Defensive stand helps #23 Missouri Western upset #2 Pittsburgh State

In the final minute of the game, a strip sack from Missouri Western's Dakari Streeter was recovered by C.J Ravenell, allowing quarterback Armani Edden to kneel out the remaining time, giving Missouri Western a 31-30 win over Pittsburgh State.&nbsp; <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/7cc0dc7f-ab4a-47ec-a8c1-2c2f27475fb7">Read our full recap HERE</a>.

Dominant effort from Bearcats in shutout win vs Northeastern State

The Northwest Missouri State defense held Northeastern State to under 200 yards of total offense, and the Bearcat offense dominated in every facet on way to a 52-0 shutout win on Saturday in&nbsp;Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Northwest scored on their first three offensive drives to take a 17-0 lead, the scoring starting with a 23 yard Noah Guastella field goal, and then quarterback Mike Hohensee would connect for touchdowns with Trevon Alexander and Zach Atkins.&nbsp;

Hohensee would go on to throw two more touchdowns in the second quarter, connecting with Kashan Griffin for his third touchdown of the game, before finding Alexander for his second touchdown just before halftime, putting the Bearcats up 31-0 at the break.&nbsp;

The Riverhawks would hold Northwest to their lowest scoring frame in the third quarter, only allowing one touchdown with Hohensee throwing his longest pass of the day to Peyton Carder for a 77 yard touchdown pass, extending the Bearcat lead to 38-0.

In the fourth quarter Hohensee would throw his sixth and final touchdown of the game, finding his fourth different receiver for a score in the form of John Giagiari for a 15 yard touchdown pass, which is where Hohensee's day would end as Chris Ruhnke would take over at quarterback to finish the game.&nbsp;

The final score of the game would come from sophomore running back Dominic Myers in relief of Jay Harris, Myers would rush in the final score on a 15 yard touchdown run.&nbsp;

Hohensee was efficient on the day completing 70% of his passes going 16 for 23 through the air for 359 yards and six touchdowns.&nbsp; Griffin (111 yards, 1 TD), Carder (104 yards, 1 TD), Atkins (70 yards, 1 TD), and Alexander (51 yards, 2 TDs) all had three catches on the day.&nbsp; Harris didn't find the endzone but did rush 22 times for 108 yards.&nbsp;

Hohensee's six touchdown passes tied a program record, tying Zach Martin and Kyle Zimmerman.&nbsp; Hohensee also became only the sixth quarterback in school history to pass for 300 or more yards and five touchdowns.

Northwest is now 6-4 (5-4 MIAA) on the season.&nbsp; They'll return home on Saturday for their final game of the regular season, hosting Nebraska-Kearney for Senior Day.&nbsp; Kickoff in Maryville is scheduled for 1:30pm.

First half scoring barrage helps Benedictine to 34-16 win on the road

The #14 Benedictine Ravens scored 31 points in the first half against Missouri Baptist in a 34-16 win on the road in St. Louis, Missouri on Saturday, giving the Ravens their first ever win over Missouri Baptist.

A missed field goal from the Spartans on the opening drive of the game would give the ball to the Ravens, and they would need just one play to score, with quarterback Jackson Dooley throwing a 72 yard touchdown pass to Jacob Gathright.&nbsp;

Missouri Baptist would answer on their next drive however, driving 90 yards down the field on 10 plays, and using running back Carl Garmon Jr to punch it in from one yard out.&nbsp; The ensuing extra point by Jonah Cox would be missed though, keeping the Ravens in the lead 7-6.&nbsp;

Benedictine would score 17 unanswered points before the Spartans would score again.&nbsp; Dooley would throw two more long touchdowns finding Joesph Lagafuaina on a 32 yard touchdown pass and then to open the second quarter he would connect again with Gathright, this time on a 54 yard score.&nbsp; Harry Balke would extend the Raven lead to 24-6 on a 47 yard field goal.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Missouri Baptist would battle back and narrow the lead to eight points late in the quarter.&nbsp; Cox would start the Spartan scoring with a 22 yard field goal following an eight play drive.&nbsp; Then after a Raven three and out, Missouri Baptist would use another eight play drive but this time would score a touchdown, Darius Morrison rushing in from five yards out and narrowing the lead to 24-16.

Before the half was over though, the Ravens would score the final touchdown they would need, again on a long pass from Dooley to Tanner Zimmerman for a 34 yard touchdown, Balke's extra point pushing the Benedictine lead to 31-16 at halftime.&nbsp; 

Benedictine would go on to score their final points of the game in the third quarter, again from the leg of Balke, as he would put through a field goal from 30 yards away.&nbsp;

Dooley was 17 of 29 through the air for 369 yards and four touchdowns in the game. The leading receiver for the game was Gathright with five catches for 179 yards and two touchdowns.&nbsp; Dalton Witherspoon rushed 13 times for 63 yards on the day.&nbsp;

Benedictine is now 8-2 (4-0 Heart South) on the season.&nbsp; The final game of the regular season is up next for the Ravens as they return home to Atchison, Kansas for Senior Day against MidAmerica Nazarene.&nbsp; Kickoff is at 1pm.

Late turnovers cost Missouri in hard fought battle with Georgia

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia coach Kirby Smart called defensive tackle Nazir Stackhouse's improbable interception the “biggest play of the game.” Wide receiver Ladd McConkey proclaimed it was “the play of the year.”

Either way, the play helped the Bulldogs remain unbeaten yet another week. The pick also was the talk of the postgame interviews.

Stackhouse's fourth-quarter interception helped protect No. 1 Georgia's slim lead and the Bulldogs beat No. 14 Missouri 30-21 on Saturday for their 26th consecutive win.

Georgia (9-0, 6-0 SEC, No. 2 College Football Playoff) had to rally to win the key SEC East matchup against Missouri (7-2, 3-2 SEC, No. 12 CFP).

The Tigers led 13-10 early in the second half. Georgia answered with two straight touchdowns, a 15-yard run by Kendall Milton and Carson Beck's 5-yard scoring pass to Oscar Delp. Beck completed 21 of 32 passes for 254 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Georgia led 27-21 when Stackhouse, a 6-foot-3, 320-pound senior, picked off Brady Cook's short pass. Stackhouse rambled all the way to the Missouri 5, but a blindside block penalty against Bulldogs linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. pushed Georgia back to its 30.

