By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Tigers bounce back from loss with dominant performance at UMass
The #21 Missouri Tigers didn't look like the same team from just one week ago on the road to UMass on Saturday, dominating their way to a 45-3 victory at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium.
The Tigers took just two plays to find the endzone on their first drive of the game, Luther Burden III getting the ball for a 61 yard rushing score. On the next offensive drive it was Marcus Carroll, who got the start with Nate Noel battling back tightness, who found the endzone with a three yard rush.
Carroll found the endzone again in the second quarter, this time a four yard rush, before Jacob Lurie knocked through a 28 yard field goal for UMass's lone points of the game, snapping a streak of 21 unanswered points by the Tigers. Blake Craig hit a field to end the quarter, from 42 yards, sending Missouri to halftime with a 24-3 lead.
The Tiger offense continued rolling in the second half with Carroll breaking a 35 yard rushing touchdown on Mizzou's first offensive drive. On the next drive, they needed just one play for Brady Cook to connect with Joshua Manning for a 63 yard passing score, Manning's first career touchdown.
Cook found tight end Brett Norfleet for the final score of the third quarter, and the game, an eight yard passing touchdown. Following that score, the Tigers put in their backups for the remainder of the game.
Cook was 14 of 19 passing for 219 yards and two touchdowns. Carroll rushed 15 times for 91 yards and three scores. Manning had two catches for 68 yards, most coming on his 63 yard touchdown, while Burden III had five catches for 59 yards.
The Tigers return to SEC play next week, and to the comfort of Faurot Field, as they host the Auburn Tigers. Kickoff time has yet to be determined by the SEC. The game will air on KFEQ.
MWSU back to winning ways topping UCM in offensive shootout
A big second half helped the Missouri Western Griffons overcome an offensive shootout with the Central Missouri Mules, and snap a three game losing skid, winning 38-28 at Audrey J. Walton Stadium in Warrensburg.
The Mules struck first on the opening drive of the game, a seven yard passing touchdown from last year's Harlon Hill trophy winner Zach Zebrowski to Jake Zippe. The Griffons answered with a 49 yard field goal by Cody Watson.
Central Missouri extended their lead to start the second quarter Zebrowski this time throwing a 12 yard touchdown strike to Derrick Rose. Missouri Western drew closer on the ensuing drive thanks to a 50 yard touchdown pass from Branden Berwald to Jonas Bennett, before tying up the game to go into the halftime break with a 31 yard field goal from Watson.
With the game tied at 14, it didn't take long for the Griffons to take the lead at the start of the second half, needing just one play for Berwald to connect with Tyler Carey on a 68 yard touchdown pass. A 29 yard field goal from Watson pushed Missouri Western ahead further late in the quarter, leading 24-14 heading into the final frame.
Starting the fourth quarter, the Mules got within one score on a one yard rushing score Keyon Butler, but the Griffons again extended the lead the very next drive, another touchdown between Berwald and Carey, this time for a 36 yard score. And after Desmond Green intercepted Zebrowski, Berwald found Carey again in the endzone for a 20 yard touchdown pass.
Central Missouri attempted to rally late with a touchdown, Zebrowski throwing a 22 yard pass to Hogan Wasson with 4:11 left in the game, but a heavy dose of Griffon ground and pound led by Rickie Dunn and Marrell Fountain put the game on ice, securing Western's first win over Central Missouri in Warrensburg since 2013.
Berwald was 21 of 33 passing for 379 yards and four touchdowns with one interception, Berwald was also the leading rusher with 18 carries for 93 yards. Carey (6 catches, 178 yards, 3 TDs) and Bennett (6 catches, 131 yards, 1 TD) were the leading receivers.
The Griffon defense forced four turnovers on the afternoon, highlighted by Logan Clark's two-interception game. Kameron Langford led the defense with 10 tackles, while Garrett Watson tallied a sack for MWSU.
Missouri Western will be back in St. Joseph for the next three games to close out the season, first starting this week with Homecoming against Nebraska Kearney. Kickoff will be at 2pm. The game will be televised on 38 the Spot.
Northwest falls as #13 Central Oklahoma remains undefeated
A dominant first half by the #13 Central Oklahoma Bronchos was to much to overcome for the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats, falling 48-20 and having a four game winning streak snapped while UCO remained undefeated at Chad Richison Stadium in Edmond, Oklahoma.
The Bronchos opened the first quarter by scoring 14 unanswered points, a one yard rushing score by Andrew Carney with 8:32 in the quarter, before quarterback Jett Huff connected with Terrill Davis on a 33 yard touchdown strike near the end of the frame.
