By MATT PIKE
Bye Weeks: No. 22 Missouri (Next game: Oct 31st @ Arkansas), Nebraska (Next game: Oct. 31st vs Washington)
Bearcats stingy defense, strong second half lead to win over Lopers
The No. 11 Northwest Missouri State University football squad team put a stingy defensive effort on the field and s strong second half for a 27-10 victory against the University of Nebraska-Kearney Lopers at Cope Stadium in Kearney, Nebraska.
The win for Northwest clinched the 31st consecutive winning season in program history, which is the longest active streak among NCAA Division II schools. Things started off slow for both the Bearcats and Lopers as the first half featured 11 punts with six for UNK and five for the Bearcats. Northwest also limited UNK to -14 yards rushing in the opening half. After a scoreless first quarter, Northwest cracked the scoreboard late in the second quarter on a 66-yard passing touchdown from Zechariah Owens to Tommy Hutsler. With three seconds remaining in the half former Bearcat kicker Kaden Kiernan drilled a 43-yard field goal to narrow the Bearcats lead to 7-3 at the halftime break.
Things started out much quick for Northwest in the second half when Quincy Torry took a handoff from Owens and scampered 75 yards down the Bearcat sideline accompanied by offensive tackle Kaleb McCullough for a touchdown in just one play. After both teams exchanged punts the Lopers narrowed the gap with their first touchdown of the game, a 50 yard passing touchdown from Devin Tate to Austin Ayobamidele, capping the UNK scoring, and making it 14-10 heading into the final quarter of action. The Lopers did look to pull within one with a 37-yard field goal attempt with 1:29 left in the third quarter, but attempted a fake field goal instead with the pass going incomplete.
The Bearcats took advantage of the turnover on downs, driving the field in a 10 play drive that ended with Jaron Cannon Jr. taking a direct snap and scoring a two-yard touchdown. Closing out the games scoring in the final quarter, Mason Shorb hit tight end Andrew Waltke for a three-yard touchdown pass, but the two point conversion failed.
Owens was 4-of-17 for 117 yards with one touchdown and one interception, adding eight rushes for 46 yards, while Shorb went 3-of-7 for 27 yards with a touchdown. Torry ran 19 times for 160 yards and a score with Te'Shaun Porter adding 11 rushes for 50 yards. Hutsler had two catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. Trevor Spady added two catches for 30 yards.
Up next, Northwest (6-1, 5-1 MIAA) will return to action for its annual Homecoming contest against Emporia State (7-0, 5-0 MIAA0. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Bearcat Stadium.
Injury riddled Griffons fall to Lions in Hall of Fame game
The Missouri Western State University Griffons football team lost 38-14 to Missouri Southern at Spratt Stadium in the annual Rogers Pharmacy Hall of Fame game.
For Southern, it was their first win in St. Joseph since 2012, and the Lions got off to a 10-0 lead, getting a 43 yard field goal by Asher Huffman in the first quarter, before finding the endzone in the second quarter on a one yard run from Jackson Marrs. The Griffons hit back and took a brief lead, scoring on back to back drives after Ashton Smith recovered a fumble. MoWest's offenst cut into the lead first as Isaiah Tate threw a 28 yard touchdown pass to Peyton Hatfield. The Griffon defense gave them the lead when Zaidun Edwards intercepted Tillman Martin and took it 70 yards for a score and a 14-10 lead.
But, with just 21 seconds remaining before halftime, Southern retook the lead capping an 88 yard drive with an 11 yard passing touchdown from Tillman to Narkel LeFlore for a 17-14 lead at the halftime break. From there, things never turned back to MoWest's favor, the Griffons fumbling four times in the second half. An 11 yard run from Marrs extended the Lions lead in the third quarter, following a MoWest punt. Then, after a fumble by Jaelon Dixon, Southern added another score with a five yard run by LeFlore for a 31-14 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The final blow came late in regulation. The Griffons had driven down to the Southern one yard line, and with second-and-goal backup quarterback Skyler Cassel attempted a handoff to Michael Haggerty, but the exchange went awry, and Southern's Daimond Casseus took it back 96 yards on a fumble recovery for the final score. The Lions outgained MoWest in total offensive yards 341-287, including 157-62 on the ground. The Lions also controlled time of possession 36:34-23:26.
