Box Score Season Stats | Career Stats

MANKATO, Minn. - The Missouri Western football season ended Saturday afternoon in the Super Region 3 final falling 17-10 against the MSU-Mankato Mavericks. The Griffons end the season with a 12-2 overall record which is a single season best for victories.

The Griffons forced a 3-and-out on the opening drive of the game, and then proceeded down field on their first drive. Two big runs by Michael Hill pushed the Griffons into Mavericks' territory, and the Griffons came away with a field goal to go up 3-0 with 9:28 in the first quarter.

The Mavericks answered with a 12 play drive that ended at the 9-yard line, as quarterback Jon Wolfe threw an incompletion. Minnesota State came away with a 26-yard field goal to tie the game at 3.

Both teams stalled out drives until midway through the second quarter, when Mavericks' Connor Thomas busted out a 52-yard run to take their drive deep into Missouri Western's territory. Two plays later, Thomas dusted out a 20-yard touchdown to give Mankato a 10-3 lead, which it took into halftime.

The Griffons struck back in the second half, as Travis Partridge, who finished the game with 160 yards passing and 29 rushing, faked Mankato's defense out on a 34-yard touchdown run. Partridge faked inside and scampered to the right down the sideline and stayed inbounds for the big score to tie the game at 10 with just more than 13 minutes to play in the third quarter.

Both teams' defenses stepped up from there, as both teams forced a turnover. The Griffons interception came early in the fourth quarter as Stephen Juergens picked off Wolf and took it down to the 47-yard line. But the Griffons went 3-and-out and gave Mankato the ball back with enough time for a game-winning drive.

The Mavericks took it 10 plays, 80 yards in 4:54 to grab a 17-10 lead. The Griffons couldn't score on the next drive, and the Mavericks came away with a 17-10 win.

Hill finished the game with 50 yards rushing. Hill has a chance to win the Harlon Hill award for his career year he had in 2012. The senior is one of three finalists that will go to Florence, Ala. for the award ceremony. Juergens had 11 tackles with the one interception in his efforts to keep the Griffons' season alive. David Bass finished his final game in a Griffons' uniform with one sack and six and a half tackles.
 
The Griffons finished the season with tons of individual records, which include most career rushing yards with Hill gaining 4,969 yards on the ground. Partridge finished with 18 rushing touchdowns, also a school record. Bass ended with 36 career sacks.

As for the season, Ben Pister finished with 22 and a half tackles for a loss -- a school record -- and Taylor Anderson made 74 consecutive extra points to hold that record. Anderson also has a streak of 80 extra points overall which is a record.

The Griffons graduate 22 seniors this season.