“Huge,” said Smart of the interception, which Stackhouse said was his first at any level.

Added Smart of Stackhouse's return: “It was slow motion. He didn't realize how far he had to run. He was out of breath about halfway.”

Stackhouse was shocked to see the ball come his way.

"I believe (Cook) was trying to throw the ball to the ground and Smael hit his hand and the ball came to me,” Stackhouse said.

Stackhouse said he was told he ran 17 or 18 mph on his return. Said Smart: "No chance. Only way he can hit 18 mph is on his bike or in his car.”

Following the interception, Daijun Edwards' 22-yard run helped set up a 48-yard field goal by Peyton Woodring, the freshman's third of the game and longest of his career, that extended the lead.

Georgia's defense came through with another interception when safety Javon Bullard picked off Cook's deep pass with 1:36 remaining.

“He got us to the fourth quarter and he was tough and gritty like he always is,” said Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz of Cook.

“We've got to see what happened on the turnovers,” Drinkwitz said, but added “I'm not disappointed at all” in the play of his quarterback.

Milton's scoring run was an important lift for the Bulldogs' sluggish running game. The Tigers took a 151-131 advantage in rushing yards.

Cody Schrader's 12-yard scoring run and Cook's 2-point pass to Luther Burden III, who had a touchdown catch earlier in the game, cut Georgia's lead to 24-21. Schrader had 22 carries for 112 yards.

“We came here to win,” Schrader said. "That was our objective. That is our objective every week. We just didn’t get the job done today.”

Dominic Lovett, a Missouri transfer, caught a 6-yard scoring pass for the Bulldogs' only touchdown of the first half.

Despite Georgia's long winning streak, the hard-fought first half was no surprise. The Bulldogs had to rally from a 10-point deficit to win at Missouri 26-22 last season.

“We are disappointed because we put ourselves in a position to contend for the SEC East, which is the goal we have in place,” Drinkwitz said. “That is really not going to be in our control any longer. We have to refocus on what our new goals are.”

The Tigers survived a scare when Burden held his left ankle and was examined on the field in the second quarter. Burden returned later in the half and had three catches for 53 yards.

Mevis gave Missouri a 13-10 lead with a 42-yard field goal which gave the senior the school's career scoring record, passing Jeff Wolfert's 363 points from 2006-08.

Georgia can be expected to extend its roll of holding the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 poll for an SEC-record 20 consecutive weeks. Yet to be determined if the win will be enough to boost the Bulldogs past Ohio State for the CFP ranking top spot. Missouri may drop but should remain in the Top 25.

The Tigers had success against a Georgia offensive line which had allowed only six sacks through eight games. Missouri, which was tied for 17th in the nation with 24 sacks, dropped Beck twice in the first half and three times for the game. Beck and Schrader were the difference-makers on the ground.

The Tigers play another game against a tough SEC East rival when they host No. 19 Tennessee on Saturday. Kickoff time and where the game aired is still to be determined.&nbsp; Earlier last week the SEC did open the six day selection window for the conference's November 11th games.

Kansas wins over Iowa State to reach 7-win mark, first time since 2008

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Jason Bean passed for 287 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown to Lawrence Arnold after Iowa State pulled within three points in the fourth quarter, and the No. 22 Jayhawks held off the Cyclones for a 28-21 victory Saturday night.

The Jayhawks (7-2, 4-2 Big 12) won consecutive conference games for the first time since 2008. They also reached the seven-win benchmark and won in Ames for the first time since that ’08 season.

“This is a great college environment,” Bean said of Iowa State’s Jack Trice Stadium. “It’s a tough environment for any team to come in and play.”

Iowa State (5-4, 4-2 Big 12) began the day in a five-way tie for first place in the Big 12, but the Cyclones’ comeback bid came up short after they trailed 21-3 with 9:24 left in the third quarter.

“We never put our head down,” Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht said. “We kept fighting. That’s what I love about this team.”

Bean completed 14 of 23 passes, his biggest one to Arnold giving Kansas a 10-point cushion right after Iowa State had scored to make it 21-18. Arnold got behind the secondary to make the catch at the 50 and ran the rest of the way untouched.

“It was a play we worked on all week,” Bean said. “I felt like all game we were baiting them to come down low enough to get past them on that play. I delivered the ball to (Arnold) and he did the rest.”

A field goal got the Cyclones within 28-21 with 4:53 left. The Jayhawks were able to pick up two first downs on their final possession to run out the clock.

“We don’t get too high. We don’t get too low,” said Arnold, who finished with 112 yards on three catches. “It was just keeping your composure and making sure we did what we had to.”

Kansas’ Devin Neal scored the first of his two touchdowns on the game’s opening series, capping a nine-play, 87-yard drive.

Mello Dotson returned an interception 50 yards for Kansas’ second touchdown, and his second pick-six in two games. The Jayhawks missed two field goals before Iowa State trimmed the margin to 14-3 on Chase Contreraz’s 35-yard kick before halftime.

Neal’s second touchdown completed a 75-yard drive to start the third quarter and gave Kansas a 21-3 lead.

“I feel like it was a lack of detail on our part,” Cyclone receiver Jaylin Noel said of Iowa State’s slow start. “Just little things. Jumping offsides, holding personal fouls. It’s hard to win when you get those type of penalties.”

The first two times Kansas was in the Top 25 this season, it lost its next game. The Jayhawks should stay in the rankings a second straight week.

Kansas' Dotson appeared woozy after hitting his head while making a diving tackle of Dimitri Stanley with 10 seconds left in the first half. Athletic trainers tended to Dotson on the field for a few minutes, but he was able to walk off the field on his own.

Bean grabbed the back of his left leg after ISU’s Will McLaughlin hit him low after he threw a pass in the second half. No. 3 quarterback Cole Ballard came on to take one snap.

Kansas hosts Texas Tech on Saturday.&nbsp; Kickoff time and where the game will be aired is to be determined.

Kansas State falls to Texas in overtime after huge second half comeback

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas was dominant for most of three quarters against Kansas State, building a comfortable 20-point lead behind a suffocating defense.

Then the No. 7 Longhorns found themselves in overtime, clinging to a three point lead with just six yards between the No. 25 Wildcats, the end zone and a loss.

“These are the moments you live for. Everybody wants to be the person to make that play,” Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron said. “Trust one another. And that's what we did.”

