By MATT PIKE/AP
St. Joseph Post
Missouri Western continues hot start, cruise past Washburn in Topeka
The Missouri Western Griffons rushed for six touchdowns, including three from Jared Scott, and Redshirt Freshman Seth Cromwell rushed for a career high 154 yards in a 61-21 win over the Ichabods. Read our full recap HERE.
Career day for Jay Harris leads Bearcats past Bronchos
The Northwest Missouri State Bearcats used a heavy rushing attack, led by Sophomore Jay Harris, to hand former head coach Adam Dorrell and the Central Oklahoma Bronchos their fourth loss in their last five game earning a 34-21 win on Saturday in Maryville.
The Bearcat defense started off strong immediately getting a sack for a loss of 11 on UCO quarterback Stephon Brown. The Bronchos gained six of that back on a rush from Jaylon Franklin, but Brown would then throw an incomplete pass after being hurried by Kobe Clayborne.
Following a UCO punt the Northwest offense would go to work quickly, driving from their own 36 yard line and going 64 yards on eight plays before Harris would score his first touchdown of the day. The Bronchos would answer that on the ensuing drive though, using just over eight minutes of clock to drive 71 yards on 15 plays, Trevon Woolfork scoring the first of his two touchdowns on the day, knotting the game up at seven.
The score would hold at seven a piece until the second quarter when the Bearcats would begin a drive with 11:09 on the clock, only needing 1:43 of that time to score, Harris breaking off a huge 64 yard run for a touchdown, making it two on the day and pushing the Northwest lead to 14-7. But Harris wasn't done there, breaking off another huge run on Northwest's very next offensive drive, this time going 45 yards to the house, kicker Noah Guastella though would miss the extra point.
UCO would narrow the gap before the end of the first half, Woolfork scoring his second touchdown of the game as he would rush in from just one yard out, narrowing the Bearcat lead to 20-14 at the half.
Northwest would extend the lead to open up the second half of the game, this time using the air as following a nine play 75 yard drive, quarterback Mike Hohensee would connect on a 17 yard touchdown pass with John Giagiari, this time Guastella converting the extra point, to extend the lead to 27-14, which is where the score would stay until the fourth quarter.
Harris would score his final touchdown of the game, and the final points for Northwest, early in the final frame once again on another chunk run as this time he would break free for a 44 yard rushing touchdown. Following a three and out by UCO on the very next drive, the Bearcat offense would take over, but it was the Bronchos defense that would score the final points of the game, with 8:52 remaining in regulation Hohensee would get picked off by Noah West who would take the interception 20 yards to the endzone.
It was a career day for Harris who rushed for 274 yards and four touchdowns in the game. His 274 yards tied for the fifth highest single game rushing total in program history, tying with Northwest Hall of Famer Xavier Omon who set that mark almost 16 years ago to the date.
Hohensee was 16 of 26 through the air passing for 154 yards and one touchdown, as well as the interception that was returned for a touchdown. Kashan Griffin was his leading receiver with seven catches for 86 yards.
Northwest is now 3-3 (2-3 MIAA) on the season. They'll now turn their attention to a rivalry game in St. Joseph as they will travel on Saturday to face Missouri Western. Kickoff is set for 1pm at Spratt Memorial Stadium. You'll be able to hear that game on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM) as well as on KFEQ.com and the KFEQ mobile app.
Missouri handed first loss after shootout with LSU
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Jayden Daniels shredded the Missouri defense with his arm and legs Saturday, rallying LSU from a big early deficit, and none of that should have been surprising given the way the quarterback has played this season.
The fact that No. 23 LSU's defense made two crucial stands in the final minutes? That certainly raised some eyebrows.
Yet after watching Daniels throw for 259 yards and three touchdowns, and run for 139 yards and a score, it was that same battered bunch that allowed more than 700 yards to Mississippi last week that stepped up to preserve the 49-39 victory over No. 21 Missouri.
