By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Tigers carried by Carroll's 3 TD game in win over Mississippi State
The #23 Missouri Tigers trailed early, but a big defensive play helped flip the script, and the Tigers defeated Mississippi State in dominant fashion on Saturday in Starkville 39-20.
Missouri trailed 3-0 early in the game after the Bulldogs opened the scoring with a 38 yard field goal from Kyle Ferrie. Mizzou's offense struggled to get going, with two consecutive three and outs, but it was the defense that got the Tigers on the board first, defensive lineman punching the ball out of the hands of Mississippi State quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr.'s hands before Daylan Carnell scooped it up and went 37 yards to the house for the touchdown.
The defensive touchdown was the spark Mizzou needed, scoring another first quarter touchdown after forcing a three and out by the Bulldogs, running back Marcus Carroll rushing in from two yards out, his first of three touchdowns on the day.
The Bulldogs did answer with a score of their own, an 11 yard touchdown pass from Van Buren Jr to Jordan Mosley, but in the second quarter the Tigers scored 14 unanswered points, Brady Cook threading the needle for a 28 yard touchdown pass to Luther Burden III and a 19 yard rushing score from Carroll. The Bulldogs ended the scoring in the half with another field goal from Ferrie, this time from 26 yards away, sending Mizzou to the halftime break with a 28-13 lead.
The Tigers extended the lead midway through the third quarter, a 35 yard field goal from Blake Craig, before the Bulldogs scored their final touchdown of the game on the following drive in just two plays as Davon Booth broke a 43 yard run. The final score of the game came in the fourth quarter, Carroll's third touchdown from one yard out.
Cook was 15 of 20 passing on the day for 268 yards with one touchdown. While Carroll scored all the touchdowns, rushing for 61 yards on 14 carries, it was Nate Noel that was the leading rusher with 25 carries for 95 yards. Burden III caught seven passes for 91 yards and the touchdown.
Missouri will close out the regular season on Saturday in the annual Battle Line rivalry game against Arkansas at Faurot Field. Kickoff is set for 2:30, with pregame at 12:30 on KFEQ. The game will be televised on SEC Network.
Jayhawks top Colorado for third straight win over ranked opponent
The Kansas Jayhawks have looked like a completely different team through the month of November. On Saturday, at Arrowhead Stadium, they extended their win streak to three games, all over ranked opponents, beating the#16 Colorado Buffaloes 37-21.
With the win Kansas also made college football history becoming the first FBS team ever to win three straight games against ranked opponents with a losing record.
The Jayhawks started off the game on a 17-0 run before even allowing Colorado to get onto the scoreboard, starting immediately with a big play on the first drive of the game, a 51 yard touchdown pass from Jalon Daniels to Devin Neal. After a three and out from the Buffaloes, the Jayhawks put together a 13 play drive for the only other score of the first quarter, a 24 yard field goal from Tabor Allen.
After Kansas forced a turnover on downs early in the second quarter, the Jayhawks added another touchdown from Neal on the ground, a nine yard score. From there, both teams went on to trade scoring blows.
The Buffaloes finally found the scoreboard after a four play drive, getting a big play of their own from quarterback Shedeur Sanders with a 51 yard touchdown pass to Travis Hunter. After the Jayhawks answered with another field goal by Allen, this time from 23 yards out, Sanders found the endzone again through the air, this time 19 yards to Drelon Miller narrowing the lead. Allen knocked through his third field goal to end the half, from 25 yards away, sending Kansas to the halftime break with a 23-14 lead.
Colorado scored their final touchdown of the game on the first drive of the second half, Sanders again connecting with Hunter for a 26 yard touchdown pass. Neal scored the final two touchdowns for the Jayhawks, a one yard score in the third quarter and a two yard rush early in the fourth quarter.
Daniels was 14 of 21 passing for 189 yards with one touchdown, also rushing six times for 72 yards. Neal ran 37 times for 207 yards with three touchdowns, and had four catches for 80 yards and a score to lead the receivers. Neal also passed 1,000 yards rushing on the season, hitting the mark for a third season in a row, and becoming the first player in Kansas football history to run for 1,000+ yards in three straight seasons.
Kansas will wrap up the regular season next week on the road taking on Baylor, looking to finish the season at .500. Kickoff from McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas will be at 11am on Saturday. The game will be televised on ESPN2.K
Kansas State snaps two game losing skid behind Giddens' big day
Behind a dominant first half, the Kansas State Wildcats snapped a two game losing skid against the Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday night at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, winning 41-15.
The first half was dominant for the Wildcats as they scored on five of their six offensive drives, starting with the first drive of the game that took just five plays before quarterback Avery Johnson rushed for a 21 yard score early in the frame. Late in the quarter to end an eight play drive, Chris Tennant knocked in a field goal from 28 yards away.
And the scoring wasn't over there, following a turnover on downs by Cincinnati, Kansas State got another field goal from Tennant early in the second quarter, this time from 38 yards out, before finding the endzone on a 32 yard run from DJ Giddens.
The Bearcats temporarily slowed down the Kansas State run, but only with a 42 yard field goal from Nathan Hawks, the Wildcats though would score once more before halftime, with eight seconds left, Johnson finding Tre Spivey for a six yard touchdown pass, giving Kansas State a 27-3 halftime lead.
