ROLLA, Mo. – Despite another solid showing by its defense Saturday night, two big plays by Hillsdale wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa ended up making the difference as Missouri S&T dropped a 17-10 decision to the Chargers at Allgood-Bailey Stadium.
TeSlaa caught eight passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns, one that came just before the first half ended and the decisive score early in the fourth quarter to break the 10-10 tie, improving Hillsdale to 3-1 on the year and dropping S&T to 1-3.
The Miners drove into Hillsdale territory on their first possession but ended up having to punt the ball away, then the Chargers drove from their own 20 to the S&T 12-yard line before setting for a 29-yard field goal from Julian Lee.
On Hillsdale's second possession,
Zatyvion Miller (Los Alamitos, CA/Los Alamitos) picked off a pass from Luke Keller to give the ball to S&T near midfield. The Miners ended up getting a game-tying field goal of their own as
Parker Boyce (Hartsburg, MO/Southern Boone) connected from 37 yards with just under 12 minutes remaining in the opening half.
S&T's defense forced a three-and out after the Chargers got the ball after the kickoff, then forced another turnover moments later when Matt Brennisen picked off a Keller pass. The Miners had to punt after the interception and backed the Chargers up at their own three-yard line with 2:56 left in the half.
Hillsdale was able to convert two third down plays to escape its own goal line, then right before the half ended, TeSlaa got behind the S&T defense on the sideline and hauled in a pass that he took to the end zone – covering 76 yards – to give the Chargers the lead with just two seconds left in the half.
The Miners, however, got the equalizing score when they got the ball for the first time in the second half. After
Staton King (Bixby, OK/Bixby) – who got his first career start at quarterback for the Miners Saturday – completed a pass to
Isaiah Wright (Panama City, FL/Port St. Joe) to get the ball into Hillsdale territory,
Cameren Smith (Claymont, DE/Concord) busted up the middle for a 41-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 10-9.
S&T lined up for the extra point and got what appeared to be a successful two-point conversion, but was called for an illegal formation on the play and ended up with Boyce kicking the extra point to tied the contest.
The Miners got back into Hillsdale territory at the 31-yard line on their next possession, but a sack on third down forced a punt, after which the Chargers began their march for what turned out to be the winning touchdown.
Hillsdale converted a fourth-and-one play from its own 27 to keep the drive going in its early stages, then recovered from a first-and-20 with a completion to Ty Williams to get across midfield. Keller got a first down on a scramble early in the fourth quarter, then threw a 25-yard scoring pass to TeSlaa as he hauled in the pass with one hand to put the Chargers into the lead.
S&T had three possession after Hillsdale's go-ahead score, but never crossed midfield on any of them.
The Chargers outgained the Miners 350-235, as King completed 15-of-25 passes for 111 yards. S&T's ground game accounted for 124 yards on the night, as Smith ran for 54 and the touchdown and
Josh Sanders (Maize, KS/Maize) finished with 32 yards. Wright, who had been held without a catch for the last two weeks, had five receptions for 46 yards.
Carson Prenger (Jefferson City, MO/Blair Oaks),
Wulfe Retzlaff (Truckee, CA/Truckee) and
Stefan Camplin (Raytown, MO/Raytown) all finished with eight tackles apiece to lead the defensive effort, where the Miners also recorded three sacks.
Nick Mattli (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt South) had a solo sack and combined with
Jake Versemann (St. Peters, MO/Lutheran St. Charles) on another, while
Ben Straatmann (Washington, MO/Washington) came up with the third.
Missouri S&T will remain at home to begin its Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule next Saturday when it hosts Quincy in a 7 p.m. game at Allgood-Bailey Stadium. Next week's game will be the Miners' Hall of Fame contest.
