(Courtesy of Trevor Berneking of Missouri Western)
the first time since 1984 the Missouri Western Griffons went into “The Pitt” in Pittsburg, Kan. and came out victorious. This is only the Gorillas seventh loss in the last 23 years at home. With the game tied 32-32 and :22 left on the clock Drew Newhart hooked up with Cedric Houston on a 38 yard scoring strike to give the Griffons the victory 39-32. This marks the first win for coach Jerry Partridge in “The Pitt.”
After trailing the first half 10-7 the Griffons looked like they were
going to give in as the Gorillas came out and went 78 yards on 10 plays
to take a 16-7 lead. But the Griffons would control the rest of the
quarter as La’Darian Page would score from 23 yards and 36 yards out
to take 21-16 lead with 5:29 left in the quarter. The Gorillas would
come right back as Rush Harrison would score on a 67 yard scoring strike
from Mark Smith. But the scoring would not be over as Cedric Houston and
Drew Newhart would hook up on a 28 pass play to give the Griffons a
29-22 lead going into the final quarter of player.
The fourth quarter would turn out to be as exciting as the third as the
Gorillas would strike back to tie the game up at 29 apiece. Dustin
Strickler would connect on a 27 yard field goal with 8:28 on the clock
to put the Griffons up again 32-29. As you would expect the Gorillas
would not go away easily as they would drive down to the MWSU 29 yard
line. Jared Witter for the Gorillas would connect on a 36 yard field
goal to tie the game at 32.
The Griffons could not get anything going on their next possession and
were forced to punt. The Gorillas would drive the ball to their own 48
yard line but on 2nd and 5 the Griffons Soane Etu would sack Smith and
force a fumble, which was recovered by Martin Lane on the PSU 44. On 2nd
and 4 the Griffons Drew Newhart would hook up with Cedric Houston with
:12 second left in the game. The Griffons intercepted the final pass in
their own end zone to seal the victory.
