By MATT PIKE/AP
St. Joseph Post
Defensive stand helps #23 Missouri Western upset #2 Pittsburgh State
In the final minute of the game, a strip sack from Missouri Western's Dakari Streeter was recovered by C.J Ravenell, allowing quarterback Armani Edden to kneel out the remaining time, giving Missouri Western a 31-30 win over Pittsburgh State. Read our full recap HERE.
Dominant effort from Bearcats in shutout win vs Northeastern State
The Northwest Missouri State defense held Northeastern State to under 200 yards of total offense, and the Bearcat offense dominated in every facet on way to a 52-0 shutout win on Saturday in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
Northwest scored on their first three offensive drives to take a 17-0 lead, the scoring starting with a 23 yard Noah Guastella field goal, and then quarterback Mike Hohensee would connect for touchdowns with Trevon Alexander and Zach Atkins.
Hohensee would go on to throw two more touchdowns in the second quarter, connecting with Kashan Griffin for his third touchdown of the game, before finding Alexander for his second touchdown just before halftime, putting the Bearcats up 31-0 at the break.
The Riverhawks would hold Northwest to their lowest scoring frame in the third quarter, only allowing one touchdown with Hohensee throwing his longest pass of the day to Peyton Carder for a 77 yard touchdown pass, extending the Bearcat lead to 38-0.
In the fourth quarter Hohensee would throw his sixth and final touchdown of the game, finding his fourth different receiver for a score in the form of John Giagiari for a 15 yard touchdown pass, which is where Hohensee's day would end as Chris Ruhnke would take over at quarterback to finish the game.
The final score of the game would come from sophomore running back Dominic Myers in relief of Jay Harris, Myers would rush in the final score on a 15 yard touchdown run.
Hohensee was efficient on the day completing 70% of his passes going 16 for 23 through the air for 359 yards and six touchdowns. Griffin (111 yards, 1 TD), Carder (104 yards, 1 TD), Atkins (70 yards, 1 TD), and Alexander (51 yards, 2 TDs) all had three catches on the day. Harris didn't find the endzone but did rush 22 times for 108 yards.
Hohensee's six touchdown passes tied a program record, tying Zach Martin and Kyle Zimmerman. Hohensee also became only the sixth quarterback in school history to pass for 300 or more yards and five touchdowns.
Northwest is now 6-4 (5-4 MIAA) on the season. They'll return home on Saturday for their final game of the regular season, hosting Nebraska-Kearney for Senior Day. Kickoff in Maryville is scheduled for 1:30pm.
First half scoring barrage helps Benedictine to 34-16 win on the road
The #14 Benedictine Ravens scored 31 points in the first half against Missouri Baptist in a 34-16 win on the road in St. Louis, Missouri on Saturday, giving the Ravens their first ever win over Missouri Baptist.
A missed field goal from the Spartans on the opening drive of the game would give the ball to the Ravens, and they would need just one play to score, with quarterback Jackson Dooley throwing a 72 yard touchdown pass to Jacob Gathright.
Missouri Baptist would answer on their next drive however, driving 90 yards down the field on 10 plays, and using running back Carl Garmon Jr to punch it in from one yard out. The ensuing extra point by Jonah Cox would be missed though, keeping the Ravens in the lead 7-6.
Benedictine would score 17 unanswered points before the Spartans would score again. Dooley would throw two more long touchdowns finding Joesph Lagafuaina on a 32 yard touchdown pass and then to open the second quarter he would connect again with Gathright, this time on a 54 yard score. Harry Balke would extend the Raven lead to 24-6 on a 47 yard field goal.
Missouri Baptist would battle back and narrow the lead to eight points late in the quarter. Cox would start the Spartan scoring with a 22 yard field goal following an eight play drive. Then after a Raven three and out, Missouri Baptist would use another eight play drive but this time would score a touchdown, Darius Morrison rushing in from five yards out and narrowing the lead to 24-16.
Before the half was over though, the Ravens would score the final touchdown they would need, again on a long pass from Dooley to Tanner Zimmerman for a 34 yard touchdown, Balke's extra point pushing the Benedictine lead to 31-16 at halftime.
