By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
THURSDAY AUGUST 31st, 2023
Late interception helps Bearcats survive battle in Joplin
It was a back and forth affair in Joplin to open the season between the #5 Northwest Missouri State Bearcats and the Missouri Southern Lions, but a late interception sealed the win for Northwest, coming out on top 31-24 in the season opener.
The Bearcats fell behind early, after their first drive would end with a punt, the very next drive it would take the Lions just three plays to drive 80 yards and score, the touchdown coming on a 68 yard pass from Luke Sampson to David Bethune, putting the Lions up 7-0 early.
The remainder of the quarter would be punt after punt as the next three drive, two by Northwest and one by Missouri Southern, would end on punts. The first quarter would end as the Lions were making their third drive of the game and that drive would end early in the second quarter, Missouri Southern scoring on a 10 yard touchdown pass from Sampson to Deontay Campbell, pushing the Lion lead to 14-0.
The Bearcats would finally answer though on the ensuing drive, needing just four plays to do so. Senior quarterback Mike Hohensee would rush in from one yard out, after a 15 yard pass to Zach Atkins and a 47 yard pass to Kashan Griffin, narrowing the lead to 14-7. The Lions would answer again though on the next drive, kicking a field goal to extend the lead once again to 17-7.
Northwest would end the quarter though on a 10-0 run, scoring on the ensuing drive, a two yard rushing touchdown by Jay Harris, and then after an onside kick recovery the Bearcats would drive 30 yards on 10 plays, finishing with a field goal from Cole Lammel, knotting the game up at 17 at halftime.
Both teams would add a score in the third quarter, Missouri Southern scoring on their opening drive of the half as Sampson would throw his third touchdown of the game finding Jaedon Stoshak for a 62 yard touchdown. But Northwest would immediately answer with a 13 yard touchdown pass from Hohensee to Trevon Walker. The third quarter ending once again tied at 24.
The final touchdown of the game would come late for the Bearcats. The drive starting with 10:59 on the clock, Northwest would burn over eight minutes of clock, driving 91 yards on 16 plays, ending with Harris scoring his second touchdown of the game again from two yards out. The Lions trying to answer would run a no huddle offense, but after two incomplete passes from Sampson, the third pass would be picked off by Northwest's Jianni Angulo, allowing the Bearcats to run out the remainder of the clock.
Hohensee went 25 for 39 for 248 yards passing on the day, scoring one touchdown through the air and one on the ground. Harris ran the ball 27 times for 131 yards and two scores, a career high in yardage as he passed the 100+ yard mark for the first time in his Bearcat career.
Northwest will return back to Maryville on Thursday September 7th, hosting Emporia State. Kickoff is at 7pm.
Turnovers prove costly as Missouri Western falls in season opener
In a back and forth battle between Missouri Western and the University of Central Missouri, turnovers turned out to be the difference as the Griffons fell 45-38 in the season opener. You can read our full game recap HERE.
Missouri has dominant first half, struggles in second half in win
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Brady Cook threw for 172 yards and a touchdown while running for another score in only one half Thursday night, leading Missouri to a pedestrian 35-10 victory over South Dakota in the season opener for both teams.
Cody Schrader ran for 148 yards and a touchdown, and Nathaniel Peat also scored for the Tigers, who are trying to take a step forward after three consecutive bowl bids but failing to finish over .500 in coach Eli Drinkwitz's first three seasons.
The Coyotes' Aidan Bouman had 156 yards passing with a fourth-quarter touchdown toss to Mike Mansaray.
The Tigers were inconsistent for new offensive coordinator Kirby Moore, who also called plays after Drinkwitz gave up the job midway through last season. They punted on fourth-and-short on their initial drive, then proceeded to score on four of their next five, capping an efficient 2-minute drill with Cook's touchdown run for a 28-3 halftime advantage.
Missouri's offense fizzled in the second half, though, when backup quarterback Sam Horn got his shot. The redshirt freshman and standout baseball player threw for 54 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception.
Cook was efficient in his own right, though. The incumbent starter, who held onto the job after a challenge from Horn during fall camp, completed his first 11 passes with a TD throw to Mekhi Miller that staked Missouri to an early lead.
The Tigers' ground game got going after that. Peat pounded into the end zone from 1 yard out to make it 14-0, and Schrader added a short TD plunge of his own — his sixth consecutive carry on the drive — to make it 21-3.
It didn’t help the Coyotes that they played most of the game without safety Dennis Shorter, one of their leading tacklers a year ago. He was ejected for targeting on a helmet-to-helmet blow to Luther Burden III after a catch over the middle.
South Dakota's new-look offense of coordinator Josh Davis showed signs of life in the second half.
The Coyotes had gone three-and-out on their first three possessions, had five yards total offense in the first quarter and mustered one sustained first-half drive that ended in a field goal. But they put together a 17-play drive to begin the second half — it ended with a failed fourth down — and then took advantage of an interception to score a touchdown with 12:14 to go.
