The Lions snapped their losing streak on Sept. 20 defeating the University of Missouri-Rolla, 49-35.

The last time the Missouri Southern Lions football team lost to the University of Missouri-Rolla Miners was in 1994, since then the Lions have gone 8-0 in the series, and on Sept. 20, they were looking to run that to 9-0. The Lions raced out to a 21-7 lead in the first quarter of play, and by halftime they held a 31-21 advantage. With the ground game and solid special teams play, the Lions held on for the win. As a team, the Lions finished with 497 yards, for a 6.0 yards per play average. Senior running back Darvin Willard led the way in the Lions rushing attack, racking up 111 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. The 6-2, 195 lbs. Willard would end the day with 162 total yards. But perhaps his biggest contribution came midway through the fourth quarter. With Southern holding on to lead by a slim six point margin and Rolla threatening to take the lead on their next possession, the Lions’ offense failed to convert on third and nine from the fifty and was forced into a punting situation. Southern punter Brandon Hawkins sent the ball to the Rolla 23 yard line, where Miners’ defensive back Lamar Baker fumbled the ball. Once again, Willard played a roll in a key play for Southern, recovering the fumble and setting Mothershed and the rest of the offense up with great field position.

Four plays and approximately two minutes later, the Lions had extended their lead to a 14-point advantage. Kokain Mothershed ran the ball 17 times for 101 yards and a touchdown and passed for another 207 yards and a touchdown.

“It was a momentum changer,” said Bill Cooke, head football coach. “If they had fielded that punt and scored, there’s a good chance that they could have beaten us. So that was a huge play, a game-breaker-play for us. They’re a good football team, and they’re well coached even though they haven’t won a conference game in about three years. They play hard and they played to the end.”

“It felt good to move the ball and to score a few points,” said Rob Green, Southern offensive coordinator.

The Lions will take their undefeated conference record on the road this week to Warrensburg to play the Central Missouri State Mules. The Mules are 3-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play after they defeated the then nationally ranked Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats in Maryville 52-24. Coming into the game, the Mules are ranked third in the MIAA in points allowed per game (14.3) and first in points forced per game (54.7). Central is averaging 225.3 yards per game rushing, where as the Lions’ defense is giving up 91.7 yards per game.

Central and Southern are first and third in the MIAA in rushing defense, respectively. Conversely, the Lions are going to the ground to the tune of 169 yards per game on average, while the Mules are giving up 6.7 yards per game.

“They (Central) are a run to throw, smash-mouth, challenge your manhood team,” Cooke said.

The Lions do hold the edge in overall series between the two foes, going 13-9-2 in the schools’ 24 meetings. During that span they have gone 6-5-1 in Warrensburg, but haven’t won there since 1995.

Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. at Audrey J. Walton Stadium in Warrensburg.