right back, as Wilson connected with Zachary Thomas on a 43-yard scoring pass to cut the lead to 7-6, as CSU's two-point conversion attempt failed.

Missouri S&T responded with another touchdown drive, which was aided by a personal foul penalty on the Marauders on a third-and-16 play.  Later in the drive, the Miners were faced with a fourth-and-four on which Josh Firm (Lancaster, Calif./Quartz Hill) completed an 18-yard scoring pass to Joseph Hyman (Los Angeles, Calif./Palisades).

Central State moved to within two when Wilson – who had 235 yards of total offense in the first half – ran 57 yards for a touchdown with 3:38 to go in the half.  However, the Marauders again missed on a two-point try, leaving the Miners in front at 14-12.

S&T had a golden opportunity to add onto its lead before halftime when Naeem Forrester (Los Angeles, Calif./Venice) picked off a Wilson pass and returned it to the Marauders' five-yard line.   The Miners moved the ball to the one on three running plays, then after a timeout with 27 seconds left in the half, elected to throw on fourth down and Firm's pass to Hyman was incomplete.

Midway through the third quarter, the Miners again had the ball inside CSU's 10-yard line and came away empty when David Druse (Coal City, Ill./Coal City HS)'s 27-yard field goal hit the goal post.  But S&T didn't miss the next time it got inside the 10, as Firm closed out a 41-yard scoring drive with a seven-yard touchdown toss to Smook Thomas (Quincy, Fla./East Gadsden).

Firm threw his second touchdown pass to Hyman, covering 29 yards, with 10:38 to play to extend the S&T lead to 27-12.  The Maruaders, however, drove deep into Miner territory on its next two possessions but failed to score both times.  Freddy Dugard (Queens Village, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) sacked Wilson on a fourth-and-two at the S&T nine to halt one drive, then Jordan Pulou (Magna, Utah/Cyprus) stopped Thomas shy of a first down after CSU reached the Miner 16 to stop that chance.

But following the second stop, the Miners gave up two points when Hendricks was tackled in the end zone for a safety, then the Marauders took over at the S&T 46 after the free kick.  Six plays later, CSU was in the end zone on Everett Butler's one-yard run and had cut the Miner lead to six.

S&T recovered the onsides kick attempt and was able to melt all but 12 seconds off of the game clock before being forced to punt, but the snap went over the head of Cole Wassner (Quartz Hill, Calif./Quartz Hill) and he recovered it at the Miner 34 with seven seconds to go.  However, Rascon was able to get to Wilson and dropped him for a huge loss as time expired to preserve the win.

The Marauders outgained the Miners 413-361 in the game, but the game's only two turnovers.  S&T's defense held Central State to 171 yards after the intermission, despite the fact that Wilson finished with 402 yards of total offense on his own account.

Scott Hendricks (Kechi, Kan./Maize HS) posted his third 100-yard rushing day of the season with 122 yards on 29 carries, while Golden had 70 yards on 21 to help S&T finish the day with 147 yards on the ground.  Firm completed 21 of his 32 passes for 214 yards and the three touchdowns, while Hyman led the receivers with five catches for 58 yards.

Defensively, the Miners recorded five sacks – three by Rascon as part of a six-tackle outing – while Chris McKay (Flint, Mich./Carman-Ainsworth HS) also had six stops.  Pulou also had an interception for S&T in the victory.

The Miners will return home to host William Jewell (2-4, 1-2 GLVC) next Saturday for Homecoming, with the kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. at Allgood-Bailey Stadium.