With a chance to win and all the momentum, Kansas State gained just two yards in three plays before Texas' Barryn Sorrell pressured Will Howard into a desperate, off-balance pass that fell incomplete, as the Longhorns made Bert Auburn's 42-yard field goal stand up for a 33-30 win that keeps them atop the Big 12.

Texas (8-1, 5-1 Big 12, No. 7 CFP) matched last season's win total and stayed on track for a possible berth in the Big 12 championship game. Texas hasn't won the league since 2009, and this is the last chance before the program leaves for the Southeastern Conference next season.

“Versatility, resilience, perseverance ... those are all qualities championship teams have,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. “They can make plays at critical moments.”

That was Kansas State (6-3, 4-2 Big 12, No. 23 CFP) when the Wildcats came storming back from a 27-7 deficit late in the third quarter. Kansas State rallied behind three touchdown passes from Howard in less than three minutes.

Kansas State forced overtime on Chris Tennant's 45-yard field goal with 1 second left. Tennant had earlier missed a short chance to tie with just under two minutes left.

Texas went nowhere on its first possession of overtime before Auburn's go-ahead kick, his fourth field goal of the game. Kansas State was then quickly inside the Texas 10.

Facing fourth down, the Wildcats went for the win instead of another field goal to tie and more overtime. Kansas State coach Chris Klieman said he didn't hesitate to make the call and would do it again if given another chance.

“Our kids always believe we have a shot,” Klieman said. “I’m upset that we lost, but watching what our guys were able to do in the second half was pretty special.”

Jonathon Brooks ran for 112 yards and a touchdown for Texas, which also got a 54-yard scoring run early from C.J. Baxter. Howard passed for 327 yards and four touchdowns for the Wildcats, two of them to Phillip Brooks.

Kansas State's rally was helped by consecutive Texas turnovers — an interception and fumble — that set up two quick Howard touchdown passes. A blocked punt set up Kansas State's only touchdown in the first half.

“It tested us. It tested our resilience," Sarkisian said. “It tested our culture to stick together.”

The Wildcats stubbornly stuck to a running game that was going nowhere in the first half. Even when they rotated in speedy freshman quarterback Avery Johnson, his first full series produced three consecutive handoffs instead of letting him probe for an opening. The Wildcats moved the ball through the air on a short scoring drive in the second quarter before opening up the offense on Howard's passing in the second half.

CFB Roundup: Historic day for Hohensee, Turnovers hurt Missouri, Kansas wins seventh game 

Missouri Western absolutely needed a win Saturday to stay alive in the NCAA Division II playoff race in Super Region Three.

They needed to get that win against No. 2 and 9-0 Pittsburg State. No pressure.

The Griffons, faced with a tall task, delivered.

Missouri Western (8-2) scored 14 unanswered points to open the second half. The Griffons then scored the go-ahead touchdown with 8:56 remaining and they blocked a Pitt State point-after with 7:09 to go.

That would be the difference in a 31-30 win for Missouri Western on Senior Day at Spratt Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Missouri Western had never beaten a top three opponent in their history. until Saturday. It's the first win over a top 10 and the first win over a top five opponent since 2012.

It also marks the Griffons' first win over Pittsburg State in St. Joseph since 2010.

The Gorillas (9-1), who had won 21 straight regular season games coming in, drove 65 yards on 15 plays on the game's opening drive, but had to settle for a 22-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Later in the first, Pitt was pinned deep at their own 11. On a first down play, quarterback Chad Dodson, Jr. went back to throw, but the ball slipped out of his hand, resulting in a fumble, which was recovered by Keinan Gaskin.

Two plays later, running back Seth Cromwell punched it in on a two-yard touchdown run to put Missouri Western up 7-3 with 3:49 remaining in the first.

Pitt State scored four plays later on a 21-yard throw from Dodson to Kolbe Katsis, giving the Gorillas a 10-7 lead into the second.

Missouri Western answered with a 31-yard field goal from Cody Watson to knot the game at 10-10 with 11:18 left in the first half.

The Gorillas got the ball back on their own 8-yard line, and drove 92 yards on 10 plays in the closing minutes of the second quarter. Dodson scored on a three-yard touchdown run to give Pitt State a 17-10 lead at the break.

Both teams came up empty on their first series of the second half, but Missouri Western threw the first haymaker of the third quarter.

Sparked by a 46-yard catch from Jonas Bennett, the Griffons scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak from Reagan Jones, knotting the game at 17-17 with 6:31 left in the third.

Dodson threw an interception on the first play of the ensuing drive - a ball intended for Devon Garrison was picked off by MWSU's Sam Taylor.

 Missouri Western turned it into points nine plays later.

Cromwell scored his second rushing touchdown of the day, this one from eight yards out, to put the Griffons up 24-17 with 3:02 left in the third.

Cromwell finished with 63 yards on 12 carries to lead the Griffons on the ground.

Like they had done all day long, Pitt State rallied when their backs were against the wall.

The Gorillas drove down the field to end the third quarter and scored on the first play of the fourth. Dodson connected with tight end Mario Kirby Jr. for a six-yard touchdown pass, tying the game at 24-24.

Missouri Western then engineered their longest scoring series of the game, going 73 yards on 11 plays.

That drive ended on third-and-goal from the 5-yard-line, when quarterback Armani Edden dumped off a pass to Bennett, who caught the ball inside the five and dove for the pylon to put the Griffons ahead 31-24 with 8:56 to go.

Bennett caught four passes for 79 yards and a score.

Edden completed 16-of-23 passes for 195 yards and a score. He also ran for 41 yards on 12 carries. The Griffons outgained the Gorillas in the ground game 151-59.

Yet again, Pitt had a fast answer, going 75 yards in just four plays on the ensuing drive. They scored on a 45-yard touchdown pass from Dodson to running back Cleo Chandler, Jr.

The ensuing point-after, however, was a low kick that was blocked, largely by Missouri Western's Brandon Johnson.

The Griffons, leading by a point, punted the ball back to the Gorillas with 3:49 to go.

Pitt State started at their own 20, and marched all the way to the Griffons' 30-yard-line in the closing minutes.

But, a pair of Dakari Streeter sacks and two Pitt State penalties pushed the Gorillas back to the MWSU 40-yard-line&nbsp; - out of field goal range.

