By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Missouri defense dominate again in shutout win over Buffalo
For the first time since 1935, the #9 Missouri Tigers opened the college football season with back to back shutouts, defeating the Buffalo Bulls 38-0 in Columbia.
After only getting a field goal in the first quarter, a 51 yarder from freshman Blake Craig, the Tigers opened up the scoring in the second quarter.
Rushing touchdowns from Luther Burden III and Brady Cook extended the Tigers lead to 17-0. Near the end of the quarter, Cook would break off another run, high stepping over a defender and rumbling down the field before eventually doing a barrel roll into the endzone. Missouri led 24-0 at the halftime break.
The Tigers would continue to dominate the run game in the second half, getting rushing touchdowns from Nate Noel and Jamal Robers in the third and fourth quarters respectively.
Missouri's offense put together 518 total yards, 263 through the air and 255 on the ground, while the defense allowed 169 total yards to Buffalo. Cook was 28 of 36 through the air for 228 yards with one interception, while rushing for 62 yards and two touchdowns
Missouri will have a third straight home game in week three, welcoming Boston College to Columbia. Kickoff will be at 11:45 am on Saturday, September 14th with the game airing on SEC Network.
Northwest off to 0-2 start for first time since '95, falling to UNK
It's the first time since 1995 that the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats are off to an 0-2 start after falling to the University of Nebraska Kearney 21-14 on Saturday in Kearney, Nebraska.
The Bearcats did take the first lead of the game when quarterback Chris Ruhnke connected with Eric Richardson on a 10 yard touchdown pass. It was an eight play, 72 yard drive, where Ruhnke connected with four different receivers.
The Lopers would even the score in the quarter when former Missouri Western quarterback Reagan Jones found Zane Schawang for a 26 yard touchdown pass with just under three minutes remaining in the first.
On the final play of the first quarter Northwest would retake the lead with a 23 yard passing touchdown between Ruhnke and Zach Atkins. A 41 yard shovel pass from Ruhnke to Tank Young got the Bearcat drive going.
The Bearcats would look to extend their lead near the end of the half, however UNK's David Lilly would force a fumble from Atkins after a catch at midfield, and on the ensuing drive Jones would scramble in for a two yard touchdown, and Northwest and Nebraska Kearney would end the half tied at 14.
The lone score of the second half would be from Jones again, on yet another rush, this time scoring from 12 yards out. The Bearcat offense would sputter in the second half, only managing 88 yards of offense, most of those coming on the Bearcats final drive, a 73 yard drive that ended with an interception.
Ruhnke was 25 of 38 on the day for 311 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Atkins led the receivers with four receptions for 73 yards.
The Bearcats will return to Maryville in week three to host the Fort Hays State Tigers for Military Appreciation Day. Kickoff is at 6pm on Saturday.
Watson hits career long field goal, but Western drops MIAA opener
The Missouri Western Griffons saw a five game winning streak against Fort Hays snapped, falling to the Tigers 30-16 in their MIAA opener at Lewis Field Stadium in Hays, Kansas on Saturday.
With the loss, the Griffons record against Fort Hays fell to 19-13-1.
The Tigers struck first on the opening drive with a four play 63 yard drive that took just under two minutes, a 16 yard touchdown pass from Jack Dawson to Jabri Lewis, giving Fort Hays the early advantage.
After a missed 48 yard field goal on the Tigers next drive, the Griffons would take advantage and drive the field to tie up the game, an 18 yard touchdown pass from Kane Donovan to Jake Berrey knotting the game at 7-7.
A 10 play 66 yard drive from Fort Hays State would help give the Tigers the lead to end the first quarter, Carson Arndt hitting a 19 yard field goal. But it was the Griffons that would take the lead into halftime, tight end Michael Haggerty getting a 17 yard touchdown pass from transfer quarterback Branden Berwald, giving Missouri Western a 13-10 halftime lead, after Cody Watson missed the extra point.
Fort Hays would tie the game back up to start the second half, Arndt knocking through a 30 yard field goal, and would take the lead on their next offensive drive again thanks to the leg of Arndt from 35 yards out this time.
The Tigers would break off a big 42 yard run to end the third quarter, Shane Watts finding paydirt to put Fort Hays State up 23-13 heading into the final quarter.
The lone score of the fourth quarter for the Griffons would come from Watson, hitting a new career high as he would hit a 48 yard field goal. Fort Hays final score was a one yard rushing touchdown by Caleb Heavner.
While Donovan started the game, Berwald was the leading passer going 15 for 28 through the air with 120 yards and one touchdown, also rushing 11 times for 88 yards. Brandon Hall rushed 10 times for 75 yards. Berrey was the leading receiver with four catches for 53 yards and a touchdown.
Missouri Western will have their first home game in week three, welcoming Missouri Southern into Spratt Memorial Stadium in St. Joseph. Kickoff is at 6pm on Saturday.
Explosive start ignites Ravens in home opener against William Penn
The #19 Benedictine Ravens exploded to a big first half lead and dominated William Penn 45-27 in their home opener at Larry Wilcox Stadium in Atchison.
The Ravens wasted no time getting off to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Dalton Witherspoon took the opening kickoff back 83 yards for a score and on the very next drive by William Penn, Jahvi Bloomquist would pick off Sterling Ramsey and take it 26 yards for a defensive touchdown.
A passing touchdown from Ravens quarterback Jackson Dooley to Joseph Lagafuaina and a rushing touchdown from Dooley would extend the lead to 28-0 before William Penn would finally answer with a passing touchdown from Ramsey to Lukas Hamilton.
Benedictine's Harry Balke would hit a 24 yard field goal with 1:02 remaining in the first half, but William Penn would need just 31 seconds and four plays to score, Ramsey throwing a 7 yard touchdown to Keithon Davis, the Ravens led 31-13 at halftime.