THE TAKEAWAY
It was a tough night for the Tigers on special teams. Their only big return was called back by a penalty and Harrison Mevis, who had been 85% for his career on field-goal attempts, missed both of his tries against the Coyotes.
UP NEXT
Missouri will take on Middle Tennessee on Saturday, September 9th at Faurot Field. Kickoff is at 6pm and the game will be aired on SEC Network+.
Late Minnesota rally spoils Matt Rhule's debut with Huskers
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Dragan Kesich kicked a 47-yard field goal for Minnesota as time expired after Daniel Jackson's toe-tap touchdown catch from Athan Kaliakmanis tied the game with 2:32 left, and the Gophers beat Nebraska 13-10 to ruin Huskers coach Matt Rhule's debut on Thursday night.
Tyler Nubin had two of Minnesota's three interceptions of Nebraska newcomer Jeff Sims, including a leaping grab in the final minute that gave the Gophers the ball at their 49.
Athan Kaliakmanis completed three passes and Sean Tyler had a first-down run to get them in range for Kesich, who made two of three field goals in his first game as the primary kicker. Kaliakmanis went 24 for 44 for 196 yards and one interception plus the tying score to Jackson.
Sims, who transferred from Georgia Tech, rushed 19 times for 91 yards. He completed 11 of 19 passes for 114 yards and a broken-play touchdown that gave the Huskers the lead
The Gophers have beaten the Huskers five straight times.
UP NEXT
Nebraska will play at Colorado on Saturday, September 9th. The two former Big 12 rivals have played twice since the Huskers joined the Big Ten, with the Buffaloes winning in both 2018 and 2019. Kickoff is set for 11am and the game will be aired on Fox.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1st, 2023
Despite early struggles Kansas overcomes Missouri State
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Jason Bean could have transferred out of Kansas after losing the starting quarterback job to Jalon Daniels. Instead, Bean stuck around and never allowed his head to drop, slotting in as the backup QB and even playing a bit of wide receiver.
His decision paid off Friday night.
Still dealing with a back injury, Daniels sat out the Jayhawks' season-opener against Missouri State, and Bean responded by throwing for 276 yards and two touchdowns while helping Kansas overcome a slow start in a 48-17 victory over the Bears.
“How many times have I talked about Jason Bean's improvement? I have,” Jayhawks coach Lance Leipold said. “He continues to get better. He's done everything we've asked. You've seen him get more mature and more confident.”
Bean, who began his career at North Texas, leaned on his experience as a sixth-year senior to make a successful spot start.
"I've been through a lot. I've played a lot of snaps," he said. "Just utilized that experience that I have."
As for Daniels, the preseason Big 12 offensive player of the year, it remained unclear whether he would be available against Illinois next Friday. He has been limited throughout the fall and spent the opener wearing a headset on the sideline.
“He's feeling better, OK? Jalon is feeling better,” Leipold said, “but there weren't enough practice reps to feel comfortable."
Devin Neal had touchdowns on the ground and through the air the Jayhawks, and Dylan McDuffie, Daniel Hishaw and Sevion Morrison also reached the end zone, as they opened a season of high expectations by struggling much of the way against a team from the Football Championship Subdivision that had a losing record a year ago.
Missouri State, led by new coach Ryan Beard, took advantage of an early turnover and fourth-down stop to take a 10-7 lead in the second quarter. But the Jayhawks proved to be too much, putting the game away in the fourth quarter.
“You come out and compete the first half, do some good things, move the ball on offense, get the stops you need,” Beard said, “and then you come out the second half and it’s disappointing football. You have to compete for two halves.”
The Bears' Jacob Clark threw for 143 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. But the first-time starter, who also ran for 36 yards, didn't get much help. Running back Jakardia Wright was held to 23 yards on 15 carries.
The Jayhawks looked more like their many downtrodden teams of yesteryear during the first half, rather than Lance Leipold's breakout bunch that started 5-0 last season and went to a bowl game for the first time in more than a decade.
They jumped to a 7-0 lead on Neal's 48-yard run, but then fumbled the ball away on their next possession and got stuffed on fourth down on the next. Missouri State turned the turnover into a short touchdown pass and the defensive stand into a field goal, taking a 10-7 lead before a suddenly quiet crowd inside Memorial Stadium.
Kansas needed three plays to go 75 yards for an answer, though, and a field goal made it 17-10 at the break.
The Jayhawks pushed the lead to 27-10 in the third quarter. And after Missouri State's Jmariyae Robinson added a TD run to his earlier scoring reception in the fourth quarter, the Jayhawks took advantage of two picks over the final 15 minutes to reach the end zone twice more and put the game away.
“I was proud of our coaches and players because we didn't flinch,” Leipold said. “There was no panic. We stayed the course.”
COACH SIDELINED
Kansas defensive coordinator Brian Borland missed the game because of a medical procedure, Leipold said. “We knew it was going to be happening. Unfortunately it was delayed. The procedure took place yesterday. He's doing well. He's at home,” Leipold added. “We expect him to be back in the building very soon.”