Cassel was 15-of-22 for 122 yards while Tate went 7-of-19 for 103 and a touchdown. Rickie Dunn rushed eight times for 29 yards and Malik Moore had five catches for 73 yards. Crew Myers added five catches for 42 yards while Hatfield had just the one catch for 28 yards and a score.
MoWest (3-5, 2-4 MIAA) now goes back on the road to face Washburn (5-2-1, 4-2 MIAA). Kickoff from Yager Stadium in Topeka, Kansas is set for 2pm on Saturday.
No. 2 Ravens dominate Owls in home finale shutout victory
The No. 2 Benedictine Raven football team put forward a dominant shutout victory in their regular season home finale against the William Woods University Owls, winning 67-0 at Larry Wilcox Stadium in Atchison.
The Ravens controlled the game from the very beginning, scoring on their opening drive of the game after forcing an Owls punt with a nine yard touchdown run by Brendan Haisenleder. After another William Woods punt, Benedictine struck again, this time through the air, Patrick Heitert throwing a 33 yard touchdown pass to Titan Osburn. Anthony Lonergan intercepted Coleson Baum to give the Ravens the ball back and Benedictine held the ball at the end of the first quarter with a 14-0 lead.
A 13 play drive for the Ravens ended in the second quarter with another touchdown on the ground, four yards by Atchison alum Xiomar Hernandez. A turnover on downs put the ball back in Benedictine's hand and the Ravens continued to pour it on, Heitert connecting with Joseph Lagafuaina for a 35 yard touchdown pass, however Christian Klobe would miss his extra point attempt for the first time. Leading by four scores still, the Ravens forced another punt by the Owls and scored their final touchdown of the half, a three yard run from Cooper Hajek, with Klobe again missing the extra point.
Leading 33-0 before halftime, Benedictine's defense again came up with the ball as Dylan Witherspoon intercepted Baum. Benedictine drove the field, but Klobe missed a third consecutive kick, with a 20 yard field goal attempt sailing wide left with 14 seconds left. The Owls ran one play for negative yards, allowing the clock to run to the halftime break, going into the locker room trailing. Haisenleder opened the second half with a one yard rushing score to extend the lead. After yet another William Woods punt, the Ravens drove to the one yard line where Bishop LeBlond alum Jake Winkelbauer ran for no gain and fumbled, but Edward Swisloski recovered the ball in the endzone for a score.
Heading into the final quarter, Benedictine held a 47-0 lead, and after Luis Vasquez picked off Baum, the Ravens scored again with an eight yard run by Robbie Sharp, with Kylar Haarhuis missing the extra point attempt. Benedictine forced the Owls to punt, however on the punt Carson Miller blocked the kick and Brody Morgan returned it 15 yards for a touchdown. After one final William Woods punt, Carter Salzman capped the scoring with a 46 yard rushing touchdown.
Heitert was 17-of-28 for 314 yards with two touchdowns adding five rushes for 65 yards. Hernandez ran 12 times for 63 yards and a score while Haisenleder rushed eight times for 50 yards and two touchdowns. Lagafuaina had four catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. Osburn added three catches for 66 yards and a score.
Next, No. 2 Benedictine (8-1, 4-0 Heart South) will hit the road for a matchup with Missouri Valley (4-3, 2-1 Heart South) on Saturday. Kickoff will be at 1pm in Marshall, Missouri
Jayhawks block late field goal to salvage first conference win over Baylor
The Kansas Jayhawks blocked a field goal attempt by the Baylor Bears with 18 seconds remaining in the game, salvaging their first conference win of the season 25-24 at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence.
Jayhawks quarterback Isaiah Marshall threw on an interception on the opening drive of the game, however following the turnover Baylor turned the ball over on downs and Kansas responded with a touchdown drive, going 11 plays before Marshall threw a 22 yard pass to Carson Bruhn for the score. The Bears answered in six plays, tying up the game at 7-7 heading into the second quarter, Dawson Pendergrass plunging into the endzone from one yard out.
The game would go into the halftime break tied after neither team scored in the second quarter, the Jayhawks missing a 49 yard field goal attempt for the lead during the frame. In the third quarter, after a punt from Baylor to open the half, Marshall threw his second interception of the game, Devon Jordan taking it 42 yards for a touchdown. The Jayhawks managed a field goal on the ensuing drive, 40 yards by Martin Connington, and the Bears extended the lead before the final quarter with an eight yard touchdown pass from DJ Lagway to Jayden McGowan.