Benedictine would go on to score their final points of the game in the third quarter, again from the leg of Balke, as he would put through a field goal from 30 yards away.
Dooley was 17 of 29 through the air for 369 yards and four touchdowns in the game. The leading receiver for the game was Gathright with five catches for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Dalton Witherspoon rushed 13 times for 63 yards on the day.
Benedictine is now 8-2 (4-0 Heart South) on the season. The final game of the regular season is up next for the Ravens as they return home to Atchison, Kansas for Senior Day against MidAmerica Nazarene. Kickoff is at 1pm.
Late turnovers cost Missouri in hard fought battle with Georgia
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia coach Kirby Smart called defensive tackle Nazir Stackhouse's improbable interception the “biggest play of the game.” Wide receiver Ladd McConkey proclaimed it was “the play of the year.”
Either way, the play helped the Bulldogs remain unbeaten yet another week. The pick also was the talk of the postgame interviews.
Stackhouse's fourth-quarter interception helped protect No. 1 Georgia's slim lead and the Bulldogs beat No. 14 Missouri 30-21 on Saturday for their 26th consecutive win.
Georgia (9-0, 6-0 SEC, No. 2 College Football Playoff) had to rally to win the key SEC East matchup against Missouri (7-2, 3-2 SEC, No. 12 CFP).
The Tigers led 13-10 early in the second half. Georgia answered with two straight touchdowns, a 15-yard run by Kendall Milton and Carson Beck's 5-yard scoring pass to Oscar Delp. Beck completed 21 of 32 passes for 254 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Georgia led 27-21 when Stackhouse, a 6-foot-3, 320-pound senior, picked off Brady Cook's short pass. Stackhouse rambled all the way to the Missouri 5, but a blindside block penalty against Bulldogs linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. pushed Georgia back to its 30.
“Huge,” said Smart of the interception, which Stackhouse said was his first at any level.
Added Smart of Stackhouse's return: “It was slow motion. He didn't realize how far he had to run. He was out of breath about halfway.”
Stackhouse was shocked to see the ball come his way.
"I believe (Cook) was trying to throw the ball to the ground and Smael hit his hand and the ball came to me,” Stackhouse said.
Stackhouse said he was told he ran 17 or 18 mph on his return. Said Smart: "No chance. Only way he can hit 18 mph is on his bike or in his car.”
Following the interception, Daijun Edwards' 22-yard run helped set up a 48-yard field goal by Peyton Woodring, the freshman's third of the game and longest of his career, that extended the lead.
Georgia's defense came through with another interception when safety Javon Bullard picked off Cook's deep pass with 1:36 remaining.
“He got us to the fourth quarter and he was tough and gritty like he always is,” said Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz of Cook.
“We've got to see what happened on the turnovers,” Drinkwitz said, but added “I'm not disappointed at all” in the play of his quarterback.
Milton's scoring run was an important lift for the Bulldogs' sluggish running game. The Tigers took a 151-131 advantage in rushing yards.
Cody Schrader's 12-yard scoring run and Cook's 2-point pass to Luther Burden III, who had a touchdown catch earlier in the game, cut Georgia's lead to 24-21. Schrader had 22 carries for 112 yards.
“We came here to win,” Schrader said. "That was our objective. That is our objective every week. We just didn’t get the job done today.”
Dominic Lovett, a Missouri transfer, caught a 6-yard scoring pass for the Bulldogs' only touchdown of the first half.
Despite Georgia's long winning streak, the hard-fought first half was no surprise. The Bulldogs had to rally from a 10-point deficit to win at Missouri 26-22 last season.
“We are disappointed because we put ourselves in a position to contend for the SEC East, which is the goal we have in place,” Drinkwitz said. “That is really not going to be in our control any longer. We have to refocus on what our new goals are.”
The Tigers survived a scare when Burden held his left ankle and was examined on the field in the second quarter. Burden returned later in the half and had three catches for 53 yards.
