By MATT PIKE/AP
St. Joseph Post
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7th, 2023
Turnovers plague Bearcats in 33-13 loss to Emporia State
The #18 Emporia State Hornets came into Maryville on Thursday and snapped a 29 game losing streak against the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats, and also ended an 18 game home winning streak for Northwest, coming away with a 33-13 win at Bearcat Stadium.
Northwest would come out of the gate running a no huddle offense and was driving, going all the way from their own 34 yard line to the Emporia State 27 yard line, but disaster would strike. On the sixth play from scrimmage quarterback Mike Hohensee would be picked off by Hornets defensive back Jaaron Joseph who would return the interception 76 yards for the first score of the game.
The Bearcats would answer though with the score standing at 6-0, following a missed two point conversion, driving 75 yards on 12 plays ending with Jay Harris punching it in from four yards out, taking a 7-6 lead following a converted extra point from Cole Lammel.
That lead would hold for Northwest until just about four minutes into the second quarter. Following another Emporia State interception, their third of the day, it would take just two big pass plays from quarterback Brayden Gleason to get back into the endzone. A 40 yard pass to Jaylen Varner would set it up before a 28 yard pass to Kingsley Bennett would end the drive, this time the Hornets taking the extra point and pushing the lead to 13-7.
The Bearcats would be held scoreless over the next 26 minutes plus of play, while the Hornets would keep adding to the lead scoring 12 more points in the third quarter as Gleason would find Tommy Zimmerman for a 28 yard touchdown pass, the extra point would be missed, and then on the next Emporia drive Gleason would get the ball to Tyler Kahmann for a one yard touchdown, unable to convert a two point conversion going into the fourth quarter leading 25-7.
The Hornets would push the lead to 33-7 in the fourth quarter following their fifth interception of the game, as Billy Ross Jr would rush for 30 yards to the endzone. Ross Jr would also rush in for the two point conversion. The Bearcats would finally answer on the ensuing drive however when quarterback Henry Martin would rush out of the shotgun formation scoring from six yards away, but would then fail a two point conversion, pushing the score to where it would end at 33-13.
Turnovers were a problem for the Northwest offense on the day as the Bearcats threw six interceptions on the day. The turnover differential was at -5 for Northwest as they did recover one fumble from Emporia State.
Backup quarterback Chris Ruhnke operated behind center most of the day, Hohensee left the game in the first quarter with an injury, Ruhnke going 7 of 22 on the day for 98 yards throwing four of the six interceptions. It was another good day for Harris however, achieving his second 100+ yard game of the season and his career, rushing for 120 yards and a touchdown.
The Bearcats are now 1-1 on the season and will be back on the road Saturday traveling to Hays, Kansas to take on Fort Hays State University. Kickoff is at 7pm.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 8th, 2023
Daniels shines for Jayhawks in 34-23 win over Illinois
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The sore back that had bothered Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels throughout the fall looked just fine Friday night.
So did his arm and legs.
Making his season debut, Daniels threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns, and Devin Neal ran for 120 yards and another score, sending the Jayhawks past Illinois 34-23 in the first meeting between the Power Five schools since 1968.
“I could tell today when we were doing some walkthrough stuff Jalon felt really good. He was really anxious to play,” Kansas coach Lance Leipold said. “I felt he was ready. I didn't see any apprehension that he was worried about anything.”
Daniel Hishaw added 98 yards rushing and a touchdown, and Lawrence Arnold had five catches for 89 yards, as Daniels and the Jayhawks (2-0) piled up nearly 300 yards of offense in the first half and finished with 543 for the game,
“I feel like everything we game-planned this week,” Daniels said, “we executed it to a ‘T’”
The Illini's Luke Altmyer threw for 202 yards and a touchdown while running for 70 and two more scores, and he showed some moxie by bouncing back from a crushing blow from Kansas defensive lineman Austin Booker to lead a fourth-quarter rally.
