SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) - Calan Crowder ran for 164 yards and Missouri State gave first-year head coach Dave Steckel his first victory in the home opener, holding off Division II-Chadron State, 21-13 on Saturday.
After a humbling, 63-7 loss at Memphis, the Tigers stopped Chadron State on fourth down at the Missouri State 28 with under four minutes left to preserve the victory.
Breck Ruddick completed 19 of 34 passes for 128 yards and one touchdown and ran for another score to lead the Missouri State offense.
Chadron State took a 10-7 lead in the second quarter and pulled within one, 14-13, in the third quarter on a 36-yard field goal by Randy Wentz. Ruddick answered on the Tigers' next possession, engineering a 75-yard, six-play drive capped by his 55-yard scoring run.
Derek Jackson led Chadron State on the ground, picking up 133 yards on 18 carries, including a 73-yard dash for a second-quarter score.
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