On 4th-and-13 at the Griffon 33, redshirt freshman and backup quarterback Ty Pennington, who had to relieve an injured Dodson, was strip sacked by Streeter. The fumble was recovered by fellow senior C.J. Ravenell, and the Griffons held on for a massive victory.

Streeter finished with 2.5 sacks on his senior day, pushing his season total to 12.5 - the second most sacks in a single season in Griffon history.

Missouri Western's defense came up with nine tackles-for-loss and four total sacks. They also turned Pitt State over three times, while the Griffons remained turnover free.

Dodson, who got hurt on the game's final drive, completed 20-of-24 passes for 324 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for 14 yards and a score.

Missouri Western has won three straight, and they have their most regular season wins since 2019. 

The Griffons conclude the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Missouri Southern (4-6) in Joplin.

Kickoff from Fred G. Hughes Stadium is set for 2 p.m. The game will be on KFEQ Radio (680, 95,3) with coverage starting at 1 p.m.

2023 MWSU highlights - pregame show montage

You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699143341347.jpeg" alt="MWSU quarterback Armani Edden (2) looks for running room in a 31-30 win over No. 2 Pittsburg State at Spratt Stadium Saturday. Photo courtesy of MWSU athletics." />
 <figcaption>MWSU quarterback Armani Edden (2) looks for running room in a 31-30 win over No. 2 Pittsburg State at Spratt Stadium Saturday. Photo courtesy of MWSU athletics.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostMissouri Western absolutely needed a win Saturday to stay alive in the NCAA Division II playoff race in Super Region Three.They needed to get that win against No. 2 and 9-0 Pittsburg State. No pressure.The Griffons, faced with a tall task, delivered.Missouri Western (8-2) scored 14 unanswered points to open the second half. The Griffons then scored the go-ahead touchdown with 8:56 remaining and they blocked a Pitt State point-after with 7:09 to go.That would be the difference in a 31-30 win for Missouri Western on Senior Day at Spratt Stadium on Saturday afternoon.Missouri Western had never beaten a top three opponent in their history. until Saturday. It's the first win over a top 10 and the first win over a top five opponent since 2012.It also marks the Griffons' first win over Pittsburg State in St. Joseph since 2010.The Gorillas (9-1), who had won 21 straight regular season games coming in, drove 65 yards on 15 plays on the game's opening drive, but had to settle for a 22-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter.Later in the first, Pitt was pinned deep at their own 11. On a first down play, quarterback Chad Dodson, Jr. went back to throw, but the ball slipped out of his hand, resulting in a fumble, which was recovered by Keinan Gaskin.Two plays later, running back Seth Cromwell punched it in on a two-yard touchdown run to put Missouri Western up 7-3 with 3:49 remaining in the first.Pitt State scored four plays later on a 21-yard throw from Dodson to Kolbe Katsis, giving the Gorillas a 10-7 lead into the second.Missouri Western answered with a 31-yard field goal from Cody Watson to knot the game at 10-10 with 11:18 left in the first half.The Gorillas got the ball back on their own 8-yard line, and drove 92 yards on 10 plays in the closing minutes of the second quarter. Dodson scored on a three-yard touchdown run to give Pitt State a 17-10 lead at the break.Both teams came up empty on their first series of the second half, but Missouri Western threw the first haymaker of the third quarter.Sparked by a 46-yard catch from Jonas Bennett, the Griffons scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak from Reagan Jones, knotting the game at 17-17 with 6:31 left in the third.Dodson threw an interception on the first play of the ensuing drive - a ball intended for Devon Garrison was picked off by MWSU's Sam Taylor. Missouri Western turned it into points nine plays later.Cromwell scored his second rushing touchdown of the day, this one from eight yards out, to put the Griffons up 24-17 with 3:02 left in the third.Cromwell finished with 63 yards on 12 carries to lead the Griffons on the ground.Like they had done all day long, Pitt State rallied when their backs were against the wall.The Gorillas drove down the field to end the third quarter and scored on the first play of the fourth. Dodson connected with tight end Mario Kirby Jr. for a six-yard touchdown pass, tying the game at 24-24.Missouri Western then engineered their longest scoring series of the game, going 73 yards on 11 plays.That drive ended on third-and-goal from the 5-yard-line, when quarterback Armani Edden dumped off a pass to Bennett, who caught the ball inside the five and dove for the pylon to put the Griffons ahead 31-24 with 8:56 to go.Bennett caught four passes for 79 yards and a score.Edden completed 16-of-23 passes for 195 yards and a score. He also ran for 41 yards on 12 carries. The Griffons outgained the Gorillas in the ground game 151-59.Yet again, Pitt had a fast answer, going 75 yards in just four plays on the ensuing drive. They scored on a 45-yard touchdown pass from Dodson to running back Cleo Chandler, Jr.The ensuing point-after, however, was a low kick that was blocked, largely by Missouri Western's Brandon Johnson.The Griffons, leading by a point, punted the ball back to the Gorillas with 3:49 to go.Pitt State started at their own 20, and marched all the way to the Griffons' 30-yard-line in the closing minutes.But, a pair of Dakari Streeter sacks and two Pitt State penalties pushed the Gorillas back to the MWSU 40-yard-line&nbsp; - out of field goal range.On 4th-and-13 at the Griffon 33, redshirt freshman and backup quarterback Ty Pennington, who had to relieve an injured Dodson, was strip sacked by Streeter. The fumble was recovered by fellow senior C.J. Ravenell, and the Griffons held on for a massive victory.Streeter finished with 2.5 sacks on his senior day, pushing his season total to 12.5 - the second most sacks in a single season in Griffon history.Missouri Western's defense came up with nine tackles-for-loss and four total sacks. They also turned Pitt State over three times, while the Griffons remained turnover free.Dodson, who got hurt on the game's final drive, completed 20-of-24 passes for 324 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for 14 yards and a score.Missouri Western has won three straight, and they have their most regular season wins since 2019. The Griffons conclude the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Missouri Southern (4-6) in Joplin.Kickoff from Fred G. Hughes Stadium is set for 2 p.m. The game will be on KFEQ Radio (680, 95,3) with coverage starting at 1 p.m.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699143903495.jpeg" alt="Seth Cromwell (22) scored two rushing touchdowns in Missouri Western's 31-30 win over No. 2 Pittsburg State at Spratt Stadium Saturday. Photo courtesy of MWSU athletics." />
 <figcaption>Seth Cromwell (22) scored two rushing touchdowns in Missouri Western's 31-30 win over No. 2 Pittsburg State at Spratt Stadium Saturday. Photo courtesy of MWSU athletics.</figcaption>
 </figure>Postgame interviews<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/Tyler-Fenwick---Pitt-State-postgame-e2bg9go" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/Dakari-Streeter---Pitt-State-postgame-e2bg9e2/a-aailkk6" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>Full audio broadcast<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/23-MWSU-vs--2-Pitt-State---Full-Game-e2bg976/a-aailk67" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>Video highlights<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Down goes #2 Pitt State.<a href="https://twitter.com/MWSU_Football?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MWSU_Football</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StayGold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StayGold</a>🔔 <a href="https://t.co/qSXNdzgguV">pic.twitter.com/qSXNdzgguV</a>&mdash; Missouri Western Athletics (@MWSUGriffons) <a href="https://twitter.com/MWSUGriffons/status/1720950301207712017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Let&#39;s relive that final moment against Pitt real quick.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StayGold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StayGold</a>🔔 | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/A10Mentality?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#A10Mentality</a> <a href="https://t.co/VxDeH8Mezp">pic.twitter.com/VxDeH8Mezp</a>&mdash; Missouri Western Football (@MWSU_Football) <a href="https://twitter.com/MWSU_Football/status/1720935941664071870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Closing moments<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/23-MWSU-vs--2-Pitt-State---closing-moments-e2bg8po/a-aaili74" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>2023 MWSU highlights - pregame show montage<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/Missouri-Western-football---2023-radio-highlights-e2bfsh5/a-aaik8na" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western knocks off #2 Pitt State at Spratt Saturday, bolsters playoff hopes