MISSOURI MILESTONE
Mevis gave Missouri a 13-10 lead with a 42-yard field goal which gave the senior the school's career scoring record, passing Jeff Wolfert's 363 points from 2006-08.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Georgia can be expected to extend its roll of holding the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 poll for an SEC-record 20 consecutive weeks. Yet to be determined if the win will be enough to boost the Bulldogs past Ohio State for the CFP ranking top spot. Missouri may drop but should remain in the Top 25.
THE TAKEAWAY
The Tigers had success against a Georgia offensive line which had allowed only six sacks through eight games. Missouri, which was tied for 17th in the nation with 24 sacks, dropped Beck twice in the first half and three times for the game. Beck and Schrader were the difference-makers on the ground.
UP NEXT
The Tigers play another game against a tough SEC East rival when they host No. 19 Tennessee on Saturday. Kickoff time and where the game aired is still to be determined. Earlier last week the SEC did open the six day selection window for the conference's November 11th games.
Kansas wins over Iowa State to reach 7-win mark, first time since 2008
AMES, Iowa (AP) — Jason Bean passed for 287 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown to Lawrence Arnold after Iowa State pulled within three points in the fourth quarter, and the No. 22 Jayhawks held off the Cyclones for a 28-21 victory Saturday night.
The Jayhawks (7-2, 4-2 Big 12) won consecutive conference games for the first time since 2008. They also reached the seven-win benchmark and won in Ames for the first time since that ’08 season.
“This is a great college environment,” Bean said of Iowa State’s Jack Trice Stadium. “It’s a tough environment for any team to come in and play.”
Iowa State (5-4, 4-2 Big 12) began the day in a five-way tie for first place in the Big 12, but the Cyclones’ comeback bid came up short after they trailed 21-3 with 9:24 left in the third quarter.
“We never put our head down,” Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht said. “We kept fighting. That’s what I love about this team.”
Bean completed 14 of 23 passes, his biggest one to Arnold giving Kansas a 10-point cushion right after Iowa State had scored to make it 21-18. Arnold got behind the secondary to make the catch at the 50 and ran the rest of the way untouched.
“It was a play we worked on all week,” Bean said. “I felt like all game we were baiting them to come down low enough to get past them on that play. I delivered the ball to (Arnold) and he did the rest.”
A field goal got the Cyclones within 28-21 with 4:53 left. The Jayhawks were able to pick up two first downs on their final possession to run out the clock.
“We don’t get too high. We don’t get too low,” said Arnold, who finished with 112 yards on three catches. “It was just keeping your composure and making sure we did what we had to.”
Kansas’ Devin Neal scored the first of his two touchdowns on the game’s opening series, capping a nine-play, 87-yard drive.
Mello Dotson returned an interception 50 yards for Kansas’ second touchdown, and his second pick-six in two games. The Jayhawks missed two field goals before Iowa State trimmed the margin to 14-3 on Chase Contreraz’s 35-yard kick before halftime.
Neal’s second touchdown completed a 75-yard drive to start the third quarter and gave Kansas a 21-3 lead.
“I feel like it was a lack of detail on our part,” Cyclone receiver Jaylin Noel said of Iowa State’s slow start. “Just little things. Jumping offsides, holding personal fouls. It’s hard to win when you get those type of penalties.”
POLL IMPLICATIONS
The first two times Kansas was in the Top 25 this season, it lost its next game. The Jayhawks should stay in the rankings a second straight week.
INJURY REPORT
Kansas' Dotson appeared woozy after hitting his head while making a diving tackle of Dimitri Stanley with 10 seconds left in the first half. Athletic trainers tended to Dotson on the field for a few minutes, but he was able to walk off the field on his own.
Bean grabbed the back of his left leg after ISU’s Will McLaughlin hit him low after he threw a pass in the second half. No. 3 quarterback Cole Ballard came on to take one snap.
UP NEXT
Kansas hosts Texas Tech on Saturday. Kickoff time and where the game will be aired is to be determined.
Kansas State falls to Texas in overtime after huge second half comeback
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas was dominant for most of three quarters against Kansas State, building a comfortable 20-point lead behind a suffocating defense.
