By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Northwest tops Missouri Western despite offensive struggles
The Northwest Missouri State Bearcats scored 16 unanswered points in the second half to win over Missouri Western 16-3 in Maryville on Saturday. Read our full recap of the game HERE
Ravens start slow but still win big over Culver Stockton
The Benedictine Ravens fell behind early but snagged all the momentum with a Garrett Kettle 71 yard touchdown pass at the end of the first quarter, winning over Culver Stockton 45-16 on Saturday.
Culver Stockton scored first in the game but missed an extra point, and after back to back field goals led the Ravens 9-3 before Kettle would find Jacob Gathright down the field for the touchdown pass at the end of the first.
Benedictine would score one more touchdown to start the second quarter before allowing Culver Stockton's only other score of the game. The Ravens would end the second quarter with two more touchdowns, both rushes by Garrett Kettle. After no points were scored in the third, Benedictine would add 14 more points in the fourth quarter.
Kettle led the offense with 408 all purpose yards (267 passing and 141 rushing) and scoring five all purpose touchdowns (three passing and two rushing). Gathright led receivers with seven catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns.
The Ravens are now 5-1 on the season and will have a bye week next week. They will be back in action on October 15th against Central Methodist in Atchison for Stars and Stripes Day. Kickoff is set for 1pm.
Jayhawks hold on to beat Cyclones thanks to special teams troubles
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Iowa State kicker Jace Gilbert missed three field goals, including a 37-yarder with a chance to tie the game with under 30 seconds to play as Kansas held off Iowa State 14-11 to remain undefeated.
Gilbert also missed 38- and 45-yard attempts in the first and fourth quarters.
At 5-0 overall, this is the Jayhawks' best start to the season since 2009 and just the second time in the last 14 years they’re 2-0 to begin Big 12 Conference play.
“This feels different because of what this group has been though," Kansas coach Lance Leipold said. “We've only been here 16 months and focusing on how we can improve, but I'm so happy for them because we can see what it does in the community, the stands, togetherness and these are great things to build upon.”
Jalon Daniels and Daniel Hishaw both scored rushing touchdowns for the Jayhawks, who were shut out in the second half, but did just enough to hang on for the victory.
The Jayhawks will look to improve to 6-0 for the first time since 2007, when the Jayhawks finished 11-1 and defeated Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl, when they face TCU this Saturday. Kickoff is set for 11am in Lawrence.
#25 Wildcats dominate ground game to hold off Red Raiders
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) —Kansas State quarterback Adrian Martinez rushed for 171 yards and three touchdowns and threw for another score to lead No. 25 Kansas State to a 37-28 victory.
He was 12-for-19 passing for 116 yards for Kansas State (4-1, 2-0 Big 12), while Deuce Vaughn had 170 rushing yards for the Wildcats, who extended their winning streak against the Red Raiders to seven games.
Martinez and Vaughn combined for three runs of at least 50 yards, plus another that was nullified by a holding penalty.
“One of the things we talked about at halftime was we had to have some people step up and make some explosive plays,” Vaughn said. “That’s a testament to the O-linemen and the guys blocking downfield. They opened up some big holes.”
Donovan Smith was 34-for-48 passing for 359 yards and two TDs for Texas Tech (3-2, 1-1) and also rushed for a touchdown. The Wildcats also got three field goals from Chris Tennant after drives stalled.
Kansas State will matchup next with the fiery offense of the Iowa State Cyclones on the road in Ames, Iowa as they look to improve to stay near the top of the Big 12. Kickoff is set for 6:30pm and will be aired on ESPNU.
Huskers snap nine game losing skid with win over Indiana
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska quarterback Casey Thompson threw threw for two touchdowns and ran for another and Nebraska beat a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent for the first time in 364 days with a 35-21 victory over Indiana.
Thompson threw a 71-yard touchdown pass to Trey Palmer early in the fourth to break a 21-all tie and followed with a 1-yard run to give the Cornhuskers a two-score cushion.
The win ended a nine-game losing streak against Bowl Subdivision opponents and was Mickey Joseph’s first since he was named interim head coach following the firing of Scott Frost on Sept. 11.
“I love Mickey. I want to ride with Mickey,” defensive end Garrett Nelson said. “He was put in a tough situation and he’s flourished in that spot.”
Thompson was 18 of 27 for 270 yards with an interception to go with his two TD passes. Former Missouri and current Indiana quarterback Connor Bazelak was 22 of 44 for 223 yards with a touchdown and interception.
Nebraska is now 2-3 (1-1 Big Ten) and will look to continue their winning ways when they travel to Piscataway, New Jersey to face Rutgers on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 6pm and will be aired on FS1.
Tigers fight hard against Bulldogs but lose lead late in loss
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Daijun Edwards plunged into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown with just over 4 minutes to go to help top-ranked Georgia rally from 10 points down in the fourth quarter to beat Missouri 26-22.
Kendall Milton also scored in the fourth quarter for the Bulldogs, who trailed almost the entire way before finally solving red-zone woes that forced Jack Podlesny to kick four field goals.
Brady Cook had 192 yards passing and a touchdown for the Tigers. Missouri struggled to reach the end zone against one of the country’s best defenses. Harrison Mevis wound up kicking five field goals, including two from 50-plus yards, one week after he missed a potential game-winner in an overtime loss at Auburn.
“We were self-inflicted wounds away from winning that game,” Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz said.
Missouri honored former coach Gary Pinkel, who will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in December. He also is being inducted into the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame.
The Tigers have now lost two straight games and on the season are 2-3 (0-2 SEC) and will travel to Gainsville, Florida for a battle with the Gators in the swamp. Kickoff is set for 11am and will be aired on FS1.