Playoff football. State cross country. State volleyball. It was a busy Friday in the coverage area.

8-man District 5 semifinals St. Joseph Christian 26 Bishop LeBlond 20. <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/49f1c318-fa34-4c20-a678-d47e527b45c3">Full coverage here</a><a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/49f1c318-fa34-4c20-a678-d47e527b45c3"></a>. Plattsburg 72 DeKalb 0 Next week: Christian (7-3) @ Plattsburg (9-0) - Nov. 10 @ 7 p.m.

8-man District 6 semifinals South Holt 58&nbsp;Mound City 56 East Atchison 46 Nodaway Valley 34 Next week: East Atchison (6-5) @ South Holt (10-0) - Nov. 10 @ 7 p.m.

8-man District 7 semifinals Platte Valley 54&nbsp;King City 8 Worth County 64&nbsp;Pattonsburg 14 Next week: Worth County (9-1) @ Platte Valley (9-1) - Nov. 10 @ 7 p.m.

Class 1 District 3 semifinal North Platte 59 Wellington-Napoleon 14 Next week: Crest Ridge (7-3) @ North Platte (9-1) - Nov. 10 @ 7 p.m.

Class 1 District 8 semifinal Hamilton 44&nbsp;Maysville 32 Next week:&nbsp;Hamilton (6-4) @ Westran (8-2) - Nov. 10 @ 7 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Class 2 District 8 semifinal East Buchanan 66&nbsp;Brookfield 14 Mid-Buchanan 20 Trenton 7 Next week: Mid-Buchanan (8-3) @ East Buchanan (10-0) - Nov. 10 @ 7

Class 3 District 8 semifinal Maryville 47&nbsp;Cameron 8 St. Pius X 51&nbsp;Chillicothe 6 Next week: Pius (9-2) @ Maryville (9-1) - Nov. 10 @ 7 p.m.

Class 4 District 8 semifinal Kearney 35&nbsp;Savannah 13 (7-4)

Class 6 District 8 semifinal Park Hill 35 St. Joseph Central 28 - Central, at 7-3, finishes with their first winning season since 2013.

State Cross Country (Class 1-2) Class 1 boys - Nodaway Valley’s Riley Blay is a state champion for a third straight year. Bishop LeBlond’s Jon Eckstein finished 8th and Mound City’s Keaton Zembles placed 9th. Class 1 girls - Mya Wray, a sophomore from Platte Valley, is a state champion.

Class 2 boys - North Platte placed 4th in team standings. Noah Heckman placed 8th to lead the way.

Class 2 girls - North Platte’s Chloe Heckman placed third.

Class 3-5 boys and girls all run on Saturday in Columbia.

State volleyball Bishop LeBlond fell 3-2 (25-18, 8-25, 29-27, 23-25, 7-15) to Hermann in the semifinals at the Show-Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

LeBlond (32-5) now faces Arcadia Valley (17-16-4) for third place on Saturday at 10 a.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699071683270.jpeg" alt="Mason Stewart. Photo by Clifton Grooms." />
 <figcaption>Mason Stewart. Photo by Clifton Grooms.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostPlayoff football. State cross country. State volleyball. It was a busy Friday in the coverage area.Football8-man District 5 semifinals St. Joseph Christian 26 Bishop LeBlond 20. <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/49f1c318-fa34-4c20-a678-d47e527b45c3">Full coverage here</a><a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/49f1c318-fa34-4c20-a678-d47e527b45c3"></a>. Plattsburg 72 DeKalb 0 Next week: Christian (7-3) @ Plattsburg (9-0) - Nov. 10 @ 7 p.m.8-man District 6 semifinals South Holt 58&nbsp;Mound City 56 East Atchison 46 Nodaway Valley 34 Next week: East Atchison (6-5) @ South Holt (10-0) - Nov. 10 @ 7 p.m.8-man District 7 semifinals Platte Valley 54&nbsp;King City 8 Worth County 64&nbsp;Pattonsburg 14 Next week: Worth County (9-1) @ Platte Valley (9-1) - Nov. 10 @ 7 p.m.Class 1 District 3 semifinal North Platte 59 Wellington-Napoleon 14 Next week: Crest Ridge (7-3) @ North Platte (9-1) - Nov. 10 @ 7 p.m.Class 1 District 8 semifinal Hamilton 44&nbsp;Maysville 32 Next week:&nbsp;Hamilton (6-4) @ Westran (8-2) - Nov. 10 @ 7 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp; Class 2 District 8 semifinal East Buchanan 66&nbsp;Brookfield 14 Mid-Buchanan 20 Trenton 7 Next week: Mid-Buchanan (8-3) @ East Buchanan (10-0) - Nov. 10 @ 7Class 3 District 8 semifinal Maryville 47&nbsp;Cameron 8 St. Pius X 51&nbsp;Chillicothe 6 Next week: Pius (9-2) @ Maryville (9-1) - Nov. 10 @ 7 p.m.Class 4 District 8 semifinal Kearney 35&nbsp;Savannah 13 (7-4)Class 6 District 8 semifinal Park Hill 35 St. Joseph Central 28 - Central, at 7-3, finishes with their first winning season since 2013.State Cross Country (Class 1-2) Class 1 boys - Nodaway Valley’s Riley Blay is a state champion for a third straight year. Bishop LeBlond’s Jon Eckstein finished 8th and Mound City’s Keaton Zembles placed 9th. Class 1 girls - Mya Wray, a sophomore from Platte Valley, is a state champion.Class 2 boys - North Platte placed 4th in team standings. Noah Heckman placed 8th to lead the way.Class 2 girls - North Platte’s Chloe Heckman placed third.Class 3-5 boys and girls all run on Saturday in Columbia.State volleyball Bishop LeBlond fell 3-2 (25-18, 8-25, 29-27, 23-25, 7-15) to Hermann in the semifinals at the Show-Me Center in Cape Girardeau.LeBlond (32-5) now faces Arcadia Valley (17-16-4) for third place on Saturday at 10 a.m.You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