The touchdown pass pushed Baylor ahead 21-10 with 6:41 left in the third quarter, from there the Jayhawks began their comeback. A 12 play drive that carried into the start of the fourth quarter led to a Kansas touchdown, Marshall throwing a 34 yard pass to Nik McMillan. The Jayhawks forced a Baylor punt and narrowed the gap even more with another field goal from Connington, this time from 42 yards out, to cut the Baylor lead to 21-19 with 9:39 left in the game.
Trey Lathan picked off Lagway on the ensuing drive, giving Kansas back the ball, and the Jayhawks turned the ball over on downs setting the Bears up for a six play drive capped by a 42 yard field goal from Rhett Armstrong, pushing the Baylor lead to 24-19 with 2:33 remaining in regulation. Kansas took their first lead since the opening touchdown on the following drive, putting together their own six play drive, Marshall finding the endzone with his legs from 15 yards out for the 25-24 lead with 1:13 left in the game.
The Bears drove down to the Kansas 27 yard line setting up a go ahead field goal attempt on 4th and 4. Armstrong's kick though from 45 yards away was blocked by Blake Herold, giving the ball back to the Jayhawks and allowing Kansas to kneel out the remaining clock for their first conference win of the year.
Marshall was 17-of-29 for 212 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions adding 15 rushes for 31 yards and a score. Dylan Edwards rushed 30 times for 156 yards. McMillan caught two passes for 66 yards and a score while Bruhn had five catches for 63 yards and a touchdown.
Up next, Kansas (3-4, 1-3 Big 12) will travel to Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday to face TCU (3-4, 1-3 Big 12). Kickoff will be at 2:30pm on FS1.
Wildcats fall as Arizona State rallies to take lead in fourth quarter
The Arizona State Sun Devils scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to rally past the Kansas State Wildcats, handing K State a 28-17 loss at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.
The Wildcats were led in the game by fifth year senior quarterback Jacob Knuth, who started in place of Avery Johnson who sat out the game with an upper body injury. Knuth led Kansas State down the field on their opening drive and gave the Wildcats an early lead in the game, throwing a seven yard touchdown pass to Jaron Tibbs. The Sun Devils needed just four plays to answer though and tied the game on a nine yard rushing score by Cardae Mack. Three punts, two from Kansas State and one from Arizona State, ended the first quarter tied 7-7
After the Sun Devils ended the first quarter with the ball, following the Wildcats punt, Mack scored his second touchdown of the game to give Arizona State the lead, running in from one yard out. Both teams exchanged punts and Kansas State cut into the lead with a 22 yard field goal from Luis Rodriguez, before each team traded punts again, and the first half ended with the Sun Devils leading 14-10 at the halftime break.
In a game filled with punts, three more began the second half with two from Arizona State and one from Kansas State, following the second Sun Devils punt the Wildcats taking the lead back with the lone score in the third quarter as Knuth used his legs to find the endzone on a 10 yard rushing touchdown. Arizona State was forced to punt again, but on the ensuing drive the Wildcats turned the ball over on downs and the Sun Devils started their drive with 2:57 left in the third quarter on their own 29 yard line.
The seven play drive carried into the final quarter and Mack found the endzone for a third time, his longest score of the day from 12 yards out, to give Arizona State the lead back at 21-17. Kansas State again turned the ball over on downs, but the Sun Devils were unable to do anything as both teams went on to exchange punts before Arizona State scored again with Mack, an 11 yard rushing touchdown, for the final score of the game. Each team turned the ball over on downs, until the Sun Devils were able to run out the remaining clock.
Knuth was 26-of-41 for 194 yards with a touchdown pass adding nine rushes for 19 yards and another score. Rodney Fields Jr ran 10 times for 36 yards and Joe Jackson rushed nine times for 17 yards. Derrick Salley Jr had six catches for 63 yards while Tibbs had nine catches for 57 yards and a touchdown. Joshua Manning added seven catches for another 57 yards.
Next, Kansas State (4-3, 1-3 Big 12) will travel to play Colorado (2-5, 0-4 Big 12). Kickoff will be at 1pm and the game will air on TNT.
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