A last second throw into the back of the end zone by
quarterback Drew Newhart fell to the ground after a Pittsburg State
defender batted it out of the air. The Griffons battled back twice from
a double digit deficit but came up short falling 46-40 to the 7th ranked
team in the country. The Griffons fall to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the
MIAA with the defeat.
In the first half the Gorillas opened up the game driving 80 yards on
six plays in 2:40 witch was capped off by a 31 yard run by quarterback
Mark Smith. The Griffons would answer when Thomas Hodges capped off a 60
yard nine play drive to tie the game at seven apiece.
Western would score again when Dustin Strickler booted a 42 yard field
goal to make the score 10-7 with :38 second left in the first quarter.
The next 14 points belonged to the Gorillas, but Western would respond
scoring the final 14 points of the half to take a 24-21 lead in the
half.
The second half would be just as crazy as the first half as the
Griffons would open up the scoring with a 39 yard field goal from Dustin
Stickler to make the score 27-21 with 12:54 left in the third quarter.
The Gorillas and the Griffons would trade touchdowns as Caleb Farabi
would score for the Gorillas and Andrew Mead would catch a 7 yard
touchdown pass from Newhart to make the score 33-28 after the two point
conversion failed.
The Gorillas would score the next eighteen points to push their lead to
13 with 6:16 left in the contest. The Griffons would not give up as they
would march 78 yards on 11 plays with Newhart connecting with Mead from
7 yards out for their second score of the game.
The Griffons on-side kick would fail, but on a 1st and 10 form the
Griffons 23 yard line defensive end Soane Etue would force a Farabi
fumble which would be recovered by Bradley Davidson with 2:21 left in
the contest. Western would have its chances down the stretch but would
be unable to convert as Pittsburg State improves to 4-0 overall and 2-0
in the MIAA with the victory.
In the contest Thomas Hodges led the Griffons with 72 yard rushing with
two touchdowns. Drew Newhart passed for 260 yards with 2 touchdowns and
senior Zach Sharp came up big snaring 7 receptions for 77 yards.
Defensively Soane Etu blocked two field goals, had one quarterback hurry
and one forced fumble. Kendall Davis and Sean Whiter each had 8 tackles
to lead Western.
Caleb Farabi led the Gorillas as he had 226 yards rushing and three
touchdowns. Marques Nelson had 106 yards receiving on four catches and
Chadd Snyder had 13 tackles to lead the defense.
Western will be in action next on Saturday, September 27 when they take
on the Ichabods of Washburn at 1:00 pm in Topeka, Kan.
Missouri Western State University (located in St. Joseph, Mo.) is an
NCAA Division II institution and a member of the Mid-America
Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
Story courtesy Trevor Berneking, Missouri Western.
