For the first time in 2013 the 4th ranked Missouri Western football team lost. The Griffons fell 34-14 against 12th ranked Pittsburg State on the 2nd Annual Military Appreciation day. Reggie Jordan had two touchdown catches as the Griffons fall to 7-1 overall and 6-1 in MIAA play.
Despite controlling the time of possession in the first quarter the Griffons could only manage 70 yards on 21 plays. Raphael Spencer had 33 yards on seven carries while Derek Libby caught three passes for 14 yards. The Gorillas hit a big pass down the middle to Gavin Lutman which helped set them up for a 41 yard Connor Frazell field goal. PSU took the lead 3-0 after one quarter.
The Gorillas went up 10-0 when Jeff Seybold capped an 11 play 76 yard drive with a 23 yard touchdown run giving Pittsburg State the 10-0 lead with 11:27 to play in the quarter. The Gorillas got the ball back were driving to extend its lead but a completion off a tipped pass to offensive lineman Ollie Venegas turned into a fumble which MWSU recoverd at its own nine yard line.
The Griffons finally got on the board when Travis Partridge connected with Reggie Jordan from 67 yards out cutting the PSU lead to 10-7 with 5:15 to play in the half. The Gorillas put a drive together at the end of the half with Frazell connecting from 22 yards out giving PSU the 13-7 lead at the half.
At the half the Griffons had 158 yards with just 33 on the ground. Spencer had 36 yards on eight carries. Partridge completed 10-of-16 passes for 125 yards with Josh Walker and Libby both making three catches. Yomi Alli had seven tackles in the half.
The Gorillas had 230 yards with 98 on the ground and 132 through the air. Seybold had 79 yards on 11 carries while Anthony Abenoja completed 10-of-18 passes for 132 yards. John Brown caught three passes for 29 yards while Lutman and two receptions for 56 yards. Nate Dreiling led the way defensively with six tackles.
The first drive of the second half for the Griffons looked good as they drove down to the PSU 35 yard line. Spencer had a run of nine and 30 yards helping the Griffons drive into PSU territory. The drive would stall out and on a 52 yard field goal try PSU’s Jason Peete blocked the kick and scampered in giving the Gorillas the 20-7 lead with 11:01 to play in the quarter.
Neither team scored the rest of the quarter but in the fourth Seybold capped an eight play 71 yard drive by the Gorillas with his second TD of the game from three yards out putting Pittsburg State up 27-7.
The Griffons responded with a drive of its own going 75 yards on eight plays. Partridge connected with Jordan from 14 yards out cutting the PSU lead to 27-14 with 9:35 to play.
That would be all the offense for the Griffons as Pittsburg State scored once more taking the victory. Pittsburg State improves to 7-1 overall and 6-1 in MIAA play.
The Gorillas had 471 yards of offense with 280 coming on the ground. Seybold finished with 179 yards and three touchdowns. Abenoja completed 13-of-25 passes for 191 yards with Brown catching four passes for 48 yards. Dreiling had 11 tackles on the day.
Partridge finished with 193 yards and two touchdowns while Stephon Weaver had three catches for 56 yards. Spencer had 101 yards on 16 carries while Alli finished with 15 tackles and Marcus Thompson finished with 10.
Things don’t get any easier for the Griffons as they host the 17th ranked Emporia State Hornets on Saturday, November 2nd in St. Joseph, Mo. Kickoff is set for 1:30 pm in Spratt Stadium.
— MWSU Sports Information —