By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
Pittsburg State took the opening kickoff back 98 yards for a touchdown and scored 17 points in the second quarter to build a 24-0 halftime lead and eventually beat Missouri Western 34-14 at Spratt Stadium Saturday.
After falling behind 7-0 in the first 13 seconds of the game, Missouri Western (3-5) strung together three consecutive drives of eight plays or more in the first half.
The Griffons got into Pitt State territory on all three of those drives. Yet, Missouri Western had to punt it away on each of those drives. Pitt State's offense then came alive, scoring on three straight drives to go up 24-0 late in the second quarter.
"It's like a trend right now," Missouri Western head football coach Matt Williamson said. "We're coming out and flatlining in the first half. Very stagnant offensively. Not doing much at all. It's disheartening quite a bit. It's tough to see."
Missouri Western got the ball to start the second half, but had to punt it away for a sixth straight possession.
Pitt State scored a field goal on their first drive of the second half to go up 27-0 with 9:28 to go in the third.
After that, Missouri Western made a change at quarterback, putting in backup Reagan Jones in place of Anthony Vespo, and Jones helped engineer a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown run from Shen Butler-Lawson, Jr., making it a 27-7 ballgame with 4:48 remaining in the third.
Pittsburg State strung together another long drive of their own after that, scoring on the second play of the fourth quarter to go up 34-7 with 14:51 to play.
The Gorillas had a streak of five consecutive scoring drives, spanning from the second to the fourth quarter. Three of those drives ended in touchdown, and two in field goal.
Pitt State quarterback Mak Sexton was efficient throughout, completing 19-of-29 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Tyler Adkins ran hard throughout the game, finishing with 85 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown.
The Griffons were able to finally hit back offensively in the fourth quarter. After a solid kick return by Trey Vaval set Missouri Western up at midfield, Jones found receiver Cooper Burton on a 34-yard catch, eventually setting up an eight-yard touchdown run by Jones. The point-after made the score 34-14 with 12:44 to play.
Jones finished the game 7-of-11 through the air for 142 yards passing, while also rushing for 77 yards on eight carries and the touchdown, giving him 219 all-purpose yards.
Burton finished with six catches for a season-high 135 yards receiving.
"You've got a kid that comes in who starts playing really well in the second half and sparks (the offense) and gets things going," Williamson said of Jones. "Maybe we'll look at that, I don't know. We have to get all of our playmakers the ball."
Missouri Western's defense got a quick, and much needed three-and-out, giving the Griffons the ball back down three scores with still 10:58 to go.
For a third straight drive, the Griffons found rhythm on offense. A 36-yard completion to Burton, followed by a 12-yard rush by Brandon Hall, gave Missouri Western first-and-goal at the 9.
The Griffons got to the six, and on 4th down, Jones threw across his body to the back of the end zone looking for Burton, but the pass was off target, and Pittsburg State took over on downs at their own six with 8:44 to go.
The Gorillas were able to run six minutes off the clock, before attempting a 31-yard field goal with 2:12 to go. The field goal attempt was blocked by Sam Webb, and the loose ball was recovered by Tariq Stewart.
With just under two minutes left, Jones got the Griffons into Pitt State territory again, but an interception in the end zone with under a minute left ended the game.
Missouri Western goes back on the road Saturday to face Missouri Southern (3-5). The Lions lost at Emporia State 24-21 on Saturday.
You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.