ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western football team (2-2) made sure fans didn’t have to wait until after the game to see fireworks, Saturday night, racking up a season-high 612 yards of total offense in a 66-16 rout of Northeastern State (0-4).
NOTABLES
- Missouri Western rushed for 326 yards and four touchdowns while holding Northeastern State to 54 rushing yards on 40 carries
- It was the first 300-yard rushing game for the team since week 10 of the 2017 season (Emporia State)
- The 612 yards of offense were the most by the team since putting up 612 against Central Oklahoma in week four of the 2017 season
- Missouri Western’s 66 points were 23 more than the Griffons had scored through their first three games, total
- After scoring just one first quarter touchdown through their first three games, MWSU exploded for three first quarter scores, leading 21-0 after the first
- Dom Marino’s 6-yard touchdown strike to Luke Vang with 6:34 left in the first quarter was the Griffons’ first touchdown pass to a player that wasn’t a running back this season. Marino added another to Keylan Mack in the first quarter and Steigerwald had three in the second half.
- James Bailey Jr. became the first Griffon rusher to eclipse 100 yards (151) since Shamar Griffith against Emporia State last year
- Northeastern State became the first team to intercept the Griffons this season, picking off a Marino pass in the second quarter
- Missouri Western sacked Northeastern State quarterbacks six times and limited the RiverHawks to just 156 total yards
- Brandin Dandridge’s second quarter interception was the third of his career against Northeastern State, one in each of the last three seasons
- Six Griffons either scored or threw the first touchdown of their Griffon career
- Tyler Basch was 2-for-2 on field goals with a long of 44, but was 6-of-9 on point after attempts with two of them blocked
OTHER STATS AND LEADERS
- James Bailey Jr. rushed 16 times for 151 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 9.4 yards per carry
- Shamar Griffith also had a pair of rushing touchdowns, the first of his career coming just two minutes into the game. Griffith rushed for 68 yards, averaging 9.7 per rush
- Marino averaged 13.2 yards per carry on five rushes
- Marino finished 13-of-20 for 158 yards, two touchdowns and an interception
- Wyatt Steigerwald was an efficient 4-for-6 for 128 yards and three touchdowns in relief of Marino late in the game
- Keylan Mack led the Griffons with four catches for 67 yards and a score
- Carlos Thompson had his first touchdown as a Griffon, a 74-yard catch and run from Steigerwald in the fourth quarter
- Gannon Cornley also caught his first career TD in the fourth quarter from Steigerwald
- Thompson led the Griffons with 205 all-purpose yards, combining 91 yards receiving with 114 return yards
- Tyler Baska had two of the team’s six sacks
- Devan Burrell led the defense with eight total tackles, six of them solo
- Missouri Western was flagged 15 times for 180 yards. Northeastern State was penalized 11 times for 115 yards
UP NEXT
- The Griffons stay home for a meeting with Washburn (2-2) on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m.
- Washburn defeated No. 16 Central Missouri, 28-21, Saturday afternoon
— MWSU Athletics —
EDMOND, Oklahoma – Quarterback Chandler Garrett passed for four touchdowns and Central Oklahoma scored its first win over Northwest Missouri State since 1992 in a 31-21 contest on Saturday at Wantland Stadium.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Georgia coach Kirby Smart learned plenty in his days as an assistant under Alabama’s Nick Saban.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen isn’t worried about quarterback Will Grier being overwhelmed by the attention and pressure that comes with being a Heisman Trophy candidate. Grier has thrown far too many passes. Played in far too many games. Diagnosed far too many defenses to let the hype train get in his head.
JOPLIN, Mo. – The Missouri Western volleyball team (9-7, 2-3) ended its week on the road with a five-set loss at Missouri Southern (2-12, 2-3), Saturday afternoon. After jumping out to a comfortable 2-0 lead on the Lions, the Griffons saw leads evaporate in each of the next three sets.
WACO, Texas (AP) — Charlie Brewer made it easy for Baylor to stick primarily with one quarterback in the Big 12 opener.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan was very motivated to beat Nebraska, using Scott Frost’s words against him.
ST. JOSEPH – Streaks of unbelievable success and frustration totaling 114 games and 13 years came to an end Friday night on Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium.