TOPEKA, Kan. – It looked like the Missouri Western football team was about to come from behind and win in the closing seconds at Washburn Saturday, then an interception in the end zone ended the Griffons rally as they lost 16-13 to the Ichabods.
Trailing by three, Missouri Western had the ball second and goal at the Washburn 10-yard line with 28 seconds remaining. Then Corey Bertini lofted a pass into the end zone that was intercepted by Washburn’s Keaton Cofield in the back of the end zone, ending the game. The interception was set up by a Bertini pass to Patrick Bolton for 16 yards on a fourth and seven from the Washburn 35-yard line. The fourth down conversion was aided by a roughing the passer penalty by Washburn.
It was the third-straight loss for the Griffons and the third straight week the team had a chance to comeback late in the fourth quarter. Washburn’s defense shut out Missouri Western in the second half and limited the Griffons to 128 yards of offense.
The Griffons jumped out to a 13-3 lead and were driving to take a three-score lead, but a failed fourth down conversion at the Washburn 30-yard line with 3:36 to go in the first half set Washburn up for a long drive that resulted in a Wesley Collins touchdown run – Washburn’s only TD of the game – to make the halftime score 13-10 in favor of Missouri Western.
Two third quarter turnovers by the Griffons resulted in Perry Schmiedeler field goals that first tied the game then gave Washburn the 16-13 lead that would hold.
The Griffon defense held Washburn to 296 yards and one touchdown. Missouri Western’s offense was limited to 361 yards, well below the Griffons’ season average and also just one touchdown. Bertini entered in the second quarter after Skyler Windmiller was injured on the last play of the first quarter. Bertini finished the game 14-28 for 181 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
The loss dropped the Griffons to 4-5 on the season. Missouri Western hosts No. 10 Emporia State next week in the final home game of the 2016 season.
— MWSU Athletics —