By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
THURSDAY MATCHUPS
Tigers defense dominant in shutout win over Murray State
The Missouri Tigers defense answered any questions people might have had on Thursday, holding Murray State to just 85 total yards and shutting out the Racers 51-0.
Missouri had a lot of pieces to replace on defense with the likes of Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Kris Abrams-Draine, Darius Robinson, and Ty'Ron Hopper going into the NFL, but didn't seem to miss a beat under new defensive coordinator Corey Batoon.
By the end of the first half, the Tigers led 35-0, getting offensive touchdowns from Luther Burden III, Nate Noel, Marcus Carroll, and a rushing touchdown from Brady Cook that came with just one second left on the clock. They also got a defensive touchdown on an outstanding pick six from Clemson transfer Toriano Pride Jr.
The second half scoring saw three field goals from freshman kicker Blake Craig, who was 3 for 3 on the day, and one rushing touchdown from another freshman in Jamal Roberts.
Another question coming into the season was how the Tigers would replace the production of running back Cody Schrader. Noel and Carroll showed they could carry that load, rushing for 48 and 35 yards respectively, while splitting carries and each scoring a touchdown.
Cook was 19 for 30 through the air for 218 yards and one touchdown, also scoring the rushing touchdown. Burden III had three catches for 39 yards while Theo Wease Jr added three catches for 30 yards.
The Tigers in week two will stay in Columbia, welcoming Buffalo to Faurot Field. Kickoff is at 6pm.
Second half comeback gives Griffons win over Northeastern State
A dominant second half comeback helped the Missouri Western Griffons erase a 17 point deficit, prevailing over Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Oklahoma 33-31.
The Griffons and Riverhawks traded blows in the first quarter, the biggest highlight for Missouri Western being a 43 yard rushing touchdown from senior Brandon Hall, as the quarter ended tied at 14.
But Northeastern State pulled ahead big in the second quarter, scoring 17 unanswered points, and leading the Griffons at halftime by a score of 31-14.
Missouri Western made the proper adjustments at halftime though, starting the second half with interceptions on back to back drives and also getting a fumble recovery from junior Kienen Gaskin, who also had an interception in the first half.
The Griffons scored off of each of those turnovers, the only touchdown being a 47 yard rushing touchdown from senior Tyler Carey, also getting two field goals from Cody Watson to come within four by the end of the third quarter.
Missouri Western would take the lead in the fourth on Hall's second touchdown of the day, a 67 yard romp into the endzone. Hall ended the night with a career high 185 yards rushing to go with his two scores.
Southeastern Oklahoma State transfer Kane Donovan received the nod at quarterback for Missouri Western. Donovan finished with 129 yards on 19-of-32 passing with a touchdown and two interceptions. His top target, senior Jonas Bennett, tallied eight catches for 72 yards, while sophomore Jayden Williams snagged the lone receiving touchdown for MWSU in the first half.
The Griffons are on the road again in week two as they travel to Hays, Kansas to take on Fort Hays State University. Kickoff is at 7pm.
Northwest falls to Minnesota State in Top 25 matchup
For the first time in 13 years the #22 Northwest Missouri State Bearcats fell in their season opener, losing in a top 25 battle to #13 Minnesota State 36-22 at Bearcat Stadium.
The Mavericks bolted out to a 29-0 lead before the Bearcats could come up with an answer and rallied for 22 points to bring the game within seven.
The Minnesota State lead began to shrink when a bad snap on a punt sent the ball soaring out of the back of the endzone for a safety. One drive later, junior Chris Ruhnke would find fellow junior Andrew Bradley on a 43 yard touchdown pass.
A defensive stand to start the fourth quarter resulted in an interception in the endzone from Northwest's Tre'on Jones, and the Bearcats answered offensively with an 80 yard pass from Ruhnke to Luke Mathews.
After another defensive stand, with the Bearcats recovering a fumble on the 13 yard line, Ruhnke would find running back Tank Young for a score to bring the game within seven points.
The Mavericks would seal the game though with a touchdown with 3:46 remaining on the clock.
Ruhnke passed for a career high 268 yards going 15 for 24 through the air with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Mathews was his lead receiver with five catches for 140 yards and a score.
Northwest will hit the road in week two, traveling to Kearney, Nebraska for a matchup with Nebraska Kearney. Kickoff is at 7pm.
Big second quarter helps Kansas Jayhawks to win over Lindenwood
The #22 Kansas Jayhawks started a bit slow against Lindenwood at Children's Mercy Park, but a big second quarter helped fuel a 48-3 win for the Crimson and Red.
The lone score in the first quarter was a rushing touchdown from Devin Neal, who went into the endzone nearly untouched from five yards out, coming with 9:44 on the clock.
Despite the slow start, the Jayhawks exploded in the second quarter for 27 points. Rushing scores from Neal and Daniel Hishaw Jr., a pick six from Mello Dotson, and a big 53 yard pass from Jalon Daniels to Luke Grimm.
The touchdown pass from Daniels was his first since Sept. 23rd of last year. Daniels played three games last year before being ruled out the rest of the season with a back injury.
Leading 34-0 at the half, the Jayhawks turned to their backups for the second half, a touchdown rush coming from Sevion Morrison and a short four yard passing touchdown between Cole Ballard and Doug Emilien
Lindenwood's lone score was a 34 yard field goal from Logan Seibert with 6:12 left in the game.