KFEQ/St. Joseph Post area high school scoreboard - November 3, 2023

St. Joseph Christian scored 14 unanswered points to begin Friday's game, led by 12 at halftime and never trailed in a 26-20 win over crosstown rival Bishop LeBlond in a Missouri 8-man District 5 semifinal at St. Joseph Christian High School Friday night.

The Lions scored their first ever win over the Golden Eagles in just the third ever meeting between the two schools&nbsp;on the gridiron.

Christian (7-3) now has their most wins in a single season since 2015, and they'll now play for a district championship for the first time since 2014.

The Lions got the ball to start the game, but lost a fumble on their opening drive.

After LeBlond (4-5) went three-and-out on their first offensive series, Christian marched 42 yards on six plays, scoring on a 16-yard touchdown run from Cy Carlson.

The Lions led 6-0 at the end of the first, and were driving when the second quarter started.

On the first play of that second quarter, junior running back Peyton Hausman took off down the middle of the field on a 41-yard touchdown run. He ran it in successfully on the two-point try to put Christian up 14-0 with 11:50 left in the second.

LeBlond at last had the answer on its third possession. After a 32-yard catch by Jacob Winkelbauer, Jackson Sigrist scored on a 10-yard touchdown run.

Tabor's pass to Sigrist for two points was successful, making it a 14-8 game with 5:11 left in the second.

Christian had another answer, though Taking over at the LeBlond 31-yard line, following a short kick and personal foul against the Golden Eagles, the Lions scored in seven plays on a three-yard run from Hausman.

Down 20-8, and getting the ball back with 2:11 left until halftime, LeBlond scored on a quick, four-play drive. Quarterback Cooper Tabor ran one in from five yards out, making it a 20-14 game.

Christian got the ball back with still 1:17 on the clock before halftime. Moving 52 yards on seven plays, junior quarterback Levi Miller fired a pass over the middle on third-and-long to senior Vail Fruechting in the end zone from 13 yards out, putting the Lions up 26-14 at the break.

LeBlond got the ball to start the second half, but turned it over on downs on their first series.

Christian lost their second fumble of the game on the ensuing possession, setting the Golden Eagles up at the Lions' 29-yard-line.

LeBlond scored four plays later on a one-yard run from Trey Icke, bringing the tally to 26-20 with 6:06 to go in the third.

Christian was held off the board the entire second half, but it was the Lions' defense that came up big late.

LeBlond was driving in Christian territory in the final five minutes of the game, but a fumble by Sigrist was recovered by the Lions' Aiden Martindell.

Taking over with 3:27 left, Christian picked up three more first downs and were able to run out the remaining time, capping a historic, feel-good night for the Lions.

Hausman led the way with 157 yards rushing on 21 carries and two scores. Junior Cy Carlson finished 54 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown.

Freshman quarterback Mason Stewart rushed for 55 yards on seven carries. The Lions unofficially finished with 275 rushing yards.

Tabor completed 17-of-24 passes for LeBlond for 155 yards. Sigrist was his top target, catching eight passes for 75 yards. Winkelbauer hauled in five passes for 71 yards.

Icke led the Golden Eagles on the ground with 17 carries, 86 yards and a touchdown. He also recovered a fumble on defense.

Carson Staggs toted the rock 13 times for 65 yards.

St. Joseph Christian now goes to Plattsburg to face the No. 1 seed Tigers (9-0) in the 8-man District 5 championship game on Friday, November 10 at 7 p.m.

