By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
FRIDAY
#22 Nebraska suffers first loss falling in overtime to #24 Illinois
The #22 Nebraska Cornhuskers battled back and forth with #24 Illinois on Friday in Lincoln at Memorial Stadium, but unfortunately would fall in overtime 31-24.
Following a three and out by Nebraska to open the game, Illinois would take the first lead of the game on a six play drive, quarterback Luke Altmyer connecting with Pat Bryant on a 27 yard touchdown pass. But near the end of the quarter, Nebraska would take the lead back on back to back drives.
A 21 yard field goal from John Hohl would get the Cornhuskers within four points, and after a fumble by Illinois, Nebraska would take the lead as star quarterback Dylan Raiola found Isaiah Neyor on a six yard touchdown pass with 32 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The Fighting Illini would tie the game up early on in the second quarter with a 26 yard field goal from David Olano, but again near the end of the half Nebraska would take the lead back on another touchdown connection between Raiola and Neyor, this time from 11 yards out, leaving the Cornhuskers up 17-10 at halftime.
Both teams would exchange punts to open the second half, before Illinois would use up almost all of the clock, an 11 play drive that lasted five minutes, going 57 yards for another touchdown pass from Altmyer, this time a three yard toss to Tanner Arkin, leaving the score tied heading into the final frame of regulation.
Nebraska would take the lead back quickly, a five play drive that lasted just under two minutes, Raiola throwing his third touchdown of the game, finding Janiran Bonner on a one yard passing score. But Illinois would not go away, on the next drive Altmyer throwing his third touchdown, a six yard score to Brandon Henderson, with 10:36 left in regulation.
The score would hold at 24-24 for the remainder of the fourth quarter, Nebraska missing a go ahead field goal from 39 yards away with 2:39 left in the game, the half eventually ending with Raiola taking a knee to send the game to overtime.
The Cornhuskers would win the toss and opt to go on defense first, allowing the Fighting Illini to score in just two plays with Altmyer finding Bryant for a second time in the endzone, a four yard score. Nebraska's possession would be a disaster though, as Raiola was sacked three times, including on fourth down to end the game.
Raiola was 24 of 35 through the air for 215 yards and three touchdowns. His leading receiver was Jahmal Banks with eight catches for 94 yards, while Neyor had four catches for 90 yards and two scores. Dante Dowdell rushed 20 times for 72 yards.
Next up Nebraska will hit the road for the first time this season, traveling to West Lafayette, Indiana to matchup with Purdue. Kickoff is at 11am.
SATURDAY
#7 Missouri offense struggles, overcomes to top Vanderbilt in overtime
On a day where Missouri quarterback Brady Cook struggled and kicker Blake Craig missed three field goals, the #7 Missouri Tigers overcame those struggles to beat Vanderbilt 30-27 in overtime to open SEC play in Columbia.
Both teams would exchange punts to open the game, both going three and out, before the Commodores would open the scoring on a big play as quarterback Diego Pavia would begin to run, drawing the defense in and allowing him to connect with Joseph McVay on a 65 yard touchdown pass.
But the Tigers would answer on the next drive, putting together a 10 play drive that would go 76 yards, eventually working down for Cook to find Luther Burden III on a 20 yard touchdown pass. Vanderbilt would take the lead back though on their next drive, a 27 yard field goal from Brock Taylor putting them up 10-3 early in the second quarter.
Craig would miss his first field goal of the day on the next drive, but the Tigers defense would stand tall and force a punt, eventually getting Craig another chance, this time the freshman kicker knocking one through from 23 yards out to tie the game once again.
Following a punt from the Commodores, the Tigers would turn the ball over on downs, putting Vanderbilt in field position at the end of the first half to knock through a 57 yard field goal, giving them the lead heading into the halftime break.
Craig would end up tying the game back up to start the second half. hitting a long 54 yard field goal of his own, before the Tigers would finally take their first lead of the game on their next offensive drive. Nate Noel's big 64 yard run would get Missouri to the three yard line, where Marcus Carroll would go on to punch it in, putting the Tigers up 20-13.
But the Commodores would again score, a four yard touchdown run by AJ Newberry, tying the game once again near the end of the third quarter, where the score would hold until Vanderbilt knelt out the remaining time at the end of regulation to force overtime.
Missouri would win the toss and choose to start on defense, where Vanderbilt would score the first overtime touchdown, Pavia throwing a two yard touchdown to Gabe Fisher. On the Tigers offensive drive, it took just one play for Cook to find Burden on a 25 yard touchdown pass, sending the game to a second overtime.
The second overtime saw Missouri start on offense, and after four plays Craig would convert his biggest field goal of the day from 37 yards out, leaving the game in the hands of the Tiger defense. Missouri would catch a small break as an offensive pass interference forced Vanderbilt into a 2nd and 28, and after Pavia completed a 17 yard pass, Taylor would march out for a 31 yard field goal, which would hook left, giving Missouri the victory.
