The Missouri Western defense had one of their best performances of the season holding the Emporia State Hornets to just 207 yards (120 rushing, 87 passing) of total offense in a 29-6 victory.
Western’s offense only had the ball five times in the first half, but were able to capitalize on their final three possessions of the half taking a 13-0 lead into the half. Cedric Houston caught an eight yard touchdown while Beckwith hit field goals of 35 and 41 yards. The Griffon
defense only gave up 96 total yards off offense with 75 coming on the ground for the Hornets. David Bass had two sacks while Sean Whiters had seven tackles.
Drew Newhart had a nice half connecting on 12-of-18 for 162 yards and one touchdown while Houston had five catches for 68 yards and one touchdown. Thomas Hodges ran hard in the gaining 34 yards on seven carries in the first quarter.
The Griffons opened up the second half with a 60 yard kickoff return by Ferrell McGhee setting Western up at the Hornet 32 yards line. Western would drive to the Hornet one yard line but had to settle for a Beckwith
18 yard field goal, going up 16-0 early in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter the Hornets Travon Brooks would intercept a Newhart pass and run it back to the Western ten yard line. Smart would score on the next play cutting the Griffons lead to ten after the missed
two point conversion.
The rest of the game would be all Griffons as Michael Hill would score from five yards out to put the Griffons up 22-6 after a Beckwith missed extra point. Three plays later Shane Simpson would intercept a Andre Sloan El pass setting the Griffons up on the ESU one yard line. Two
plays later Hodges would plunge into the end zone putting the Griffons up 29-6 and dropping the Hornets to 2-8 overall and 1-7 in MIAA play.
Story courtesy of Missouri Western athletics.