The Illini (1-1) trailed 34-7 before Altmyer scored both of his TDs on the ground, and the 2-point conversions got them within 34-23 late in the fourth quarter. But the Illinois quarterback was picked off with 1:59 to go, ending the comeback bid.
“We still had plenty of time, we just had to manage it,” Illini coach Bret Bielema said. “We just haven't been in this moment and it's definitely something we have to correct. I promise you, in the Big Ten, we're going to have these exact scenarios.”
Daniels showed no signs of rust — and how much more dynamic the Kansas offense is with him under center — after he missed last week's opener against Missouri State to rest his ailing back. He led a 10-play, 82-yard TD march the first time he touched the ball, then added two more touchdown drives to send Kansas to a 21-0 lead.
The Illini, meanwhile, were going nowhere: four drives, four punts. And when they finally put together a sustained series, with Altmyer hitting five straight passes and Tip Rieman hauling in a short TD pass, Daniels made them pay for leaving 41 seconds on the clock. He quickly completed a 48-yard pass to set up Hishaw's touchdown run.
“You come down here to the end of the game — you have an 11-point game,” Bielema said, “and you realize you gave them a free touchdown. A free seven points, right before the half. Or it's a one-possession game.”
The Jayhawks extended their lead to 34-7 with a pair of field goals before Illinois finally got a big play. Altmyer escaped the pocket on third-and-18 and found nobody ahead of him, running untouched 72 yards for the score.
The Illini kept their momentum going when Xavier Scott picked off a jump ball in the end zone on the ensuing possession, and Altmyer swiftly led them the other way. After six completions, the Illini quarterback ran it into the end zone himself.
Suddenly, the Jayhawks' lead was down to 34-23 with just over 8 minutes to play.
Illinois got the ball again with about 4 minutes to go, but Altmyer's hot streak finally ended. After he completed a long throw to convert fourth-and-long, the Ole Miss transfer was picked by the Jayhawks' Kwinton Lassiter to put the game away.
“At first glimpse I thought we were an extremely physical football team tonight,” Leipold said. “The film will tell us for sure but I thought we played aggressive. We're playing in a fashion that we're going to need in the Big 12 this year.”
WHAT IS TARGETING
Big Ten referee Larry Smith's crew had a tough time with targeting penalties. They didn't call one after Booker's hit on Altmyer until Bielema demanded the play be reviewed, and only then was the Kansas defensive tackle kicked from the game. The crew later called targeting on the Illini's Tarique Barnes but overturned that one on review, allowing him to remain in the game. A third flag for targeting resulted in Kansas defensive back Cobee Bryant's ejection in the fourth quarter.
THE TAKEAWAY
Kansas was strong up front all night, setting the tone for most of the game. Booker and Jereme Robinson each had two sacks and the Jayhawks had six as a team, while the defensive line held Illinois running backs to 75 yards on the ground.
UP NEXT
Kansas visits Nevada next Saturday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:30pm on CBS Sports Network
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 9th, 2023
Fenwick earns first win at the helm in 63-14 blowout of Lincoln
The Griffons used a huge first half to down the Lincoln Blue Tigers in Jefferson City on Saturday 63-14, earning new head coach Tyler Fenwick his first win at the helm for Missouri Western.
The Griffons used a massive rushing attack to score 28 of their 47 first half points, also tallying two touchdown passes from Armani Edden, a field goal from Cody Watson, and a defensive safety. Missouri Western led 47-7 at halftime, giving up just one big play to Lincoln, a 51 yard touchdown pass from Xzavier Vaughn to Winston Ausmer.
Even with personnel changes in the second half, Missouri Western would not slow down, adding two more touchdown passes from Reagan Jones and a 69 yard interception return touchdown from Taylor Williams. Lincoln would add just one more score in the rout as Vaughn would find Aderias Ealy for a 13 yard touchdown.
