By MATT PIKE
No. 11 Bearcats dominate No. 8 Hornets to knot up top of MIAA
The No. 11 Northwest Missouri State Univeristy football team dominated No. 8 Emporia State University on Homecoming, 59-14, putting a knot in the top of the MIAA Conference.
The Bearcats scored three defensive touchdowns and rushed for 321 yards while extending their home-field winning streak to nine in a row. After Mo Alwaely opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 40 yard field goal, Northwest scored their first defensive touchdown of the game following Davis Barr's punt that put the Hornets on the one-yard line. Two plays later, linebacker Cody Simoncic fell on a fumble in the end zone to push the Bearcats ahead 10-0.
The Hornets cut into the lead on a 44 yard passing touchdown from Jamison Sarver to Trenden Collins. From there, with Northwest leading 10-7 going into the second quarter, it was all Bearcats. Quincy Torry extended the lead on a 12-yard rushing touchdown. The defense scored again in the second quarter on another Emporia State fumble when defensive back Jayden Welch scooped up the ball and rumbled 33 yards to add to the cushion. Northwest capped the scoring in the first half on the legs of quarterback Zechariah Owens running for a 35-yard touchdown giving the Bearcats a 31-7 lead at the halftime break.
The defense started the scoring in the second half for the Bearcats with their third touchdown as David Jacquez ran an interception back 63 yards for a touchdown. Northwest continued their run of 35 unanswered points on Torry's second rushing score of the game from two yards pushing the Northwest lead to 45-7. The Hornets ended that run on their next drive with their final score of the game with Sarver throwing a 13 yard touchdown pass to to Ethan Schultze. Mason Shorb scored the final two touchdowns for the Bearcats on big plays, the first a 65-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, before he found Trevor Spaedy for a 51-yard touchdown strike to cap the scoring in the fourth quarter.
Owens was 7-of-17 through the air for 95 yards with two interceptions while adding 41 yards on the ground with six carries and a touchdown. Shorb went 4-for-6 for 86 yards and a touchdown, running two times for 63 yards and another score. Torry rushed 13 times for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Tommy Hutsler had four catches for 60 yards while Spaedy had the one catch for 51 yards and a touchdown.
Northwest (7-1, 6-1 MIAA) will travel to Missouri Western (3-6, 2-5 MIAA) on Saturday with kickoff set for 2pm.
Griffons rally in fourth quarter against Ichabods falls short on the road
The Missouri Western State University Griffon football team attempted a comeback in the second half, but a 31-point deficit was too much to overcome in a 55-40 loss to Washburn at Yager Stadium in Topeka, Kansas.
After the Ichabods got off to a 13-0 start in the first quarter on touchdown passes of 20 yards to Nathan Lewis Jr and 26 yards to Justin Lewis from Logan Madden. MoWest cut into the lead with an eight yard rushing touchdown from Rickie Dunn, but Washburn answered with another touchdown pass from Madden, 68 yards to Tre Calhoun to take a 20-7 lead into the second quarter. After the Ichabods added to the lead to start the frame, with another 68 yard touchdown strike from Madden to Calhoun, the Griffons began to make a push.
MoWest cut into the lead with 14 unanswered points. A three yard rushing touchdown by Cencere Thompson and a 10 yard touchdown pass between Isaiah Tate and Emmanuel Ellison trimmed the Ichabods lead to 27-21. Madden extended the lead with his fifth passing touchdown of the first half, 42 yards to Lewis Jr., and with six second in the half Latrell Armstrong hit a 27 yard field goal for the Griffons to cut Washburns lead to 34-24 at the halftime break.
The Ichabods controlled the third quarter scoring in every phase, scoring to open the half on defense with a 68 yard pick six by Brody Hayes, then on the offensive side with a one yard rushing score by Keller Hurla, before closing out the quarter scoring on special teams with Jacoby Ogbonna returning a punt 79-yards for a touchdown to make it 55-24 entering the fourth quarter. But, the Griffons never quit, scoring 16 unanswered points to end the game. Skyler Cassel threw two touchdown passes, 32 yards to Crew Myers and 12 yards to Malik Moore, while Amrstrong hit a 30 yard field goal. An interception thrown by Cassel with 2:56 remaining would seal the fate of MoWest.
Tate was 25-of-40 for 310 yards with a touchdown and an interception adding eight rushes for 18 yards. Cassel went 7-of-13 for 108 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Dunn rushed 12 times for 48 yards and a touchdown while Thompson added five carries and 18 yards with his first career score. Myers had 11 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown. On the season, Myers has 967 receiving yards, the fifth most in a single season in program history.
MoWest (3-6, 2-5 MIAA) is back home on Saturday facing No. 11 Northwest Missouri State (7-1, 6-1 MIAA) on Senior Day. Kickoff from Spratt Stadium is set for 2pm.
