The Missouri Western football team cruised to a 45-7 victory over the Truman State Bulldogs on homecoming at MWSU. The Griffons racked up 632 yards of total offense with 271 coming of the ground and 361 through the air. Western improves to a perfect 5-0 when rushing for over 200 yards in a game this season and the 632 yards is the first time a Griffon team has went over 600 yards of total offense since September 16, 2000 when they went for 620 against Missouri-Rolla. The Griffons improve to 6-2 on the season and 5-2 in MIAA play.
Two Reggie Jordan touchdowns in the opening half sparked the Griffons to a 24-0 lead after two quarters. Jordan opened up the scoring when he took a snap on a fake punt and scampered 64 yards for a touchdown with 3:24 to play in the first quarter. Jordan capped off a six play 80 yard scoring drive by the Griffons.
Jordan gave the Griffons a 14-0 lead catching a four yard pass from Travis Partridge with 10:46 to play in the second quarter. The touchdown capped off an 11 play 44 yard scoring drive for Western. Western kept up the pressure getting a 28 yard field goal from Greg Zuerlein and an 80 yard pitch and catch from Partridge to Tarrell Downing with under a minute to play giving the Griffons the 24 point lead. Downing had three catches for 131 yards in the half.
The Griffons dominated offensively accumulating 381 yards of total offense with 215 coming through the air. Partridge completed 10-of-17 for 168 yards and two touchdowns. His only blemish was an interception in the end zone on the opening drive of the game for Western.
Michael Hill rushed 17 times for 87 yards while Nic Burrell had six tackles leading the Griffons defensively. Shane Simpson had an interception in the half while Sean Tray Bryson got the Griffons only sack. Western held the Bulldogs to just 47 yards passing and to 0-of-5 on third down conversions.
The Bulldogs finished with 147 yards on 32 plays. They rushed 19 times for 100 yards with Donald Harvey gaining 63 yards on nine carries. J.B. Clark struggled throwing the ball completing 5-of-11 passes for just 24 yards. Richie Schumacher had 10 tackles for the Bulldogs.
The Griffons continued to play well into the third quarter scoring on two of their first three possessions. Western first scoring drive of the quarter was a five play 71 yard which ended with Hill plowing in from six yards out putting Western up 31-0. The Griffons scored again on their next possession when Partridge hit Derek Libby on a 60 yard pitch and catch giving Western the 38-0 lead after three quarters.
The two teams traded scores in the fourth as Western’s Jerrin Walton scored a 29 yard touchdown with 7:31 to play giving Western the 38 point victory. The Griffons have won four straight on the season and four straight over the Bulldogs.
Hill led the way on the ground rushing 22 times for 95 yards and a touchdown while Walton rushed six times for 47 yards and a touchdown. Partridge finished with career best 278 yards connecting on 15-of-24 passes with three touchdowns. Downing had five receptions for 171 yards and a touchdown while Libby had a career best three catches for 90 yards and a touchdown.
The Bulldogs finished with 291 yards with 158 on the ground and just 133 through the air. Harnish Ayora had 82 yards on 15 carries while Harvey had 65 yards on 10. Conrad Schottel completed 6-of-21 passes for 91 yards while rushing for the Bulldogs loan touchdown. Truman falls to 2-6 on the season and 1-5 overall.
Defensively the Griffons were led by Burrell with nine tackles with 1.5 being for a loss. Jeremy Weston and Simpson each had seven stops. Western recorded three sacks with Bryson, Oliver Pryor and Ben Pister all getting one.
Truman State was led by Schumacher with 15 tackles with six being solo. M.J. Kang had two sacks for the Bulldogs.
Western will hit the road for a non-conference match up on Saturday, October 29 when they travel to Bolivar, Mo. to take on the Southwest Baptist Bearcats in MIAA action. Game time is set for 2:00 pm from Plaster Stadium.
— MWSU Sports Information —