It wasn’t pretty, but Missouri Western football has now won five straight games, after a 31-24 win against Southwest Baptist Saturday afternoon in Bolivar.
Baptist scored 13 points of Western turnovers to make it a game, but the Griffons, despite losing the turnover battle 3-0, got a gritty performance from Michael Hill on the ground to pull out the victory. Hill unofficially carried close to 30 times for close to 200 yards. Junior defensive end David Bass unofficially record four sacks. Official statistics were not made available after the game.
Baptist, struck first with an early first quarter touchdown to take a 7-0 lead. The Griffons then responded with a 34 yard touchdown pass from Travis Partridge to Tarrell Downing to tie the score at 7 in the first. Western then took a 14-7 lead early in the 2nd quarter when Partridge hit Hill for a 13 yard touchdown.
Baptist answered with at the 8:19 mark in the 2nd with a Dan Connors 3 yard touchdown catch from Charles Johnson. Western reclaimed the lead at 2:13 with a 23 yard field goal from Greg Zuerlein, his MIAA record 13th consecutive field goal, and gave the Griffons a 17-14 lead heading into halftime.
The Bearcats would tie the game at the 8:00 minute mark of the 3rd quarter with a 31 yard field goal from John Colliver. But the turning point came on Western’s next offensive possession, after successfully completing two fourth down conversions. The Griffons used a fake punt on 4th and 8, when Reggie Jordan took the direct snap and ran for a first down. Three plays later, The Griffons would go for it on 4th and 2 at their own 48, and convert with a Michael Hill 48 yard run, which put the Griffons down at the two. Travis Partridge finished the drive with a two yard touchdown run to put Western up 24-17.
The Griffons added another score at the 13:19 mark of the 4th quarter, with a Dominic Thomas 6 yard touchdown run to make it a 31-17 game. Baptist answered with a 20 yard touchdown from Marcus Sullivan at 9:53 to pull to within a touchdown, but the Griffons ran out the clock and secured their 5th straight victory. They will host Northwest Missouri State next Saturday at 2:00 pm at Spratt Stadium.
— MWSU Sports Information —