Cincinnati scored the lone touchdown of the third quarter, a nine yard touchdown pass from Brendan Sorsby to Tony Johnson, but failed the two point conversion attempt.
Kansas State added two more touchdowns though in the fourth quarter, Giddens scoring his second rushing touchdown from 17 yards and Johnson getting his third touchdown overall through the air connecting with Will Swanson for an eight yard pass, before the Bearcats got the final score of the game, Sorsby finding Johnson again for a six yard touchdown pass.
Johnson was 13 of 23 passing for 147 yards with two touchdowns, also rushing 10 times for 72 yards and one score. Giddens rushed 15 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns, while Spivey led the receivers with five catches for 63 yards and a score.
Kansas State will end the regular season at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa taking on #23 Iowa State. Kickoff will be at 6:30pm. The game will be televised on Fox.
Cornhuskers bowl eligible after dominant win over Wisconsin
The Nebraska Cornhuskers stopped a four-game losing streak and beat the Wisconsin Badgers for the first time in 11 meetings, beating the Badgers 44-25 on Senior Day at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday.
The victory was the Cornhuskers' first in nine tries under second-year coach Matt Rhule when playing for bowl eligibility. The Huskers came into the season with the longest bowl drought among power-conference teams and the program's longest since 1955-61.
The game started with both teams trading touchdowns on their first two offensive drives, first with Nebraska getting a five yard rushing touchdown by backup quarterback Heinrich Haarberg, before Wisconsin answered with a four yard passing touchdown from Braedyn Locke to Bryson Green.
After the game went into the second quarter tied at seven, the Corhuskers pulled ahead early in the frame, on an eight play drive that carried between quarters, running back Dante Dowdell rushing in from 12 yards out. The Badgers answered on the next offensive drive, but only with a field goal, 33 yards from Nathanial Vakos.
Nebraska went on to punt on their next drive, and after Wisconsin missed a field goal, the Cornhuskers put together a 10 play drive that ended with freshman standout quarterback Dylan Raiola finding Jahmal Banks in the back of the endzone from five yards out. The Badgers fumbled on the next offensive drive, setting Nebraska kicker John Hohl up for a 37 yard field goal with two seconds left, and the Huskers took a 24-10 lead to the halftime break.
Hohl opened the scoring in the second half for Nebraska with a 45 yard field goal, and after the Huskers defense forced a turnover on downs by the Badgers, the offense went to work for a seven play drive that ended with a three yard touchdown by Dowdell, his second score of the day.
Wisconsin scored quickly however after the touchdown, needing just four plays for Locke to again connect with Green from 24 yards away, continuing to try to fight their way back into the game, something Nebraska would not allow going into the final quarter.
Hohl again started the scoring in the final frame, a 26 yard field goal, which was followed with Locke's third touchdown pass of the game 58 yards to Vinny Anthony II with a two point conversion pass from Locke to Green, but the final score of the game by the Huskers put it away, Dowdell rushing in from one yard out.
Raiola was 28 of 38 passing for 293 yards with one touchdown. Emmett Johnson led all rushers with 16 carries for 113 yards, the first time in his 27 career games, while Dowdell rushed 10 times for 41 yards with three scores. Johnson (six catches, 85 yards) and Jacory Barney Jr. (nine catches, 85 yards) led the receivers.
Nebraska will finish the regular season on the road with a rivalry matchup in Iowa City at Kinnick Stadium, taking on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Kickoff will be at 6:30 pm. The game will be televised on NBC.
#9 Benedictine draws #8 Texas Wesleyan in second round of playoffs
With the First Round concluded, the NAIA announced the 8 Second-Round pairings for the Second Round of the 2024 NAIA Football Championship Series on Saturday night, and (9) Benedictine Football will be heading South.
The Ravens will travel to Fort Worth, Texas, to take on (8) Texas Wesleyan University at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30, at the Crowley Multipurpose Stadium.
Texas Wesleyan earned its berth into the FCS after finishing the regular season at 10-0 and earning the automatic berth as the Sooner Athletic Conference champion.
The winner between the Ravens and the Rams will advance to the Quarterfinals of the NAIA FCS played at a campus site designated by the NAIA based on the remaining seeded programs.
Benedictine Football earned 23 All-Heart South honors with three individual award winners.
Receiver Jacob Gathright was named the Heart South Player of the Year, quarterback Jackson Dooley was named the Heart South Offensive Player of the Year, and head coach Joel Osborn was named the Heart South Head Coach of the Year.
Offensively, Dooley and Gathright were joined on the first team by JaShawn Todd (WR), Tanner Zimmerman (TE), Britton Smith (OL), Rashad Beckham (OL) and Ja'Kobe Hinton (OL). Defensively, Isaac Anderson (DL), Heath Baker (DL), Zachary LaCombe (LB), Javhi Blomquist (DB), and Jackson Hoskins (DB) were named to the first team Cullen Bruner (P), and Zach Philippi (LS) joined Todd as first-team special teams list. Todd was named the first-team kick returner and athlete.
Two Ravens earned second-team honors on offense in Dalton Witherspoon (RB) and Harrison Schmitt (OL), while Abram Phillips (LB) was named to the second-team defense. Harry Balke was named as the second-team kicker.
Joseph Lagafuaina (WR), Tim Glaser (DL), and Blue Caplinger (DB) rounded out the Ravens all-conference honors, as they were all named honorable mention.