ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Western football team forced five
turnovers and used big special team plays to come away with a 48-21
victory on Senior Day at Spratt Stadium against Fort Hays State
University. Western had three kickoff returns for 149 yards as TJ Fannin
collected 141 yards on two kickoff returns with one touchdown and had
four receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown. The Griffons improve to
8-3 overall and 6-3 in MIAA play.
The Griffons could not have asked for a better start to the contest as
Fannin opened the game with a 100 yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
This marked the first kick return for a touchdown since September 1,
2005 when Jarrett Brooks returned a kickoff 93 yards against Chadron
State.
Western’s defense feed off the momentum getting interceptions on the
first two Tiger drives which set the Griffons up for two touchdowns. The
first interception was by Kendall Davis as he helped set up a one yard
Thomas Hodges touchdown with 11:21 to play in the first quarter.
The next interception came from Jack Long as he helped set up a four
yard touchdown run from Drew Newhart giving Western the 21-0 lead with
7:28 to play in the first frame. Western’s defense forced its third
turnover with 2:01 to play when Ben Pister sacked and forced a fumble.
Nick Burrell picked up the fumble and scampered in from 14 yards out
putting Western up 28-0. This marked the first fumble recovery for a
score since September 7, 2007 when Ahmad Griffon went 59 yards on a
fumble recovery against Minnesota-Duluth.
The second quarter was just as good for the Griffons as Newhart hooked
up with Andrew Mead from 52 yards out to put the Griffons up 35-0 with
8:38 to play in the half. Western got three more points as the half
expired when Brad Beckwith broke his own school record nailing a 56 yard
field goal putting the Griffons up 38-7 at the half.
Western had 207 yards at the half with 155 coming through the air.
Newhart completed 12-of-19 passes with one touchdown. Mead had three
receptions for 80 yards and a score. Western forced four touchdowns with
three interceptions. The Griffons defensive line had four sacks with two
coming from Pister.
The Tigers had 225 yards with 238 coming through the air. The Tigers
rushed the ball 13 times for -13 yards. Garrison completed 20-of-38
passes. Cordarol Scales had six receptions for 69 yards. Alex Whitehill
had five tackles for the Tigers.
The Griffons continued the stellar play in the third quarter as
Beckwith nailed a 49 yard field goal with 9:57 to play in the third
extending the Griffons lead to 41-7. Western tacked on seven more when
Newhart connected with Fannin from 31 yards out putting Western up 48-7.
The Tigers scored twice more before the game with over on a one yard
run from James Walker and a six yard pitch an catch from Garrison to
O.J. Murdock.
Western finished with 326 yards of offense with 200 coming through the
air. Newhart passed Kasey Waterman for most pass attempts in a career
with 1,312. Adam Clausen caught four passes while Mead and Downing
finished with three and two respectively. Hodges led the rushing attack
with 42 yards on nine carries and a score. Defensively Bass finished
with six tackles and two sacks. Western finished with five sacks in the
game.
The Tigers finished with 553 yards of total offense with 435 coming
through the air. Garrison completed 36-of-64 passes with one touchdown.
Walker rushed for 120 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns while O.J.
Murdock had 10 catches for 168 yards and a score. Jacob Crossman,
Whitehill and Namari Flentroy each had seven tackles for the Tigers.
The Griffons honored 12 seniors before the game. Those players were
Andrew Mead, Drew Newhart, Brad Beckwith, Kendall Davis, Ian Thompson,
Thomas Hodges, Matt Glades, Sean Whiters, Deondre Williams, Andrew
Gilmore, Steven Jones and Sean Glades.
With the victory the Griffons will have a chance to get into the
Division II National Playoffs. Join Griffon Athletics Sunday, November
14 in the food court of East Hills Mall as Griffon Football will find
out if they are headed to the 2010 NCAA Playoffs. The selection show
will be broadcast on ESPN News and will begin at 2:00 PM. The gathering
will begin around 1:30 PM with the voice of ESPN 1550 AM Dave Riggert
broadcasting a live show featuring interviews with Griffon players and
coaches. Members of the Griffon Cheer Squad and Dance Team will also be
on hand.
Missouri Western State University (located in St. Joseph, Mo.) is an
NCAA Division II institution and a member of the Mid-America
Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
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