“We were battling,” said LSU coach Brian Kelly, whose team trailed 22-7 early. “All I know is when we got down, I just felt like the way the game was going, if we just got one more score, we could get back into it. I knew we were settling in defensively. Felt like we had a chance to get back in the game and win it. I didn't lose that confidence."
Still, LSU was down 39-35 before Daniels threw a touchdown pass to wide-open Malik Nabers with 2:58 to go. That sent its defense onto the field, and it proceeded to force Missouri into a failed fourth-down on its first opportunity with the ball, then got a pick-six from safety Major Burns on its next chance that ultimately clinched the win.
Logan Diggs added 134 yards rushing and a touchdown for LSU (4-2, 3-1 SEC). Nabers caught six balls for 146 yards.
“We knew it was a long game. We've been down before,” said Daniels, who played much of the second half with a nagging injury. “As long as we can get rolling, and that momentum, we can score with any team in the nation.”
The teams combined for 46 first downs, 1,061 yards of total offense — and 22 penalties for 145 yards.
Brady Cook threw for 411 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for Missouri (5-1, 1-1). Luther Burden III caught 11 passes for 149 yards, and Cody Schrader ran for 114 yards and three scores.
“Obviously the two turnovers were critical,” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said, “and our inability to force turnovers. We weren't able to force any turnovers to even up that matchup and that's ultimately what led to the loss.”
Kelly admitted this week that his defense had been embarrassed by Mississippi in a 55-49 loss. And he tried to help matters by hiring Pete Jenkins, the 82-year-old coaching legend, though it appears it will take more than a week to fix all the problems.
That was clear by the way Cook led Missouri to touchdowns on each of its first three drives, slicing up an LSU defense that was perpetually on its heels. And when Daniels finally answered the 22-7 deficit by getting LSU into the end zone late in the first half, Missouri had enough time for Harrison Mevis to drill a 50-yard field goal as time expired.
Cook's only blip in helping Missouri build its 25-17 lead was an underthrown ball picked off by LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. It ended the junior quarterback's SEC-record streak of 366 passes without an interception.
The wild momentum swings really began in the second half.
After partially blocking Mevis' field-goal attempt, LSU marched downfield for a field goal of its own. And when its defense forced a rare three-and-out, Daniels hit Brian Thomas Jr. with a 42-yard strike to give LSU its first lead at 27-25.
Missouri followed with another TD drive, and LSU looked as if it would answer when Daniels hurtled into the end zone. But not only did he appear to hurt his ribs on the play, the score was erased by a penalty. LSU failed to get back into the end zone when backup Garrett Nussmeier entered the game and Damian Ramos missed the field-goal try.
Daniels was back on the field soon, though, terrorizing the Missouri defense once again. He capped a swift drive with a 35-yard touchdown run, and when Missouri got Schrader's third touchdown run to retake the lead with 5:40 to go, Daniels made a little more magic by finding Nabers all alone for the go-ahead score in the closing minutes.
“Proud of my football team,” Kelly said. “They fixed a lot of things and it starts with them. It starts with the players and their ability to go out on the field and really affect the change from last week.”
THE TAKEAWAY
For Missouri the game had a similar feeling to last year's game against top-ranked Georgia, when Missouri led most of the way and even dominated at times. Just like Saturday, the Bulldogs managed to steal the game in the fourth quarter.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
LSU should move up a spot or two after beating a higher-ranked team. Missouri likely drops to the bottom of the Top 25 or falls out.
HOT MIC MOMENT
Missouri defensive end Johnny Walker Jr. was ejected in the third quarter after a second personal foul penalty. If anyone was wondering what occurred, referee Jason Autrey left his microphone on and told someone, “He spit on him.” Autrey also warned LSU right tackle Emery Jones Jr., the apparent victim, to “be cool” before shutting the mic off.
UP NEXT
Missouri heads to Kentucky next Saturday night. Kickoff time is still to be determined as is where the game will air.
Jalon Daniels out again, but running game leads KU to win over UCF
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Devin Neal rushed for 154 yards on just 12 carries and Daniel Hishaw ran for another 134 yards and two touchdowns as Kansas dominated UCF 51-22 in a Big 12 Conference battle on Saturday.