Peyton Hausman, Troy Schenk interview

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699071609960.jpeg" alt="Levi Miller (5) looks for room to run in Friday's 8-man District 5 semifinal matchup with Bishop LeBlond on Friday. Photo by Clifton Grooms." />
 <figcaption>Levi Miller (5) looks for room to run in Friday's 8-man District 5 semifinal matchup with Bishop LeBlond on Friday. Photo by Clifton Grooms.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph Christian scored 14 unanswered points to begin Friday's game, led by 12 at halftime and never trailed in a 26-20 win over crosstown rival Bishop LeBlond in a Missouri 8-man District 5 semifinal at St. Joseph Christian High School Friday night.The Lions scored their first ever win over the Golden Eagles in just the third ever meeting between the two schools&nbsp;on the gridiron.Christian (7-3) now has their most wins in a single season since 2015, and they'll now play for a district championship for the first time since 2014.The Lions got the ball to start the game, but lost a fumble on their opening drive.After LeBlond (4-5) went three-and-out on their first offensive series, Christian marched 42 yards on six plays, scoring on a 16-yard touchdown run from Cy Carlson.The Lions led 6-0 at the end of the first, and were driving when the second quarter started.On the first play of that second quarter, junior running back Peyton Hausman took off down the middle of the field on a 41-yard touchdown run. He ran it in successfully on the two-point try to put Christian up 14-0 with 11:50 left in the second.LeBlond at last had the answer on its third possession. After a 32-yard catch by Jacob Winkelbauer, Jackson Sigrist scored on a 10-yard touchdown run.Tabor's pass to Sigrist for two points was successful, making it a 14-8 game with 5:11 left in the second.Christian had another answer, though Taking over at the LeBlond 31-yard line, following a short kick and personal foul against the Golden Eagles, the Lions scored in seven plays on a three-yard run from Hausman.Down 20-8, and getting the ball back with 2:11 left until halftime, LeBlond scored on a quick, four-play drive. Quarterback Cooper Tabor ran one in from five yards out, making it a 20-14 game.Christian got the ball back with still 1:17 on the clock before halftime. Moving 52 yards on seven plays, junior quarterback Levi Miller fired a pass over the middle on third-and-long to senior Vail Fruechting in the end zone from 13 yards out, putting the Lions up 26-14 at the break.LeBlond got the ball to start the second half, but turned it over on downs on their first series.Christian lost their second fumble of the game on the ensuing possession, setting the Golden Eagles up at the Lions' 29-yard-line.LeBlond scored four plays later on a one-yard run from Trey Icke, bringing the tally to 26-20 with 6:06 to go in the third.Christian was held off the board the entire second half, but it was the Lions' defense that came up big late.LeBlond was driving in Christian territory in the final five minutes of the game, but a fumble by Sigrist was recovered by the Lions' Aiden Martindell.Taking over with 3:27 left, Christian picked up three more first downs and were able to run out the remaining time, capping a historic, feel-good night for the Lions.Hausman led the way with 157 yards rushing on 21 carries and two scores. Junior Cy Carlson finished 54 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown.Freshman quarterback Mason Stewart rushed for 55 yards on seven carries. The Lions unofficially finished with 275 rushing yards.Tabor completed 17-of-24 passes for LeBlond for 155 yards. Sigrist was his top target, catching eight passes for 75 yards. Winkelbauer hauled in five passes for 71 yards.Icke led the Golden Eagles on the ground with 17 carries, 86 yards and a touchdown. He also recovered a fumble on defense.Carson Staggs toted the rock 13 times for 65 yards.St. Joseph Christian now goes to Plattsburg to face the No. 1 seed Tigers (9-0) in the 8-man District 5 championship game on Friday, November 10 at 7 p.m.Plattsburg leveled DeKalb Friday, 72-0.Peyton Hausman, Troy Schenk interview<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/Peyton-Hausman--Troy-Schenk-e2bfgs3" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>Full audio broadcast<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/Bishop-LeBlond--St--Joseph-Christian---11323-e2bfgt9" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699071683270.jpeg" alt="Mason Stewart." />
 <figcaption>Mason Stewart.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699071705757.jpeg" alt="Jacob Winkelbauer (8)." />
 <figcaption>Jacob Winkelbauer (8).</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph Christian fends off LeBlond in thrilling district semifinal Friday

Bishop LeBlond volleyball has been here a lot throughout history, making deep runs into the postseason.

It’s a program that’s won 11 district titles in the last 14 years.

But, this LeBlond team in particular is used to the big stage. Just two years after a state runner-up finish, the Golden Eagles are in their fourth Final Four in program history.

Winning more than 30 games for the first time since 2015, LeBlond (32-4) has won 15 straight matches, winning a district title and beating Lone Jack in quarterfinals in four sets last weekend to reach Cape Girardeau this weekend.

Kim Huss, in her 19th season as LeBlond’s head coach, says this team expected to get back to the Final Four, not quite like 2021 - a team that had only two senior starters.

"I think it feels different, because this group has been driven to (get back to the Final Four)," Huss told KFEQ Radio. "Two years ago, we weren't surprised by it, but we thought it was a rebuilding year. We were pretty young. It wasn't exactly what we thought would happen."

"This year, we've been building up to it."

Sophomore and right-side hitter Rilyn Conard has emerged as a young leader on this team, leading the way with 372 kills and 353 digs. She says the work to get here dates back to offseason workouts this summer.

"From the very beginning of the season and over the summer, we knew that this bond we have as a team is very special," Conard said. "So, I think we're excited for this weekend to see what we can do. But, I'm already very proud of everything we've accomplished this season."

LeBlond gets set to play Hermann Friday in state semifinals at the Show-Me Center in Cape Girardeau at 4 p.m.

It was Hermann that swept the Golden Eagles in the state championship match in 2021. While Hermann is 19-18 coming in, the Bearcats are in their eighth straight Final Four.

That said, LeBlond senior and setter Kyla Conard says this challenge does not intimidate them.

"Hermann is a good program and we know that," Kyla said. "I don't think we can dwell on that. We have to use that as our motivation and prepare adequately to be able to play to the best of our ability. We're using that as our motivation. We know we're good, too and we're prepared to get to this point. So, we're going to continue to work hard."

Rilyn and Kyla Conard are one of three sets of sisters on the LeBlond team, joining Leah and Ella Frazee and Maddie and Kaitlyn Sego.

Huss says, though, this whole group feels like a family.

"We have to give credit to the families of these kids," she said. "A lot of them have been playing volleyball together since middle-elementary school. The buildup of them achieving started a long time ago. So, we're super excited to have this group of sisters and we're having fun with that for sure."

This is the fourth Final Four in history for LeBlond volleyball. The Eagles finished fourth in 2012, third in 2015 and second in ‘21.

 It seems like the next natural step would be a state title. And Huss says, if that does happen, that’s no coincidence.

