By MATT PIKE
The Missouri Western State University offense put on a show in Thursday's season opener, but No. 20 Augustana did as well, and the Vikings came away with a 63-58 win in a shootout at Spratt Stadium.
Through the first half, it was a boxing match with both teams going blow-for-blow, ending tied at the halftime break. After the Vikings opened the scoring with an 11 yard touchdown pass from Gunnar Hensley to Max Carlson, the Griffons answered quickly as transfer quarterback Isaiah Tate threw the first of his five first half touchdowns, finding Malik Moore on a 25 yard pass in the endzone to complete a four play drive. Augustana answered however, just as quickly, a five yard pass from Hensley to Klayton Sattler putting the Vikings up 14-7.
Then it was MoWest's turn again, with another quick drive ending in a touchdown pass for Tate, 20 yards to Crew Myers, then after a punt by Augustana the Griffons took the lead just before the end of the first quarter, Tate using his legs this time to rush for a 15 yard score, ending the first quarter with MoWest up 21-14. The Vikings opened the second quarter tying the game up once again, ending a five play drive with a one yard rush by Carlson.
Tate threw his third touchdown of the game to give MoWest the lead back, finding his third different receiver of the half in the endzone on a 31 yard pass to Peyton Hatfield, and after the Vikings tied the game once more finishing a two play drive with a 56 yard run from Breylon Blount, Tate found another receiver for a score throwing a 45 yard pass to Austin Adair. Carlson pounded the ball in once again from one yard out with just under six minutes in the half, tying the game before both offenses went cold, ending the half tied 35-35.
After the break, the Griffons started with the ball but would be forced to punt, and on the punt returner Neal May took the ball 84 yards to the house for the go ahead score. As MoWest attempted to answer, Tate would be injured on a one yard rush, forcing the Griffons to go to Skyler Cassel, who attempted a long pass into double coverage and was picked off by Trey Malone III. The Vikings turned the interception into points, driving the field for Carlson to score his fourth touchdown of the night with another one yard run, going up 48-35.
Hatfield took a kick return back 98 yards to put MoWest back down by one score, but the Vikings answered again on a 15 yard pass from Hensley to DJ Page, also completing a two point conversion attempt to Page to push Augustana ahead 56-42. The game continued back and forth as MoWest chipped back with a 10 yard rush by Rickie Dunn, to start final quarter, the Vikings added another rushing touchdown, Blount breaking off another long run going 30 yards for a score, extending the lead to 63-49 with 14 minutes left in regulation.
With their backs to the wall, the Griffons got a gift when Augustana's punter dropped the ball in the endzone, and MoWest got a safety, cutting the Vikings lead to 12. MoWest was unable to score until late in the quarter however, Cassel finding freshman receiver Emmanuel Ellison with a 10 yard pass with 1:04 left on the clock. The Griffons attempted an onside kick, but were unable to recover and Augustana kneeled out the remaining clock for the victory.
Tate finished 18-for-29 for 420 passing yards, the second most in school history, running for 26 yards and 446 yards of total offense, the fourth most in school history. The five all-purpose touchdowns from Tate ties a school record, and hadn't been done by a Griffon since 2010. The four passing scores ties for second most in a single game in program history. Meanwhile, Cassel completed 13-of-18 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown and Moore had eight catches for 198 yards receiving, third most in school history, with a touchdown.
Altogether, MoWest shattered school records in both total yards with 727 and passing yards with 635. The 121 points are the most combined points scored in a game in program history. The Griffons are on the road next Thursday for their first MIAA game of the season, facing Central Missouri (0-1). Kickoff from Walton Stadium in Warrensburg is set for 7pm.
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