EMPORIA, Kan. – An outstanding effort by the Missouri Western defense went unrewarded as the Griffons narrowly avoided being shut out for the first time in five years in a 17-3 loss at No. 19 Emporia State Saturday inside Welch Stadium.
Western’s defense forced four Emporia State turnovers and held the Hornets 70 yards under their season average for total yards and 21 points under their season average. Ten of Emporia State’s points came off of Missouri Western’s two second half turnovers. Trailing 7-0 late in the third quarter, Raphael Spencer fumbled at the Missouri Western 36 yard line, setting up a 29-yard touchdown pass from Brent Wilson to Mitchell Foote with 14:52 left in the game. Nate Wilson’s only interception of the game set up a 27-yard field goal by Austin Morton with 12:51 left in the game.
Emporia State came into the game averaging 38 points per game and had seven at the end of the third quarter. The Griffons picked off the MIAA’s top-passer, Brent Wilson three times and forced a Wilson fumble in the third quarter on Missouri Western’s third sack of the game. The Missouri Western offense couldn’t find a way to back up the defensive effort, totaling 255 yards on 69 plays. Nate Wilson finished 13-33 passing for 55 yards and one interception in his first career start.
The Griffons rushed 36 times for 113 yards. Raphael Spencer finished with 40 yards on 12 carries after sitting out the first half for a violation of team rules. Josh Caldwell led the Griffons with 12 carries for 50 yards and Kendall Short rushed seven times for 23 yards. Tanner Pettet missed three field goals but did keep the Griffons from being shut out with a 19-yard field goal with 28 seconds left in the game.
Yomi Alli continued an impressive stretch. The senior linebacker had 14 tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble. In the last three games, Alli has totaled 46 tackles in the last there games. Tyrell Robison finished with 10 tackles in the game and Cody Lindsay had two sacks. Jonathan Owens had two interceptions and Arbanas Elliott had his second career interception.
The loss dropped Missouri Western to 4-4 this season. They return home next Saturday as they host No.3 Northwest Missouri State at 1:00 p.m.
— MWSU Sports Information —