Edden was efficient through the air going 14 for 19 and throwing for 278 yards to go with his two touchdowns. Jared Scott led all rushers with 92 yards and two touchdowns, while Seth Cromwell rushed for 77 yards. Brandon Hall and Grant Finley both rushed for scores on the day as well.
Missouri Western is now 1-0 (0-1 MIAA) on the season. The Griffons will travel to Edmond, Oklahoma on Saturday to face Central Oklahoma with kickoff at 2pm. The game will be broadcast on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM, 680kfeq.com) and the MIAA Network.
Ravens rally but can't pull off win against Graceland falling 37-35
The Benedictine Ravens used a second half rally but the Graceland Yellowjackets were able to hold them off with a last second field goal, coming away with a 37-35 victory in Lamoni, Iowa at Huntsman Field.
Despite the Ravens scoring on their first drive of the game and taking a 6-0 lead on a Shawn Wara run, Graceland would go on to score 21 unanswered points, coming on two Cade Ross touchdown passes to Gerald Monroe and a touchdown run from Adarius Thomas, giving the Yellowjackets a 21-6 lead at halftime.
Whatever message head coach Joel Osborn had for his men at halftime certainly made an impact as Benedictine would come out of the gates hot very quickly knotting the game up at 21 as on their first drive of the second half quarterback Jackson Dooley would cap off a four play 46 yard drive with a one yard rushing touchdown, and then after the Ravens sacked Ross on a third and three at the Graceland 38, JaShawn Todd would return a punt 44 yards for a score and Dalton Witherspoon would go on to rush in for the two point conversion to tie the game.
The Yellowjackets would go on to respond though following the special teams touchdown as Ross would find Monroe for the third time, this time from nine yards out, taking the lead back at 28-21. But the Ravens would not be deterred, this time with Dooley scoring through the air finding Jacob Gathright for a 25 yard touchdown, knotting the game up once again at 28, which is where the score would be at the end of the third quarter.
Benedictine would go on to take the lead early in the fourth quarter, Todd finding the endzone on the ground this time rushing in from three yards away, but again Graceland would respond on the ensuing drive when for the fourth time, Ross would find Monroe. However, the game would not go on to be tied as Alex Tuyo missed the extra point, thanks to a fumbled snap, and the Ravens would lead 35-34.
Getting the ball back after the score with 4:20 remaining on the clock, the Benedictine would attempt to eat up as much clock as they could, using up 2:10 of it with rushes from Todd and Witherspoon, and then it would be up to the defense after Cullen Bruner's 68 yard punt would be downed at the Graceland 14 yard line.
A nine yard rush from Thomas would start the Graceland drive and after a no yard gain by Ross the defense was standing tall at third and one, but Ross would find his favorite target Monroe for a 25 yard pass and a first down. Following yet another rush from Thomas and completion to Monroe, the backbreaker would come on a pass interference on Ravens defensive back Joel Mewis, the penalty putting the Yellowjackets at the Benedictine 15 yard line. A sack from the Ravens defense would back Graceland up to the 27, but with 13 seconds left on the clock Tuyo would convert the 44 yard field goal, putting the score at 37-35.
With time left to respond the Ravens would, or so it seemed. On the kickoff from Tuyo following the Graceland score, Todd would return the kick from his own endzone and go 100 yards on the kickoff return, but as the Ravens celebrated what would have been the winning touchdown the Yellowjackets were bailed out on a penalty, a holding call on Abram Phillips nullifying the touchdown and putting the Ravens back at their own 20 yard line with five seconds.
The one play the Ravens got following the penalty would be a shot downfield from Dooley, which would be intercepted by Jacob Morales to end the game, a small brawl ensuing on the track between the two teams after Gathright would push Morales late as he went out of bounds. The win was Graceland's first over Benedictine since 2016.\
Dooley went 17 for 30 through the air and passed for 199 yards, throwing one touchdown and two interceptions. Gathright rushed twice for 56 yards, most coming on a chunk run of 47 yards, while Witherspoon ran nine times for 50 yards. Todd led all receivers with five catches for 65 yards. He also returned two punts for 95 yards, including the 82 yard touchdown.
