The Missouri Western football team ended the regular season with a 55-17 win over Fort Hays State. The win gave the Griffons seven consecutive victories for the first time since 1981, and the second time in program history. Western finished the regular season 9-2, winning nine regular season games for just the second time in program history; last in 2006.
Western rushed for 434 yards, with Travis Partridge and Michael Hill each going over the century mark on the ground. It was the first time two Griffons rushed for 100 yards in a game since Sept. 2, 2010, when Thomas Hodges and Hill did it at Mesa State.
The Griffons win streak and second consecutive NCAA Division II playoff berth seemed to be in jeopardy early. Fort Hays jumped out to an early 7-0 lead after Andre Smith ran in for a 3-yard touchdown on the second play from scrimmage.
Western responded with a methodical 6-play, 50-yard drive that was capped off by a Travis Partridge 4- yard scamper into the end zone. Fort Hays answered when Andre Smith added his second rushing TD to put the Tigers up 14-7 with 8:24 remaining in the first quarter.
From that point on it was all Griffons, with Hays only adding a 27-yard Tyler Kimbrough field goal with 2:56 remaining in the first half. Kimbrough’s kick made it 21-17, after Hill had scored two of his three touchdowns on the day.
Hill’s first score was a 20-yard run that ended a 7-play, 70-yard drive that took 2:39 off the clock. Hill added his second, a 1-yard push that put Western up for good, 21-14. Western took 2:37 off the clock with its last possession of the first half; resulting in a 2-yard Hill touchdown run. The Griffons took a 28-17 lead into halftime. It was the second time this season that Western scored 28 in the first half, scoring 43 against Lincoln on Oct. 8.
The Tigers forced Western to punt on its first drive of the second half. Dan Ritter forced a Paul Kedron fumble on the return that was recovered by Jake Buckwalter at the Hays 20. Four plays later, Partridge hit Tarrell Downing for an 8-yard touchdown to make it 35-17, Western.
On the third play of Hays’ next drive, Ben Jackson intercepted a Blake McAhren pass and took it 35 yards for a touchdown to put Western up 42-17. Greg Zuerlein padded his MIAA record for consecutive field goals made, with a 27-yarder in the third quarter that brought his streak to 17-straight. Zuerlein added another in the fourth quarter from 35 yards out.
Dominic Thomas made it 52-17 with his 12-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter; Western’s fifth rushing score on the day. Hill finished with 182 yards on 25 carries and three rushing touchdowns. Partridge had 12 carries for 105 yards and a score. Partridge was 8-14 through the air for 45 yards, one interception and a touchdown.
Hill also led the Griffons with three receptions for 13 yards. Downing added two catches for 16 yards and the touchdown. Jackson led the defense with six total tackles. David Bass picked up 1.5 sacks, falling a half sack short of tying the school record for sacks in a season.
Western will await its postseason destiny Sunday afternoon at an NCAA Division II Playoff selection show party held at the Fulkerson Center on the Missouri Western campus. Fans are invited to join the team at 3:30 p.m. The selection show will begin at 4 p.m.
— MWSU Sports Information —