Cook was 23 of 37 through the air for 221 yards and two touchdowns. Noel rushed 24 times for 199 yards, while Burden was the leading receiver with six catches for 76 yards and the two scores.
Missouri will now have a well timed bye week to make adjustments before their first road game of the season on October 5th, heading to College Station for a matchup with Texas A&M. Kickoff will be at 11am.
Bearcats score lopsided shutout victory over Missouri Southern
The Northwest Missouri State Bearcats got back to .500 on the season, scoring a lopsided victory over Missouri Southern on Saturday, winning 59-0 in Joplin.
The Bearcats would score 21 first quarter points with two touchdown passes from Chris Ruhnke and a rushing score from Jadon Brady, and add 10 more points in the second quarter, the lone touchdown coming on defense as Shane Fredrickson returned an interception 55 yards for a score.
The thumping would continue in the second half as the Bearcats added 28 more points to complete the shutout victory. It is the 12th time Northwest has posted a shutout under head coach Rich Wright, and the third time over Missouri Southern.
Ruhnke was 26 of 33 through the air for 331 yards and three touchdowns. His leading receiver was Eric Richardson with three catches for 85 yards and one score. Brady rushed 16 times for 59 yards and one touchdown.
Northwest will return to Maryville on Saturday for Family Weekend, hosting Emporia State at Bearcat Stadium. Kickoff is at 1:30pm and the game will air on 38 the Spot as well as the MIAA Network.
Gutsy play falls short, Missouri Western falls to Emporia State in OT
The Missouri Western Griffons battled hard with the #13 Emporia State Hornets, forcing overtime, but falling 30-27 on the road in Emporia, Kansas on Saturday.
The first quarter was all Emporia State, as Gunnar Gundy connected with Trenden Collins on a 25 yard touchdown pass with 4:21 remaining in the quarter. Caden Dodson would hit a 25 yard field goal near the end of the quarter to give the Hornets a 10-0 lead.
After back to back interceptions from quarterback Kane Donovan, the Griffons would bring on Kody Kirk to make his season debut, and Kirk would lead two big drives to give Missouri Western a lead. The first drive, running back Brandon Hall would break a 52 yard touchdown run, and then on the next, Kirk would need just one play to throw an 80 yard dot to Tyler Carey, however Cody Watson would miss the extra point.
Missouri Western would carry a larger lead into halftime as Kirk would again connect with Carey with eight seconds left in the first half, a 13 yard score, Watson converting the extra point this time, giving the Griffons a 20-10 lead at the halftime break.
The lone score in the third quarter would come from the Hornets, Dodson knocking through a 33 yard field goal, before Emporia State would go on to tie the game at the start of the fourth quarter, a touchdown pass from Gundy to Tyler Kahmann of 26 yards.
Missouri Western would take the lead back on Hall's second touchdown of the day midway through the final quarter of regulation, this time a receiving score from Kirk from seven yards out. But the Hornets wouldn't go away, tying the game up with just 1:32 left on the clock, Gundy again connecting with Kahmann on a 30 yard touchdown pass.
In overtime the Griffons would start on defense, holding the Hornets to a 36 yard field goal from Dodson. As the Missouri Western offense took over, Kirk would throw an incomplete pass to start the drive, before Jayden Williams would get the Griffons a first down on an 11 yard rush.
But after a one yard loss from Williams, Kirk would throw an incomplete pass, before completing a 10 yard pass to Jonas Bennett, setting up a 4th and 1 at the Emporia five yard line. Kirk would throw to a wide open Williams, who was unable to haul in the game winning touchdown, just popping out of his hands.
Kirk was 15 of 38 through the air for 220 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Hall rushed 20 times for 137 yards and two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving. The leading receiver was Carey with five catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns.
Missouri Western will return to St. Joseph on Saturday to host Washburn at Spratt Memorial Stadium. Kickoff will be at 2pm.
Benedictine bounces back with big win over St. Ambrose in Iowa
For the first time since 1959, the Benedictine Ravens renewed their football series with St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, bouncing back with a 45-14 win.
The Ravens scored on their first offensive play of the game in a big way, a 75 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jackson Dooley to Jashawn Todd. Midway through the opening quarter, Harry Balke would convert a 35 yard field goal, before Dooley would hit another long touchdown pass on the fourth offensive drive, 83 yards to Jacob Gathright.
Opening the game with 24 unanswered points, it would be another passing touchdown from Dooley to Todd that was the lone score of the second quarter, this time for 37 yards, giving the Ravens a 24-0 lead at the halftime break.
The Fighting Bees would open up the scoring in the third quarter with a chunk play of their own, a 54 yard rushing touchdown from Tomele Staples. But Benedictine would get two more passing touchdowns from Dooley, 11 yards to Lebron Jackson and another 11 yard score to Ethan Peratt.