Benedictine is now 1-2 on the season. The Ravens will return to Atchison, Kansas this Saturday hosting Peru State. The game will kickoff at 1pm.
Cook overcomes slow start to lead Tigers to 23-19 victory
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Brady Cook overcame a slow start to complete 14 of 19 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another touchdown to help Missouri beat Middle Tennessee State 23-19 Saturday night.
Missouri’s Luther Burden III caught eight passes for career-best 117 yards as the Tigers (2-0) opened the season with two wins for the first time since 2018.
“I’d definitely say it gives us a little boost of confidence,” Missouri running back Nathaniel Peat said about Burden. “Seeing Luther make plays is definitely exciting but my competitive nature is like, ‘Oh, he made that play, now I want to make a play, too.’ And so I love seeing the move there. I like having the ball in his hands because he always makes something special out of whatever it is.”
Nick Vattiato completed 22 of 36 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns for Middle Tennessee State (0-2).
“I thought Nick played with great toughness,” Middle Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill said. “I thought he competed and played really hard. Their defense is really good. Their defense was really good last year, and it’s really good this year. We knew that coming in.”
Peat hauled in a 49 yard touchdown pass from Cook on the first play of the fourth quarter to put Missouri on top 23-10.
Middle Tennessee narrowed its deficit to 23-17 after Vattiato led the Blue Raiders 84 yards in a drive that culminated with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Justin Olson on fourth-and-goal.
On Missouri’s ensuing drive, Cook fumbled out of the end zone for a safety after Sam Brumfield sacked him at the two yard line.
“I got pushed out, and I was trying to throw it away,” Cook said. “I just didn’t throw it away soon enough. I was trying to put it in the cylinder where Cody Schrader was. I wasn’t sure if I was out of the tackle box. The guy made a good play.
Vattiato completed five of six passes for 62 yards to march the Blue Raiders to the Missouri 3 on the first drive of the second half before Zeke Rankin kicked a 25 yard field goal with 8:39 remaining to tie the game at 10-10.
Missouri answered as Cook completed a 44 yard pass to Burden before Theo Wease Jr. hauled in his first touchdown with the Tigers to put Missouri on top 16-10.
“We come out and do a really really nice job coming out of the half,” Stockstill said. “We get down to the two and we just couldn’t cash it in. To me that was the difference in the game as much as anything. You’re not going to be an SEC team on field goals.”
Middle Tennessee safety Jakope Thomas was ejected for targeting with 55 seconds remaining in the first half after making contact with Brett Norfleet’s helmet at the MTSU 5.
Cook scored his second rushing touchdown of the season on a sneak from inside the 1 after a previous apparent touchdown was reversed upon video review.
Frank Peasant rushed 25 yards to the 3 before Vattiato completed a screen pass to Kalani Norris to put Middle Tennessee up 7-3 with 8:14 remaining in the second quarter.
Harrison Mevis hit a 39 yard field goal with 5:21 remaining in the first quarter to give the Tigers an early 3-0 lead.
THE TAKEAWAY
The Tigers offensive line struggled to protect Cook, surrendering six sacks for a loss of 68 yards.
“There’s a good probability there’s going to be some personnel changes,” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said. “We’re not going to stick with status quo. We’ve had two games to figure it out. If production is still not where it needs to be, we’re going to compete for jobs. We’re not going to continue to give up four sacks and run the same five guys out there.”
Missouri beat Middle Tennessee State in regulation for the first time in three matchups, all at home.
UP NEXT
Missouri hosts former Big 12-foe No. 15 Kansas State on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 11am on SEC Network.
Five total Will Howard touchdowns leads K State to 42-13 win
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Will Howard threw for three touchdowns and ran for two others as No. 15 Kansas State defeated Troy 42-13 Saturday.
Howard threw touchdown passes of 9 yards to Jadon Jackson and 39 yards to Philip Brooks to help the Wildcats (2-0) to a 21-10 lead at half, and his 2-yard run late in the third quarter made it an 18-point game.
Howard finished 21 of 32 for 250 yards and had eight carries for 33 yards.
K-State held the Trojans (1-1) to 286 total yards a week after they gained 540 against Stephen F. Austin.
Troy's Gunnar Watson was 17 of 32 for 167 yards with a touchdown and interception.
The Wildcats put the game out of reach with a nine-play, 76-yard drive capped by Howard's 1-yard shovel pass to Treshaun Ward for a 35-13 lead.
Troy had pulled within 14-10 with 52 seconds left in the second quarter on Watson's 21-yard TD pass to Chris Lewis. Lewis made a dazzling one-handed catch in the end zone.
Kansas State had a huge answer just before halftime when Howard found Brooks on a crossing pattern for the 39-yard touchdown with 10 seconds left. Brooks caught the ball around the 20 and raced up the sideline for the score and a 21-10 halftime lead.
THE TAKEAWAY
Kansas State did not overlook Troy. After being stunned at home by non-Power Five opponents in two of the last three seasons, the Wildcats defended the home field with a strong defensive effort.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will travel to Columbia, Missouri, for a matchup with their former Big Eight and Big 12 rival Missouri. Kickoff is set for 11am on SEC Network.
Huskers offense falters against Colorado in Coach Prime's home debut
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Shedeur Sanders accounted for three scores, Colorado’s defense forced four turnovers and the 22nd-ranked Buffaloes beat longtime rival Nebraska 36-14 on Saturday in the home debut of Deion Sanders at sold-out Folsom Field.
After Coach Prime's team was the story of Week 1 with an upset of TCU, the Buffs showed it was no fluke.
Shedeur Sanders threw for 393 yards and two scores, while running for another touchdown. He capped his 6-yard romp with the dance steps his dad made famous during his playing days.
The Buffaloes (2-0) needed a moment to wake up given the early kickoff. But once they did, they were unstoppable. After punting on their first four drives, Sanders and the offense scored on seven of eight possessions to turn the game into a rout. The Buffaloes outgained the Huskers (0-2) by a 454-341 margin.
The fans ran onto the field to celebrate with a second remaining. After a momentary delay, the official announced it was over and more rushed out.
The contest featured two coaches trying to turn around programs that have fallen on lean times. Deion Sanders has elevated Colorado to the point where the Buffaloes had 53,241 fans in attendance — their largest crowd in 15 years — and tickets going for roughly $400. His counterpart, Matt Rhule, is still looking for his first win at Nebraska.
Xavier Weaver hauled in 10 passes for 170 yards and a score, while Jace Feely connected on three field goals.
Shedeur Sanders stayed cool despite being under constant pressure and sacked seven times. He distributed the production, just like he did in a 45-42 win at TCU last weekend.
Tar’Varish Dawson had a big afternoon, with a 30-yard touchdown catch and an 8-yard score on a reverse.
The defense held the Cornhuskers in check until Colorado's offense got revved up.
Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims fumbled two snaps, lost another on a botched handoff and had a pass picked off. He was knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter when he appeared to have his left leg rolled on as he scrambled to make a throw.
Travis Hunter, the versatile cornerback and receiver, rarely left the field. He finished with three catches for 73 yards, while also making four tackles. Hunter played 129 snaps at TCU.
The fans showed up early to get good seats as Folsom Field kicked off its 100th season in electric fashion. The crew for Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” was on hand, too, and welcomed Colorado royalty Kordell Stewart and Michael Westbrook to the set. Hall of Fame receivers Michael Irvin and Terrell Owens also were at the game.
UP NEXT
Nebraska will return to Lincoln to host Northern Illinois on Saturday. Kickoff is at 6pm and the game will be aired on FS1.