By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
Missouri Western saw a 24-6 halftime lead eventually disappear in the second half against No. 11 Emporia State at Spratt Stadium.
The Hornets scored 15 unanswered points to get within three early in the fourth. Emporia then tied it at 31-31 with 46 seconds to go.
Sparked by a 41-yard kick return by Jalen Lampley, the Griffons got to within field goal range in the closing seconds and Cody Watson drilled a 41-yard field goal with five seconds remaining, lifting Missouri Western to a 34-31 win over the 11th-ranked Hornets on Saturday in St. Joseph.
The Griffons (4-1) came out on fire to start the game. After Emporia State scored on its opening drive, Missouri Western reeled off 24 unanswered points, scoring 17 in the second quarter, to go into the locker room up 24-6.
The Hornets (4-1) started to turn the tide with a touchdown late in the third quarter, making it a 24-13 ballgame entering the fourth.
Emporia's best quarter was the fourth one, as the Hornets put up 18 points and outgained the Griffons in the final 15 minutes 224-114 in total yards.
Still, Missouri Western went in front 7-6 with 7:26 left in the first quarter, and never lost the lead after that.
The Griffons got a key 51-yard touchdown run from running back Seth Cromwell to put Western ahead 31-21 with 8:02 remaining.
Emporia scored again with 6:02 to go, making it 31-28. Missouri Western punted the ball back to the Hornets after just five plays, giving Emporia possession on their own 12 with 2:49 left.
Led by all-MIAA quarterback Braedon Gleason, the Hornets marched right down the field, getting a first-and-goal at the four.
Aafter a critical tackle-for-loss by Missouri Western's C.J. Ravenell, and an incomplete pass in the end zone on third down, Emporia was held to a field goal, tying the game on a 24-yarder with 46 seconds to go.
The Griffons' ensuing kick return was a 41-yard burst by Lampley, putting Missouri Western on their own 47 with about 40 seconds left.
The Griffons moved 29 yards on six plays on the final scoring drive. An 11-yard catch by Jonas Bennett put Western at the Emporia 24, and the field goal try came on the following snap.
Missouri Western's offense moved the ball effectively all day against Emporia State, piling up 490 total yards, including 247 on the ground.
Quarterback Armani Edden completed 17-of-26 passes for 240 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also ran for 56 yards on 10 carries.
Bennett finished with five catches for 63 yards. Brandon Hall led the effort on the ground with 86 yards on 12 carries. Cromwell had a career-high 77 yards rushing and two scores - both on the ground.
TreVon Holmes led the defense with 11 tackles and an interception. Watson connected on two field goals and was 4-for-4 on point-after, accounting for 10 total points in the win.
Saturday's win was the first over a ranked team for Missouri Western since 2019, breaking a streak of six straight losses to ranked opponents.
It's the first win over a ranked team at Spratt Stadium since 2018. It's the first win over a top 20 program since 2013.
It's also the best start through five games for the Griffons since 2013, when Missouri Western opened that season at 7-0.
It's still early with six games still to go, but Missouri Western is officially turning heads and putting themselves right in the thick of the MIAA race.
The Griffons go on the road to face Washburn (1-4) on Saturday, October 7. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. Coverage on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3) starts at 2 p.m.
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