Then the No. 7 Longhorns found themselves in overtime, clinging to a three point lead with just six yards between the No. 25 Wildcats, the end zone and a loss.
“These are the moments you live for. Everybody wants to be the person to make that play,” Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron said. “Trust one another. And that's what we did.”
With a chance to win and all the momentum, Kansas State gained just two yards in three plays before Texas' Barryn Sorrell pressured Will Howard into a desperate, off-balance pass that fell incomplete, as the Longhorns made Bert Auburn's 42-yard field goal stand up for a 33-30 win that keeps them atop the Big 12.
Texas (8-1, 5-1 Big 12, No. 7 CFP) matched last season's win total and stayed on track for a possible berth in the Big 12 championship game. Texas hasn't won the league since 2009, and this is the last chance before the program leaves for the Southeastern Conference next season.
“Versatility, resilience, perseverance ... those are all qualities championship teams have,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. “They can make plays at critical moments.”
That was Kansas State (6-3, 4-2 Big 12, No. 23 CFP) when the Wildcats came storming back from a 27-7 deficit late in the third quarter. Kansas State rallied behind three touchdown passes from Howard in less than three minutes.
Kansas State forced overtime on Chris Tennant's 45-yard field goal with 1 second left. Tennant had earlier missed a short chance to tie with just under two minutes left.
Texas went nowhere on its first possession of overtime before Auburn's go-ahead kick, his fourth field goal of the game. Kansas State was then quickly inside the Texas 10.
Facing fourth down, the Wildcats went for the win instead of another field goal to tie and more overtime. Kansas State coach Chris Klieman said he didn't hesitate to make the call and would do it again if given another chance.
“Our kids always believe we have a shot,” Klieman said. “I’m upset that we lost, but watching what our guys were able to do in the second half was pretty special.”
Jonathon Brooks ran for 112 yards and a touchdown for Texas, which also got a 54-yard scoring run early from C.J. Baxter. Howard passed for 327 yards and four touchdowns for the Wildcats, two of them to Phillip Brooks.
Kansas State's rally was helped by consecutive Texas turnovers — an interception and fumble — that set up two quick Howard touchdown passes. A blocked punt set up Kansas State's only touchdown in the first half.
“It tested us. It tested our resilience," Sarkisian said. “It tested our culture to stick together.”
THE TAKEAWAY
The Wildcats stubbornly stuck to a running game that was going nowhere in the first half. Even when they rotated in speedy freshman quarterback Avery Johnson, his first full series produced three consecutive handoffs instead of letting him probe for an opening. The Wildcats moved the ball through the air on a short scoring drive in the second quarter before opening up the offense on Howard's passing in the second half.
UP NEXT
Kansas State hosts Baylor on Saturday. Kickoff time and where the game will be aired is to be determined.
Michigan State holds off late Nebraska rally in 20-17 win
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Katin Houser and Sam Leavitt each threw touchdown passes and Noah Kim kicked two field goals to help Michigan State snap a six-game losing streak with a 20-17 victory over Nebraska on Saturday afternoon.
It is the Spartans' first win under interim coach Harlon Barnett, who took over when Mel Tucker was fired Sept. 27. Michigan State (3-6, 1-5 Big Ten) had dropped seven straight conference games since beating Rutgers Nov. 12, 2023.
After neither team took control in the first half, Kim's 51-yard field goal with 5:11 left in third quarter broke a 10-10 tie and Leavitt pushed the lead to 20-10 with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Montorie Foster Jr. with 12:13 remaining in the game.
Nebraska (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) cut the deficit to 20-17 on Emmett Johnson's four-yard touchdown run with 3:35 left. The Huskers regained possession with under a minute remaining but were unable to move the ball.
THE TAKEAWAY
The Huskers struggled in pass defense against Michigan State's receiving corps that was missing starters Tre Mosley and Maliq Carr. They allowed 232 yards through the air, including six passes of more than 15 yards. Nebraska will need to show improvement next week against Maryland's explosive passing offense.
UP NEXT
Nebraska hosts Maryland on Saturday. Kickoff is at 11am.