No. 3 Ravens use 34 point second half to pull away from Vikings
The No. 3 Benedictine Raven football team scored 34 unanswered in the second half shutting down Missouri Valley and earning a 48-13 win in Marshall, Missouri to move closer to securing another Heart South title.
Patrick Heitert gave the Ravens the early lead in the first quarter, first scoring with his legs on a 40 yard run, before throwing a 39 yard touchdown pass to Titan Osburn for a 14-0 lead. In the second quarter, the Vikings cut the lead to one with 13 unanswered points of their own as Leo Friedrich hit field goals of 36 yards and 47 yards, with a four yard rushing touchdown by Christian Womack between those, to send the game to halftime withe Benedictine narrowoly up 14-13 at the break.
The second half was all Ravens though, starting off the third quarter with a 65-yard rushing touchdown that took 11 seconds off the clock by Xiomar Hernandez. Heitert closed the third with a pair of touchdown passes to Isaiah Hasten, the first of 38 yards and the second of 42 yards, sending Benedictine into the fourth quarter with a 35-13 lead. Cooper Hajek extened the lead in the final quarter with a one yard rushing score before Robbie Sharp capped the scoring with a six yard rushing touchdown.
Heitert completed 13 of 18 passes for 215 yards while also rushing for 35 yards. Hernandez finished with 80 yards off six carries while Brendan Haisenleder added 70 yards. Hasten lead the Raven receivers with 89 yards off three catches while Joseph Lagafuaina added 44 yards on three catches.
Benedictine (9-1. 5-0 Heart South) closes out the regular season in St. Louis on Saturday as they take on Missouri Baptist University (2-6, 0-4 Heart South). Kickoff is at 1pm.
Simmons shines, Hardy returns as No. 23 Tigers top Razorbacks
The No. 23 Missouri Tigers started off slow against the Arkansas Razorbacks, but Austin Simmons threw for 179 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Tigers to a 34-10 win at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetville, Arkansas.
The Tigers held just a 13-7 lead at the halftime break with the slow start. A 31 yard field goal from Blake Craig and a fumble recovery for a touchdown from Darris Smith gave Missouri the quick lead in the first quarter. Craig extended the lead in the second quarter with a 53 yard field goal, before Arkansas finally found the endzone near the end of the first half to cut the Missouri lead to six with a two yard run from K. J Jackson.
The third quarter was a swing in momentum however for the Tigers. On the opening drive to the second half, Simmons connected on a 15-yard touchdown with Donovan Olugbode to add to the lead, then after the Missouri defense forced another Arkansas fumble, Jamal Roberts added a two yard rushing touchdown to, pushing the Tigers ahead 27-7 at the end of the third quarter. Points off turnovers were critical for the Tigers as they turned three Arkansas fumbles and an interception thrown by Jackson into 24 points.
In the fourth quarter, Robers scored through the air as Simmons found the running back for a 10-yard touchdown, capping the scoring in the game. To start the quarter, the Razorbacks put together their final scoring drive ending with a 32 yard field goal from Max Gilbert, before back-to-back fumbles set up the Missouri touchdown drive.
After a lackluster performance against Ole Miss, Simmons looked like himself again against Arkansas going 20-for-31 with 179 yards and two touchdowns. Roberts ran 23 times for 138 yards and a score while also catching three passes for 20 yards and another touchdown. Cayden Lee had six receptions for 78 yards and Olugbode added five catches for 50 yards and a touchdown. Ahmad Hardy, Missouri’s All-American running back who missed the first seven games of the season after being wounded in the leg during a shooting at an outdoor concert in May, returned to action, finishing with two carries for five yards.
Next, No. 23 Missouri (6-2, 3-2 SEC) returns to Columbia to host No. 11 Texas (6-2, 3-2 SEC). Kickoff is at 11am and pregame will air at 10am on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
Wildcats drop heartbreaker to Colorado in overtime
In a game that went back and forth, Colorado tight end Charlie Williams' only catch came on an 11-yard touchdown throw from Isaac Wilson in overtime, handing Kansas State a heartbreaking 27-24 overtime loss at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado.
Neither team could get much going through the game with scoring drives far and few between. Five consecutive punts opened the game before the Buffaloes scored the first points in the first quarter on a two yard rushing touchdown by Richard Young. The Wildcats missed a field goal on the ensuing drive, but in the second quarter forced a Colorado fumble, then answered as third string quarterback Blake Barnett found Josh Manning for a 28 yard touchdown pass, capping the first half scoring. The game went to the halftime break tied 7-7 after the Buffaloes were forced to punt and Kansas State could not put a drive together in 48 seconds to score.
It was slow again to start the second half with four consecutive punts, before Colorado scored to take the lead on a 47 yard run by JaQuail Smith. The Wildcats were able to answer though to keep the game tied heading into the final quarter as Barnett threw his second touchdown pass, finding Linkon Cure for a 33 yard score, tying the game 14-14 going into the fourth quarter.