On the day Kansas inducted Tony Sands, the school's second all-time leading rusher, into the ring of honor, Neal passed four players to move into ninth on the all-time list as the Jayhawks (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) rushed for 399 yards.
UCF (3-3, 0-3 Big 12) welcomed back starting quarterback John Rhys Plumlee, who missed three games with an undisclosed leg injury. He was just 3-of-7 for 33 yards. Backup Timmy McClain was 12-of-15 for 136 yards and two scores.
Kansas was without its starting quarterback, Jalon Daniels, for the second straight week and third time this season. Daniels, the preseason Big 12 offensive player of the year, missed the game with a back injury. Backup Jason Bean was 8-of-12 for 91 yards.
Already up 24-0 at intermission, Neal took a handoff on the first play from scrimmage in the second half and raced 75 yards untouched for a 31-0 lead.
The Knights finally reached the end zone on a four-play, 75-yard drive in the third quarter. McClain hit Alec Holler with a 13-yard touchdown pass. The 2-point conversion failed.
Kansas responded with a 75-yard drive to stretch the lead to 37-8. Dylan McDuffie punched in from the 1-yard line. The extra point attempt was botched and UCF returned it 91 yards for 2 points.
UCF cut it to 37-15 with a touchdown by RJ Harvey. Hishaw's second touchdown gave the Jayhawks a 44-15 lead. UCF's final touchdown was a 23-yard pass from McClain to Randy Pittman.
Kansas got a 25-yard Seth Keller field goal on its first drive. Bean found Lawrence Arnold for a 5-yard touchdown pass on the third play of the second quarter to put Kansas up 10-0. Hishaw extended the lead with a 3-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter and Trevor Wilson returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown and a 24-0 lead.
THE TAKEAWAY
The Jayhawks didn't let a tough loss at Texas last week carry over. The Jayhawks dominated from the start.
UP NEXT
The Jayhawks will face Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30pm. Where the game will be aired is still to be determined.
Kansas State rallied in second half but falls to Oklahoma State on Friday
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Ollie Gordon ran for 136 yards and a touchdown, Alex Hale tied a school record with five made field goals and Oklahoma State defeated Kansas State 29-21 on Friday night.
Alan Bowman passed for 235 yards and redshirt freshman Cameron Epps returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown for the Cowboys (3-2, 1-1 Big 12), who snapped a two-game losing skid.
Oklahoma State had no turnovers to Kansas State’s three, did not allow a sack and held the Wildcats to one of four conversions on fourth-down attempts. The Cowboys even converted a fake punt into a first down.
“Coaches had really, really good game plans,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said. “And there’s times I’ve told you that our game plans weren’t very good. Really, really good game plans. It worked. Players bought in, played their butt off, played with a lot of excitement, a lot of energy.”
Kansas State's Will Howard completed just 15 of 34 passes for 152 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions. He ran for 104 yards and a score. DJ Giddens, who ran for 207 yards and four touchdowns in his previous game against Central Florida, finished with 65 yards on 16 carries for the Wildcats (3-2, 1-1 Big 12).
“We’re not a very good football team right now,” Kansas State coach Chris Klieman said. "I told them that. But it starts with me.”
Oklahoma State took its opening drive 72 yards on 15 plays, and Gordon closed it with a 2-yard touchdown run to put the Cowboys up 7-0.
Oklahoma State led 10-0 early in the second quarter when Howard kept the ball and ran 70 yards to the 1-yard line. Two plays later, Howard found Ben Sinnott in the back of the end zone to trim the Cowboys' lead to 10-7.
Epps' 35-yard interception return for a score in the final minute of the first half gave Oklahoma State a 20-7 lead at the break. It was his second interception of the first half. Oklahoma State outgained Kansas State 287 yards to 133 before the break as Howard completed just 5 of 11 passes for 11 yards.
Hale's 53-yard field goal early in the third quarter tied a career high for distance and put the Cowboys up 23-7.
Kansas State's Treshaun Ward scored on an 11-yard touchdown run, and Howard ran in the 2-point conversion to cut the Cowboys' lead to 26-15 late in the third.