The Bearcats struck back to start the second quarter however, getting within one score, thanks to a three yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Chris Ruhnke. But UCO pulled even farther away through the remainder of the quarter, a touchdown pass from Huff to Christian Romero of 27 yards, and a 29 yard field goal by Nicky Quevedo putting the Bronchos up 24-7 at the halftime break.
Central Oklahoma scored again early on in the second half, another one yard rushing score by Carney. But the Bearcats continued to claw their way in the game, Ruhnke finding Eric Richardson in the seam for a 46 yard touchdown pass. A 33 yard field goal by Noah Guastella was the final score of the quarter with 1:46 left for Northwest.
A 47 yard field goal from Quevedo opened the scoring in the final quarter for the Bronchos, which was answered by Guastella on the next drive for Northwest, a field goal of 35 yards, but that was the last scoring the Bearcats got. Huff threw a 24 yard touchdown to Delso with 3:47 on the clock, and the Central Oklahoma defense scored the final touchdown of the game, a 70 yard fumble recovery touchdown by Dylan Buchheit.
Ruhnke was 25 of 48 passing for 309 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Dominic Myers was the leading rusher, carrying the ball eight times for 37 yards. Richardson led with five catches for 92 yards and a score.
Northwest is back at home for three of the final four games of the season, the first coming Saturday for Homecoming against Central Missouri. Kickoff is at 2pm.
#18 Kansas State rebounds from late interception to beat Colorado
Avery Johnson rebounded from throwing a near costly late interception to find Jayce Brown on a long touchdown pass, as the #18 Kansas State Wildcats beat Colorado 31-28 at Folsom Field in the early morning hours of Sunday.
It was a late kickoff for the Wildcats and Buffaloes, starting at 9:25pm central time on Saturday, where Colorado got on the board first in the game on a 25 yards touchdown pass from Shedeur Sanders to LaJohntay Wester. Johnson, the dual threat quarterback answered near the end of the opening frame, a rushing touchdown of eight yards sending the game to the second quarter tied at 7-7.
Neither team scored again however until late in the second quarter with the game nearing halftime, Kansas State putting together an eight play drive that ended with a one yard rushing score by Dylan Edwards, the former Colorado running back, with 1:52 left in the half. The clock ended up winding down and the Buffaloes turned the ball over on downs to end the half, with the Wildcats leading 14-7 at the break.
Kansas State opened up the second half putting together a long scoring drive, a whopping 16 play drive that went 81 yards and used up just under eight minutes of clock, Johnson connecting with Brown for the duos first touchdown of the game.
Trailing 21-7, Colorado begin to chip their way back into the game, scoring on the next drive on a touchdown pass from Sanders to Will Sheppard of seven yards. Kansas State extended the lead near the end of the quarter though, a 48 yard field goal by Chris Tennant giving the Wildcats a 24-14 lead going into the fourth quarter.
The Buffaloes threw an interception on the drive following the field goal, but after forcing a Kansas State punt got within one score on a two yard touchdown run by Isaiah Augustave. On the ensuing Wildcat drive Johnson threw an interception to Colton Hood and the Buffaloes went on to take their first lead of the game since the first quarter, Sanders again finding Wester, this time for an 11 yard passing score.
Blocking out the interception, Johnson responded on the next drive, needing just three plays to do so and throwing a dime to Brown for a 50 yard touchdown, giving Kansas State back the lead with 2:14 left in the game. Colorado went on to turn the ball over on downs, and Johnson knelt out the remaining clock.
Johnson was 15 of 23 passing for 224 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. DJ Giddens rushed 25 times for 182 yards as the leading rusher. Brown caught six passes for 121 yards and the two scores leading all receivers.
Kansas State will stay on the road next week, traveling to Morgantown for a matchup with West Virginia. Kickoff will be at 6:30pm.
BYE WEEKS
After a week off the Nebraska Cornhuskers will look to push their win streak to three games in Week 8, traveling on the road to Bloomington for a matchup with Indiana. Kickoff will be at 11am. The game will be televised on Fox
Kansas is still looking for their first win since the season opener against Lindenwood, and will hope a week off helped get them back on track. The Jayhawks return home in Week 8 to host Houston at Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff is at 2:30pm. The game is being televised on ESPN+.
Prior to their bye week, the Benedictine Ravens moved up a spot on Monday in the latest edition of the NAIA GoRout Top 25 Coaches' Rating. The Ravens, who entered the bye week at 5-1 and 1-0 in the Heart South earned 244 points to move to No. 11 in the rating. Benedictine returns home to take on Missouri Baptist University on Friday at 1 p.m. inside Larry Wilcox Stadium as part of Benedictine's annual Homecoming Week.