The Buffaloes took the lead to start the fourth quarter, a 22 yard rushing touchdown by Young, and again on the ensuing drive the Wildcats missed a field goal unable to answer. After three consecutive drives ended in punts betwen the teams, Kansas State was able to force overtime with Barnett's three yard touchdown pass to Garrett Oakley with two seconds left in regulation.
But, after Colorado held Kansas State to a 25 yard field goal from Luis Rodriguez, his first make of the game, facing third-and-9 from the 11 yard line, Wilson faked a handoff to Young and hit Williams over the middle for the game-winner.
Barnett was 18-of-28 for 274 yards with three touchdowns adding 16 runs for 40 yards. Rodney Fields Jr rushed 12 times for 65 yards. Manning caught six passes for 73 yards and a touchdown while Cure added three catches for 65 yards and a score.
Up next, Kansas State (4-4, 1-4 Big 12) returns home to hosts= Oklahoma State (5-3, 3-2 Big 12) on Saturday. Kickoff is at 11am with the game airing on TNT and HBO Max.
Jayhawks swap quarterbacks, fall after Horned Frogs second half rally
TCU's Max Carroll returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown and quarterback Jaden Craig ran 17 yards for the go-ahead score capping a second half rally to help the Horned Frogs beat the Kansas Jayhawks 22-16 at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Jayhawks let the game slip away in the second half after going into the halftime break with a 13-0 lead over the Horned Frogs. Field goals from Martin Connington gave Kansas the initial lead, first hitting a 34 yard field goal in the first quarter before nailing a 42 yard kick in the second, and Kansas was finally able to find the endzone, led by quarterback Cole Ballard throwing a 29 yard touchdown pass to Cam Pickett just before halftime to extend the Jayhawks advantage.
In the second half, TCU began to storm back, cutting into the lead first with the pick six by Carroll, before taking a 14-13 lead on a 28 yard rushing touchdown from Ace Theus. In the fourth quarter, Kansas briefly retook the lead on Connington's 27-yard field goal after a 94-yard interception return by the Horned Frogs was wiped out by a pass interference penalty. After the field goal, Craig led a 13-play, 84-yard drive to give TCU the lead again, a drive where the Horned Frogs could have run the clock down for a final-play field goal when Craig scored.
The Jayhawks did have 1:04 remaining after the touchdown, a chance to put together a drive to score. However, with four seconds left after driving to the TCU 49 yard line, Ballard's deep pass attempt to the right side of the field was thrown incomplete ending the game. Ballard, starting in place of Isaiah Marshall, was 20-of-35 for 285 yards with a touchdown and an interception while running 13 times for 36 yards.
The running game was ineffective for Kansas in the loss. Dylan Edwards rushed 20 times for 42 yards and Keaton Kubecka added three carries for 58 yards. Nahzae Cox had five catches for 145 yards and Pickett added 10 receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown.
Up next, Kansas (3-5, 1-4 Big 12) returns to Lawerence and hosts UCF (4-4, 2-3 Big 12) on Saturday. Kickoff is at 2:45pm with the game airing on ESPN2.
Huskers fall again in fourth quarter as Huskies score 17 unanswered
The Nebraska Cornhuskers let another game slip away late as the Washington Huskies beat the Huskers 17-10 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska scoring 17 unanswered points, 14 of those in the fourth quarter.
It was a struggle for Nebraska quarterback Anthony Colandrea all game. On the first two offensive drives of the game for the Cornhuskers, Colandrea threw interceptions to Rylon Dillard-Allen and Emmanuel Karnley respectively, before Nebraska finally found the endzone with their lone touchdown of the game, a 24 yard passing touchdown from Colandrea to Carter Nelson.
Washington's lone first half answer, after four consecutive punts in the second quarter, was a 50 yard field goal from Taylor Robles and the Huskies trailed the Cornhuskers 7-3 at the halftime break. The teams went scoreless in the third quarter with five consecutive punts, and starting the fourth quarter Nebraska's Kyle Cunanan missed a 35 yard field goal attempt. The teams exhanged punts once more, before Washington rallied ahead.
A 12 play drive was capped by a 25 yard passing touchdown from Demond Williams Jr to Chris Lawson giving the Huskies a 10-7 lead. Looking to answer, the Huskers drive quickly ended as on the second play Colandrea threw his third interception of the day, which was taken back 48 yards by Alex McLaughlin for a touchdown. Nebraska cut the lead to a touchdown behind a 42 yard field goal from John Hohl, but were unable to recover the ensuing onside kick attempt, allowing the Huskies to kneel out the remaining time.
Colandrea was 24-of-44 for 255 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions adding seven rushes for 20 yards. Jamal Rule ran 13 times for 72 yards. Jacory Barney Jr caught six passes for 65 yards while Luke Lindenmeyer caught five passes for 51 yards.
Next Nebraska (5-3, 2-3 Big Ten) travels to play Illinois (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten). Kickoff is set for 7pm and the game will air on Fox.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.