By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
The Missouri Western football team opened its 2022 season with a statement win, shutting out Central Oklahoma 35-0 on Thursday night at Spratt Stadium.
It marks Missouri Western's first season opening win since 2016, its first shutout win since 2019 and its first season-opening shutout win since Sept. 8, 1979 - the first ever game at Spratt Stadium.
"Just a good overall team win," Missouri Western head coach Matt Williamson said. "Good to be back at the Spratt. Our kids played a really solid game, but a lot of corrections we still have to make."
The Griffon defense forced a three-and-out on UCO's first possession, and the Missouri Western offense proceeded to score touchdowns on each of their first two possessions.
Starting quarterback Reagan Jones led a 10 play, 76-yard drive and got the scoring started with a four-yard touchdown run to put the Griffons up 7-0 with 9:13 left in the first quarter.
Missouri Western got the ball back with 2:52 left in the first quarter, and a quick three-play drive ended with Jones finding sophomore tight end Tycen Gray on an eight-yard touchdown pass, putting the Griffons up 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Missouri Western had a few promising drives in the second quarter, but one ended with an interception and another ended with Jones getting sacked on 3rd and goal at the one-yard line, which ended the first half.
The Griffons got the ball to start the second half, and milked seven minutes of clock on a 13-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a two-yard rushing touchdown from Jones, making the score 21-0 Missouri Western with 7:58 left in the third quarter.
"That was nice for us," Jones said of the long drive to open the second half. "I think we'll be good at managing the clock all year. I think big, long drives are what we want to do and what we want to keep doing all year, and I'm excited to be at the helm of it this year."
Jones went 20-for-27 through the air for 171 yards, one touchdown and an INT, while adding 111 yards and two scores on the ground.
"I had a few mental mistakes here and there," Jones said. "But, I think managing the clock is a big thing I need to do next week and not try to get down so low in the play clock."
Central Oklahoma had 11 total possessions. Eight ended in punt, three in three-and-out and three more with turnover on downs. Missouri Western outgained the Bronchos in total yards 506-157, including 335-65 on the ground.
"I'm proud of our team," Williamson said. "Proud of our coaching staff. It was a great way to start. A great crowd and a bunch of great support. It was fun."
Leading 21-0 with 7:28 left in the game, Missouri Western got the ball back and kept it on the ground. Sophomore running back Brandon Hall, last season's MIAA Freshman of the Year, had been fighting hard for every yard he got Thursday, but he finally broke a big, 53-yard touchdown run with 4:28 left in the game.
Hall finished with a career-high 30 carries, a career-high 141 rushing yards and the score.
The Griffons got one more possession after a UCO turnover on downs, and would score in just three plays with the second-team offense on the field. Senior running back Titus McCoy, who missed all of last year with injury, scored on a 14-yard touchdown run with 1:51 left - his first touchdown as a Griffon.
Missouri Western goes on the road Thursday, September 8 to face Fort Hays State. Kickoff from Lewis Field Stadium is set for 7 p.m. Pregame coverage starts at 6 on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3).
Fort Hays State lost at Northwest Missouri State Thursday 33-19.
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