Missouri Western snapped an eight game losing streak against rival Northwest Missouri State winning by a score of 31-28 in front of 8,811 fans at Spratt Stadium. Two fourth down stops by the Griffons defense in the fourth quarter helped them seal the upset. This marks the highest ranked team that the Griffons have beaten in school history with the previous high being the 5th ranked Washburn Ichabods back in 2005. Western improves to 8-2 overall 6-2 in MIAA action.
The Griffons moved the ball in the first quarter against the Bearcats against the wind rushing the ball 15 times for 73 yards with six first downs. Despite controlling the time of possession by over seven minutes they trailed 14-3 after one quarter of play. Western’s only points came off a 37 yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein with 40 second to play capping a 14 play 61 yard drive cutting the Bearcat lead to 7-3.
Northwest opened their next drive with a 60 yard pitch and catch from Trevor Adams to Tyler Shaw setting the Bearcats up with a four yard touchdown run from James Franklin as time expired in the quarter. Franklin rushed for two touchdowns in the quarter which included a three yard plunge with 7:18 to play in the first.
The second quarter belonged to the Griffons as they had the wind to their backs. They outscored the Bearcats 10-0 trailing by one 14-13 heading to the half. Travis Partridge had a one yard touchdown run with 7:18 to play while Zuerlein nailed a 53 yard field goal with 2:53 to play.
Western had 107 yards rushing with Michael Hill gaining 43 on 12 carries. Partridge had 41 yards on 12 carries and connected on 8-of-15 passes for 65 yards. David Fowler had three catches for 15 yards. Ben Jackson and Tom Madget had four tackles for Western in the first frame. Northwest had 169 yards of total offensive with Jordan Simmons rushing for 31 yards. Chad Kilgore had nine tackles in the half.
The third quarter went back and forth as the two teams combined to score 32 points in the quarter. The Bearcats opened the quarter going 80 yards on four players with Franklin scoring his third touchdown of the game from 37 yards out going up 21-13. Western responded nicely on their first possession with a 71 yard three play drive that ended with a one yard plunge from Hill cutting the Bearcat lead to 21-19. Jerry Partridge gambled going for two which paid off with son Travis finding Reggie Jordan in the back of the end zone tying the score at 21.
An interception by Jeremy Weston gave the Griffon great field possession and nine plays later Partridge found Adam Clausen two yards out giving the Griffons the 28-21 lead with 4:09 to play in the third. Northwest would tie the score at 28 after a Simmons three yard run with 2:36 to play. Before the quarter was over the Griffons drove into Bearcat territory and with 11 seconds left and the wind went for a 58 yard field goal. Zuerlein blasted it through breaking his school record of 57 yards which he set earlier in the year against Missouri Southern. With the field goal he also broke a Missouri Western single season record with 18 in one season. The field goal also proved to be the game winner.
In the fourth the Griffon defense rose to the occasion forcing a turnover and stopping the Bearcats twice on fourth down. The first fourth down attempt by the Bearcats was from the Griffon one. Western defensive end David Bass broke through stopping Simmons for a two yard loss. The tackle for a loss by Bass tied the single season record with 18.5. He tied Eric McDowell who set it in 2003.
The final Bearcat possession would also end on a fourth down play when Griffon cornerback Jackson tackled Shaw one yard shy of a first down dropping the Bearcats to 8-2 overall and 6-2 in MIAA play.
Western racked up 348 yards of total offense with 237 coming on the ground. Western improves to 7-0 this season when rushing for over 200 yards. Partridge rushed for over 100 yards for the first time in his career going for 106 on 18 rushes. Michael hill had 81 yards on 30 carries and now has 1,058 yards on the season. Jackson led the charge defensively with a career best 12 tackles.
Northwest finished with 420 total yards with 263 through the air and 157 on the ground. Simmons had 81 yards while Franklin finished with 73. Adams completed 17-26 passes while Shaw caught four balls for 89 yards. Kilgore and DJ Gnader finished with 13 tackles apiece.
Western plays their final regular season game on Saturday, November 12 in Hays, Kan. against the Fort Hays State Tigers. Game time is set for 2:00 pm from Lewis Field Stadium.
— MWSU Sports Information —