Nineteen first half points helped Missouri Western football survive a late charge by the Hornets on their homecoming, and escaped Jones Field at Welch Stadium with a 22-16 win. Western improved to 5-2 on the season; 4-2 in the MIAA. Emporia State fell to 2-5 and 1-5 in the MIAA.
Western had to recover an onside kick attempt with 1:06 remaining to secure the victory, after taking a 20-point lead into the fourth quarter. Down 22-2 to begin the fourth quarter, Emporia got a 50-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Eckenrode and a 3-yard TD strike from Eckenrode to RayRay Davis in the fourth to pull within six.
A personal foul on the Griffons during the extra-point attempt set the Hornets up for potentially great field position, but Western was able to recover the onside kick and secure the victory. For Western, it was their seventh consecutive win over the Hornets.
Travis Partridge passed for over 200 yards for the first time in his career. The sophomore quarterback was 19-30 for 238 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions. Partridge was efficient in the first half, going to halftime 11-15 for 152 yards. All three of his TD passes came before halftime.
Michael Hill had another 100 yard performance, rushing 20 times for 112 yards. Hill also had five catches for 73 yards and a touchdown. Partridge rushed 13 times for 42 yards. Tarrell Downing led the Griffons with six receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown.
Hill got the scoring started for the Griffons, with an eight yard touchdown reception. Reggie Jordan found the endzone for the first time this season with 1:36 to go in the first quarter on a 10 yard touchdown reception.
The defense dominated the Hornets through three quarters, holding Emporia out of the end zone until five minutes into the fourth quarter. Emporia’s only first half points came on a Partridge fumble that was recovered in the end zone by David Fowler.
Tom Madget led the Western defense with 12 total tackles; nine solo. Ben Pister had two sacks to go with his four tackles and David Bass added his ninth sack on the season. Jeremy Weston chipped in three tackles and his fourth interception of the season.
The Griffons return to Spratt Stadium for homecoming on Oct. 15 against Truman at 1:30 p.m.
— MWSU Sports Information —