The final Ravens score of the game came at the beginning of the fourth quarter, a one yard rushing score from Dalton Witherspoon. Staples would add another one yard score, his second of the day, for St. Ambrose late into the final frame.
The Ravens set a new mark for total offense in the win over the Bees with 555 yards on 73 plays. They finished with 473 yards through the air as St. Ambrose couldn't find an answer to keep the Ravens air attack grounded.
Dooley was 23 of 40 passing for 451 yards and five touchdowns. Witherspoon was the leading rusher with 12 carries for 37 yards and a touchdown, while Todd was the leading receiver with two catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Gathright had two catches for 108 yards and a score.
Benedictine will return to Atchison on Saturday for Family Weekend, welcoming in Baker University. Kickoff will be at 1pm.
Kansas loses lead late to fall to West Virginia in Big 12 opener
The Kansas Jayhawks carried a lead into the fourth quarter, but fell late to the West Virginia Mountaineers 32-28 to open Big 12 play on the road in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Back to back punts started the game for both teams before West Virginia opened the scoring in just three plays, after two big passes of 38 and 39 yards respectively from Garrett Greene to Hudson Clement, running back Jaheim White would rush in from one yard out.
Turnover struggles continued for Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels as he would throw an interception on the next drive, but luckily the Jayhawks defense would also pick off Greene to set up a 13 play drive which would culminate with an 11 yard touchdown run from Devin Neal to tie the game up at seven.
But, with 25 seconds left in the first half of the game, the Mountaineers would take the lead back on an eight play drive as Greene would use his legs to score a five yard rushing touchdown, sending West Virginia to the halftime break with a 14-7 lead.
The Jayhawks would tie the game up to open the third quarter, Daniels connecting with Luke Grimm on an 11 yard touchdown pass. West Virginia though would take the lead back one drive later, Michael Hayes II hitting a 40 yard field goal.
From there, Kansas would build what seemed to be a secure lead. Near the end of the third quarter, running back Daniel Hishaw Jr. would rush in from 11 yards away. Then to start the fourth quarter, it would be Grimm on the ground, scoring on a 32 yard end around rush, putting the Jayhawks up 28-17 with 5:39 left in the game.
The Mountaineers would go on a nine play drive following the Grimm touchdown for a score of their own to get within three points, an eight yard touchdown pass from Greene to Kole Taylor. Taylor would also catch the two point conversion pass from Traylon Ray.
And after West Virginia forced Kansas to punt, they would strike again, another passing touchdown from Greene, this time to Rodney Gallagher III, for a 15 yard touchdown pass. On the final drive, the Mountaineers would sack Daniels to force a fumble, recovering it and kneeling out the remaining time.
Daniels was 15 of 25 passing for 184 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Neal rushed 27 times for 110 yards and a touchdown while Grimm was the leading receiver with six catches for 75 yards and a score, also rushing for 55 yards and a touchdown. In the game Grimm hit 2,000 career receiving yards.
The Jayhawks will return home, this time playing at Arrowhead Stadium, taking on TCU as they continue Big 12 play. A kickoff time has yet to be announced by the conference.
Wildcats struggle to find any offense in Big 12 opener against BYU
In a late night game between #13 Kansas State and BYU to open up Big 12 play, offense was hard to come by for the Wildcats as they stumbled to a 38-9 loss at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah.
The Wildcats did open the scoring following a punt from the Cougars to open the game, a 32 yard field goal from Chris Tennant, which was the only score of the opening quarter. Tennant would convert a 27 yard field goal as well in the second quarter, but from there it was all BYU.
Within the span of less than two minutes, a 31 yard field goal from Will Ferrin, a 30 yard fumble return touchdown by Tommy Prassas, and a 23 yard passing touchdown from quarterback Jake Retzlaff to Chase Roberts would put the Cougars up 17-6 at the halftime break.
And it would only get worse in the second half. A three yard passing touchdown from Retzlaff to Darius Lassiter would extend the lead, and then after BYU forced a Kansas State punt, returner Parker Kingston would make a crazy return, wandering back near his own goalline at one point, taking the punt 90 yards to the house for a special teams score.
A controversial 28 yard field goal from Tennant would be the final Wildcat score with 5:12 left in the third quarter. The Cougars would score once more in the final frame, a 21 yard rushing touchdown by Sione I Moa.
Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson was 15 of 28 through the air for 130 yards with two interceptions. Running back DJ Giddens led all rushers with 19 carries for 93 yards while Jayce Brown was the leading receiver with four catches for 51 yards. Defensive end Brendan Mott had 1.5 sacks.
The Wildcats will look to turn things around on Saturday as they return back home to Manhattan to face #14 Oklahoma State at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The kickoff time has yet to be announced by the conference.