"They've been to the Show-Me Center, they know what that looks like," Huss said. "They won't walk in wide-eyed. The younger sisters, they were all there, so they know as well. We're set up for a tough matchup in the first round, but I think if anyone can achieve it, this team can achieve it."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699026811587.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostBishop LeBlond volleyball has been here a lot throughout history, making deep runs into the postseason.It’s a program that’s won 11 district titles in the last 14 years.But, this LeBlond team in particular is used to the big stage. Just two years after a state runner-up finish, the Golden Eagles are in their fourth Final Four in program history.Winning more than 30 games for the first time since 2015, LeBlond (32-4) has won 15 straight matches, winning a district title and beating Lone Jack in quarterfinals in four sets last weekend to reach Cape Girardeau this weekend.Kim Huss, in her 19th season as LeBlond’s head coach, says this team expected to get back to the Final Four, not quite like 2021 - a team that had only two senior starters."I think it feels different, because this group has been driven to (get back to the Final Four)," Huss told KFEQ Radio. "Two years ago, we weren't surprised by it, but we thought it was a rebuilding year. We were pretty young. It wasn't exactly what we thought would happen.""This year, we've been building up to it."Sophomore and right-side hitter Rilyn Conard has emerged as a young leader on this team, leading the way with 372 kills and 353 digs. She says the work to get here dates back to offseason workouts this summer."From the very beginning of the season and over the summer, we knew that this bond we have as a team is very special," Conard said. "So, I think we're excited for this weekend to see what we can do. But, I'm already very proud of everything we've accomplished this season."LeBlond gets set to play Hermann Friday in state semifinals at the Show-Me Center in Cape Girardeau at 4 p.m.It was Hermann that swept the Golden Eagles in the state championship match in 2021. While Hermann is 19-18 coming in, the Bearcats are in their eighth straight Final Four.That said, LeBlond senior and setter Kyla Conard says this challenge does not intimidate them."Hermann is a good program and we know that," Kyla said. "I don't think we can dwell on that. We have to use that as our motivation and prepare adequately to be able to play to the best of our ability. We're using that as our motivation. We know we're good, too and we're prepared to get to this point. So, we're going to continue to work hard."Rilyn and Kyla Conard are one of three sets of sisters on the LeBlond team, joining Leah and Ella Frazee and Maddie and Kaitlyn Sego.Huss says, though, this whole group feels like a family."We have to give credit to the families of these kids," she said. "A lot of them have been playing volleyball together since middle-elementary school. The buildup of them achieving started a long time ago. So, we're super excited to have this group of sisters and we're having fun with that for sure."This is the fourth Final Four in history for LeBlond volleyball. The Eagles finished fourth in 2012, third in 2015 and second in ‘21. It seems like the next natural step would be a state title. And Huss says, if that does happen, that’s no coincidence."They've been to the Show-Me Center, they know what that looks like," Huss said. "They won't walk in wide-eyed. The younger sisters, they were all there, so they know as well. We're set up for a tough matchup in the first round, but I think if anyone can achieve it, this team can achieve it."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699027918927.jpeg" alt="Lindsey Atha." />
 <figcaption>Lindsey Atha.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699027944316.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699027991968.jpeg" alt="Rilyn Conard." />
 <figcaption>Rilyn Conard.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699028016972.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699027337125.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699027350452.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699027372578.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Bishop LeBlond had 'sights set' on Final Four since the beginning

SPRINGFIELD, MO - The Missouri Western women's basketball team trailed by as many as eight points and trailed for over 17 minutes of Wednesday's game at Missouri State.

Yet, the Griffons kept battling and coming back for more.

In a game with eight ties and eight lead changes, Missouri Western outscored Missouri State 18-11 in the fourth quarter, and the Griffons beat the Division I Bears, 65-57, in an exhibition at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield on Wednesday night.

Missouri Western raced out to a 12-4 lead in the first quarter before Missouri State hit back and tied at 14-14 after the first 10 minutes.

The Griffons got down 24-16 halfway through the second, but rallied and only trailed 28-26 at halftime.

Trailing for most of the third quarter, Missouri Western retook the lead at 47-46 with 35 seconds left in the third, thanks to a left wing three-pointer by Jayme Jackson.

Trailing by one, Jackson made a pair of free throws to put the Griffons up 56-55 with 4:27 remaining. Missouri Western never lost the lead again.

Missouri State missed five free throws in the fourth quarter and shot just 3-of-12 from the field in the final 10 minutes.

Connie Clarke led all scorers and rebounders with 17 points and 12 boards. Jackson scored 15 points to go with two blocks and two rebounds.

Brionna Budgets finished with 12 points and five rebounds. She also had three steals. Mary Fultz scored 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1698893129804.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's Jayme Jackson (11) scored 15 points in the Griffons' 65-57 win at Division I Missouri State on Wednesday. Stock photo by A.J. Robbins." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's Jayme Jackson (11) scored 15 points in the Griffons' 65-57 win at Division I Missouri State on Wednesday. Stock photo by A.J. Robbins.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostSPRINGFIELD, MO - The Missouri Western women's basketball team trailed by as many as eight points and trailed for over 17 minutes of Wednesday's game at Missouri State.Yet, the Griffons kept battling and coming back for more.In a game with eight ties and eight lead changes, Missouri Western outscored Missouri State 18-11 in the fourth quarter, and the Griffons beat the Division I Bears, 65-57, in an exhibition at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield on Wednesday night.Missouri Western raced out to a 12-4 lead in the first quarter before Missouri State hit back and tied at 14-14 after the first 10 minutes.The Griffons got down 24-16 halfway through the second, but rallied and only trailed 28-26 at halftime.Trailing for most of the third quarter, Missouri Western retook the lead at 47-46 with 35 seconds left in the third, thanks to a left wing three-pointer by Jayme Jackson.Trailing by one, Jackson made a pair of free throws to put the Griffons up 56-55 with 4:27 remaining. Missouri Western never lost the lead again.Missouri State missed five free throws in the fourth quarter and shot just 3-of-12 from the field in the final 10 minutes.Connie Clarke led all scorers and rebounders with 17 points and 12 boards. Jackson scored 15 points to go with two blocks and two rebounds.Brionna Budgets finished with 12 points and five rebounds. She also had three steals. Mary Fultz scored 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting before fouling out in the fourth quarter.The Griffons shot 47.2 percent from the field Wednesday.Lacy Stokes, an all-American transfer from MIAA member school Missouri Southern, led the Bears Wednesday with 12 points. Jade Masogayo finished with 11. Missouri State shot 35.7 percent from the field as a team.The Griffons outrebounded the Bears 40-35 and outscored them in the paint 40-28. Missouri Western had 19 turnovers, while Missouri State had 17.Both teams struggled at the free throw line. Missouri Western was 12-of-24, while Missouri State was 14-of-23.Wednesday's result marks the first win over a Division I program for Missouri Western women's basketball since Nov. 9, 2012, when the Griffons beat UMKC 68-51 in Kansas City.Missouri Western returns to St. Joseph for the Division II Women's Basketball Central Region Challenge at Civic Arena. The Griffons face Winona State on Friday, November 10 at 7:30 p.m.They'll then take on Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday, November 11 at 7:30 p.m. Both games will be on KFEQ Radio (680, 95,3).Candi Whitaker interview<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/Candi-Whitaker---Missouri-State-postgame-e2bcida" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

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