Howard's 6-yard touchdown run with 8:56 remaining made it 29-21, but his 2-point conversion pass was incomplete.
Oklahoma State failed on a fourth-and-1 with just over five minutes remaining, giving Kansas State a chance. But Howard threw his third interception of the game to Nickolas Martin at the Oklahoma State 29 to end the threat. Kansas State got the ball one last time but couldn't get anything going.
Kansas State's defense toughened up when the Cowboys got close and forced them to attempt six field goals. The game out to be close, even though Oklahoma State dominated much of it.
“What we have to do is figure out a way to quit kicking field goals," Gundy said. "We’ve got to punch it in down there, come up with some concepts that give us a better chance. Kicking (making) five field goals, you would probably think you’re probably lucky to win, but it worked out defensively. Two big stops at the end.”
THE TAKEAWAY
Kansas State: Howard, who had averaged 268 yards passing per game, was shut down. Phillip Brooks, who led the Wildcats with 24 receptions through four games, had just three for 50 yards.
“He’s got to play better, and he knows it," Klieman said of Howard. “We’ve got to put him in a better position as well.”
UP NEXT
Kansas State visits Texas Tech next Saturday. The kickoff time is still to be determined as is where the game will air.
Cornhuskers score two TD's in 10 seconds to push past Illinois
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Heinrich Haarberg threw for 154 yards and rushed for a team-leading 82 yards and a touchdown as Nebraska beat Illinois 20-7 on Friday night.
Seven receivers caught passes from Haarberg, who was 12-of-24 passing. His 25-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was Nebraska’s second TD in 10 seconds.
Nebraska (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten Conference) stopped Illinois twice inside the Huskers’ 1 on the Illini’s first drive of the game, as Luke Altmyer and Reggie Love III each failed to get into the end zone.
The Huskers marched back down the field and scored on a 31-yard field goal by Tristan Alvano.
Illinois (2-4, 0-3) entered the game having scored just 10 points in the first quarter all season. The Illini failed to add to that total because of a goal-line stand by the Huskers.
Nebraska took a 17-0 lead with its two quick second-quarter touchdowns.
Anthony Grant leaped into the end zone from one yard out, completing a 14-play, 79-yard drive that took 6:38. After Nebraska recovered the ensuing kickoff, Haarberg ran untouched into the end zone.
The Illini scored their only touchdown with 1:31 left in the first half when Pat Bryant fought off Quinton Newsome and caught a perfectly thrown 46-yard touchdown pass from Altmyer.
A 55-yard field goal attempt by Illinois’ Caleb Griffin in the waning seconds of the half fell far short even with a stiff breeze at his back.
Nebraska’s Phelan Sanford forced a fumble by Griffin Moore after a pass reception early in the third quarter and Tommi Hill recovered and ran to the Illinois 13, setting up a 32-yard field goal by Alvano.
A blocked punt by Nebraska’s Blaise Gunnerson on Illinois’ next possession gave the Huskers the ball at the Illinois 18, but Alvano missed a 36-yard field goal.
Newsome avenged giving up Bryant's TD when he intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter and returned it 39 yards. A fumble by Grant ended Nebraska’s drive on the Illinois 15.
THE TAKEAWAY
The victory pushed the Huskers into the Big Ten West title picture. After a bye week next week, Nebraska hosts Big Ten West opponents Northwestern and Purdue then travels to Michigan State, all teams with losing records.
UP NEXT
The Huskers have a bye week before hosting Northwestern. Kickoff time on October 21st against Northwestern is still to be determined.
Bye Week notes
The Benedictine Ravens have a bye week ahead of the beginning of Heart South play, but during that bye week did receive some good news.
The Ravens moved back up in the fourth edition of the NAIA FirstDown PlayBook Top 25 Coaches' Poll announced on Monday. Benedictine moved up to #21 in the polls.
The Ravens will enter Heart South play on Saturday traveling to Fayette, Missouri to matchup with Central Methodist. Kickoff is set for 1pm.