Benedictine and William Penn would trade blows in the second half, the Ravens scoring first in the third quarter Dooley connecting with Jacob Gathright on a 12 yard touchdown. Four plays later Ramsey would find Kevon Bickham on a 59 yard touchdown pass.
After Bloomquist got his second interception of the game in the fourth quarter, the Ravens would need just two plays to score again, Dooley finding Tyler Watson this time on a 28 yard passing score. A 13 play drive from William Penn would end with a six yard passing touchdown from Connor Neville to Alexander Price
The Ravens defense was huge in the win with six total takeaways, one fumble recovery and five interceptions. Dooley was 29 of 39 through the air for 338 yards and three touchdowns. Gathright, the leading receiver had eight catches for 82 yards.
Benedictine is now 2-0 on the season but have a challenge ahead of them as they host #5 Grandview in week three. Kickoff will be at 1pm on Saturday.
K State survives early scare from Tulane
The #17 Kansas State Wildcat offense started off slow, but a dominant second half helped the Wildcats improve to 2-0 to start the season, beating Tulane 34-27 at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans.
After Kansas State opened the scoring in the game with a field goal, Tulane would answer with a touchdown with 49 seconds remaining, a three yard rushing score from Makhi Hughes. The Wave would add another touchdown in the second quarter, a 36 yard passing touchdown from Darian Mensah to Alex Bauman.
The Wildcats would draw within one score on a seven yard pass from Avery Johnson to tight end Will Swanson who made a diving catch in the endzone. But two more Tulane field goals would put the Wave up 20-10 at the halftime break.
Kansas State would start their second half rally in the third quarter with a field goal to get back within a touchdown. One drive later the Wildcats would tie the game up, Johnson finding running back DJ Giddens for a 45 yard touchdown pass.
Tulane would take the lead back to start the fourth quarter, Mensah and Bauman connecting again this time on a 13 yard score, but Kansas State would again tie the game with a rushing score from Dylan Edwards, going in on a 13 yard run.
It was the Wildcats defense that came up big at the end of the game, Kansas State taking the lead on a 60 yard fumble return by Jack Fabris. After both teams exchanged punts, the defense stood tall again, VJ Payne picking off Mensah in the endzone, allowing the Wildcats to kneel out the remaining time.
Johnson was 15 of 23 through the air for 181 yards and two touchdowns. Giddens was both the leading rusher and receiver, rushing 19 times for 114 yards and catching four passes for 63 yards and a touchdown.
#17 Kansas State will face a Top 25 battle in week three as they welcome #20 Arizona to Manhattan on Friday. Kickoff is at 7pm and the game will air on Fox.
Big first half is all Nebraska needs to down Colorado
The Nebraska Cornhuskers only needed the first half to score the points they needed to down the Colorado Buffaloes in Lincoln on Saturday, earning a 28-10 win, starting the season 2-0 for the first time since 2016.
The Cornhuskers took the lead early in the first quarter on a 12 yard touchdown run from Dante Dowdell with 10:34 left in the quarter. Five minutes later the Nebraska defense would get on the board, a seven yard interception return from Tommi Hill.
Midway through the second quarter, Dowdell would push his way into the endzone for his second score of the game from one yard out. Later in the quarter true freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola found running back Rahmir Johnson for an 18 yard touchdown.
Colorado would have an opportunity to get on the board in the first half, but kicker Jace Feely would miss a 61 yard field goal attempt, leaving Nebraska up 28-0 at the end of the half.
The Buffaloes finally broke into the score column in the third quarter, a 27 yard field goal from Alejandro Mata. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders would find LaJohnay Wester in the endzone in the fourth quarter for the only Colorado touchdown.
Raiola was again efficient in his second career game going 23 for 30 with 185 yards passing and one touchdown. Dowdell rushed 11 times for 74 yards and two touchdowns. Johnson was the leading receiver with eight catches for 74 yards.
Nebraska will stay home in week three for a matchup with Northern Iowa. Kickoff will be at 6:30 on Saturday with the game airing on the Big Ten Network.
Turnovers plague Jayhawks in upset loss to the Fighting Illini
Four turnovers were too much to overcome for the #19 Kansas Jayhawks on the road in Champaign, Illinois, falling to the Illinois Fighting Illini 23-17 on Saturday.
After a David Olano field goal in the first quarter but the Fighting Illini ahead, the Jayhawks did go on to take the lead in the second quarter, a field goal from Tabor Allen and a touchdown pass from Jalon Daniels to Luke Grimm giving Kansas a 10-3 lead.
But after Olano converted a field goal, the Illini defense would get their second interception of the game off Daniels, this one being taken 30 yards to the endzone to take a 13-10 lead going into halftime.
The Jayhawks would take the lead back out of the break, Daniels throwing his second touchdown of the game on a 13 yard pass to Lawrence Arnold. But the fourth quarter would be all Illinois.
Back to back punts started the fourth quarter before the Fighting Illini would take the lead back on a one yard touchdown run from Kaden Feagin. One drive later Olano would knock in his third field goal of the game, this time from 43 yards, with 58 seconds left for a Jayhawks drive.
Kansas would drive into Illinois territory before calling a timeout with four seconds remaining. Daniels would be sacked by Xavier Scott, fumbling in the process, where Alec Bryant would recover the ball
Daniels was 18 of 32 through the air for 141 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Devin Neal was the leading rusher going 14 carries for 101 yards. Grimm caught nine passes for 40 yards and a touchdown.
The Jayhawks will be back at Children's Mercy Park on Friday, hosting UNLV in week three. Kickoff is at 6pm and the game will air on ESPN.