THE TAKEAWAY
For the Kansas there were too many miscues for the Jayhawks to feel comfortable until the fourth quarter. Bean was 22 of 28 through the air but rarely had a clean pocket. Hishaw's fumble was costly, as were some penalties at inopportune times.
UP NEXT
Kansas plays the Fighting Illini next Friday night. Kickoff is at 6:30pm and the game will be aired on ESPN2
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 2nd, 2023
Fast start for Benedictine helps down Clarke for first win of season
It did not take long for the Benedictine Ravens to make a statement against the Clarke Pride as after one quarter they would hold a 35-0 lead, on way to a 63-14 win on Saturday at Larry Wilcox Stadium in Atchison, Kansas.
Four passing touchdowns from Jackson Dooley to three different receivers, 63 yards to Jacob Gathright, 19 yards to Tanner Zimmerman, 45 yards to Lebron Jackson, and another score to Zimmerman from 30 yards out, along with an 11 yard rushing touchdown from JaShawn Todd helped put the Ravens out to the early lead at the end of the first quarter.
Clarke would find an answer to start the second quarter in the form of a 25 yard rushing touchdown from Jaden Warren, but Benedictine would not let up adding a fifth touchdown pass from Dooley to Todd and a 36 yard rushing touchdown from Derrick Overstreet extending their lead and ending the first half up 49-7.
Starting the second half Luke Laskowski would take over for Dooley at quarterback, adding to the score with his first touchdown pass of the season finding Reed Levi for a 50 yard touchdown, pushing the lead to 56-7. But on the ensuing drive the Pride would answer driving 75 yards on eight plays, capping the drive with a two yard rushing score by Kenyon Williams.
The final score of the game would come near the end of the third quarter as Laskowski would throw his second touchdown of the game, this time finding Matthew Sanford for a nine yard touchdown pass, capping the scoring at 63-14.
Dooley was efficient through the air going 13 for 17 and throwing for 304 yards and five touchdowns. Laskowski was also effective as in the second half he was 8 for 12 with 141 yards and his two touchdowns. On the ground both Todd and Overstreet rushed just two times, for 39 and 36 yards respectively, and both scored once.
Benedictine is now 1-1 on the young season. They'll travel to Huntsman Field in Lamoni, Iowa to take on Graceland on Saturday September 9th with kickoff at 6pm.
Will Howard completes trifecta as Kansas State stomps SEMO
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Will Howard threw for 297 yards and two scores, added touchdowns running and receiving to complete a rare trifecta, and led No. 16 Kansas State to a 45-0 rout of Southeast Missouri State on Saturday night in its season opener.
DJ Giddens ran for 128 yards and Treshaun Ward, a touted transfer from Florida State, had a TD run, helping the reigning Big 12 champion Wildcats cruise past one of the better teams in the Football Championship Subdivision.
Paxton DeLaurent had 213 yards passing for the Redhawks, who managed just 227 yards of total offense.
Howard took over as the Wildcats' starter midway through last season, leading them to upsets of two top-10 teams, including a victory over College Football Playoff participant TCU in the conference title game. And in Howard's first opener as the clear-cut No. 1, the senior QB picked up where he left off by leading Kansas State on five first-half touchdown drives.
He capped the first with a 33-yard pass to Jadon Jackson, the second with a keeper from a yard out and the third with a 37-yard strike to RJ Garcia. Ward pushed the lead to 28-0 before Howard finished an 89-yard march with the most improbable of scores: an 8-yard reception from Ward, who had taken the handoff before throwing it back to Howard.
Bo Nix accomplished the feat for Oregon last year — TDs throwing, receiving and running — in a win over Colorado. Desmond Ridder did it for Cincinnati during a blowout of Southern Methodist in 2021.
The only blip on Howard's otherwise exceptional performance came when he was hit while throwing. The pass sailed high across the middle and was picked off by the Redhawks' Antonio Taylor, though their ensuing drive went nowhere.
Chris Tennant tied a career-long with a 51-yard field goal to give the Wildcats a 38-0 lead at the break.
Southeast Missouri State, which qualified for the FCS playoffs a year ago, had some success through the air the few times DeLaurent was given a chance to look downfield. But the Redhawks accomplished nothing on the ground with Geno Hess, the school's career record-holder for yards rushing. He lost 4 yards on 10 carries.
Kansas State gave Howard the rest of the night off late in the third quarter, allowing highly-rated recruit Avery Johnson to make his debut. He capped a 79-yard drive by dashing through the Southeast Missouri State defense on a 7-yard scoring run.
THE TAKEAWAY
For Kansas State it was an impressive all-around start to a non-conference schedule that slowly builds in quality of opposition. Troy is on deck next week before the Wildcats take a trip to former Big 12 rival Missouri the following week.
UP NEXT
Kansas State plays the the Troy Trojans Saturday September 9th. Kickoff is at 11am and the game will be aired on FS1.