Daniels was 9 of 15 through the air for 148 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Neal rushed eight times for 112 yards and two scores while Grimm was the leading receiver with six catches for 111 yards and a score.
The Jayhawks will travel in week two to Illinois. Kickoff is scheduled for 6pm and the game will be aired on FS1.
SATURDAY GAMES
#19 Ravens knock off #10 Morningside in shootout victory
In a playoff worthy matchup to start the season, the #19 Benedictine Ravens 0utdueled the #10 Morningside University Mustangs coming out on top 48-45 in Sioux City, Iowa.
The Ravens got off to a fast start in the first, a pick six by Zachary LaCombe, a 40 yard touchdown run by JaShawn Todd, and a touchdown pass from Jackson Dooley to Jacob Gathright putting them up 21-3 at the end of the quarter.
But after a rushing score from Xavier Ugorji to start the second quarter for Benedictine, the Mustangs would start their comeback. A touchdown pass from Zack Chevalier to Lennx Brown, followed by a two yard rushing score by Ryan Cole would narrow the lead to 28-17 at halftime.
The Ravens extended their lead out of the break on another pick six, this time from Jackson Hoskins, but again Morningside would rally this time narrowing the lead to just five, touchdowns coming on a pass from Chevalier to Jakob Nelson and a rushing score from Brown.
The real shootout came in the fourth quarter, after a 24 yard field goal from Harry Balke for the Ravens, Chevalier would again find Brown in the endzone for the Mustangs, and then the ensuing two point conversion would be good, knotting the game up at 38 a piece.
Benedictine would take the lead back on another field goal from Balke, but then Morningside would take their first lead of the game, a two yard run from Cole, and the Ravens would get the ball back with 3:31 on the clock trailing 45-41.
Benedictine would use most all of that clock, their drive culminating in a 29 yard touchdown pass from Dooley to Gathright, leaving just 55 seconds for the Mustangs. A defensive stand at the Benedictine one yard line by the Ravens would end the game.
Dooley was 12 of 26 through the air for 244 yards and the two touchdowns while throwing no interceptions. While Todd and Ugorji scored the touchdowns, Dalton Witherspoon was the leading rusher with 19 runs for 96 yards. Gathright had three catches for 86 yards and the two scores.
The Ravens will return to Atchison for their next two games, the first coming in week two as they host William Penn. Kickoff is at 1pm.
Wildcats young offensive weapons shine against UT Martin
The #18 Kansas State Wildcats didn't miss a beat despite losing offensive coordinator Collin Klein and quarterback Will Howard, opening up the season with a 41-6 win over UT Martin.
After starting the Pop Tarts Bowl to end last season, sophomore Avery Johnson took the helm to start the season, and led the Wildcats to a score on their second offensive drive of the game. After a blocked punt on the ensuing drive, Kansas State led 14-0 at the end of one quarter.
Field goals from both UT Martin and Kanas State was all fans at Bill Snyder Memorial Stadium saw in the second quarter, leading to a 17-3 lead at the break.
And after two more field goals from both teams to start the scoring in the third, the Wildcats would see their first explosive play of the season from Johnson, completing a 44 yard pass to receiver Jayce Brown who made an outstanding diving catch. After Brown was ruled down at the one yard line, Colorado transfer running back Dylan Edwards would run for the score.
A passing touchdown from Johnson to Edwards and a rushing score from La'James White would cap the scoring in the fourth quarter on way to the win.
Johnson, in his first official regular season start, was 14 of 21 through the air for 153 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. DJ Giddens was the leading rusher, running for 124 yards on 13 carries. Brown caught five passes for 71 yards.
Kansas State will hit the road next week for a matchup with Tulane. Two seasons ago, the Green Wave pulled off a 17-10 upset win over the Wildcats in Manhattan. Kickoff is at 11am and the game will air on ESPN.
Prize recruit Dylan Raiola shines in Cornhuskers debut win over UTEP
Nebraska fans high hopes for five star recruit Dylan Raiola were satisfied as the true freshman looked efficient and sharp in the Cornhuskers season opening 40-7 win over UTEP at Memorial Stadium.
After the first quarter ended tied up at seven a piece, Nebraska getting a rushing touchdown from Dante Dowdell and UTEP scoring on a passing touchdown from Skyler Locklear to Kam Thomas, the Huskers offense would explode.
Nebraska would take the lead in the second on a safety, but after that would score touchdowns on their next three drives. Touchdown passes from Raiola to receivers Isaiah Neyor and Jahmal Banks, and a rushing score by Gabe Ervin Jr, would put Nebraska up 30-7 at halftime.
Ervin Jr would rush in for another touchdown in the third quarter. Kicker Tristan Alvano would knock through a 20 yard field goal to cap the scoring in the fourth quarter.
Raiola would finish the day going 19 for 27 through the air with 238 yards and two touchdowns. Emmett Johnson was the leading rusher with eight runs for 71 yards, while Neyor led in receiving with six catches for 121 yards and his touchdown.
Week two will see Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes traveling to Lincoln to face Nebraska. Kickoff will be at 6:30pm and the game will air on NBC.