ST. JOSEPH – The Griffon defense held Fort Hays on four plays from the Missouri Western 7-yard line to preserve a 26-21 win, Saturday, the Griffons' 11
th straight win over Fort Hays.
Sam Brown broke up Fort Hays' last chance on fourth down when he swatted away a fade route intended for Evan Jennings in the back corner of the end zone. Brown's breakup came one play after
Michael Jordan broke up a pass for Isaiah Maxi in the other back corner on third down and goal. With 11 seconds left on the MWSU seven, Fort Hays spiked the ball and first down then threw three more incompletions to end the game.
The chance was set up by a 41-yard pass on fourth and four from the MWSU 48 from Treveon Albert to Jennings. The Griffon defense limited the MIAA's top-two rushers to a combined 189 yards on the ground. Shaquille Cooper finished with 114 yards rushing that included a 67-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Albert rushed for 76 yards on 15 carries. Albert passed for 290 yards and a touchdown and also threw one interception to
Darrian Bass.
Missouri Western led 19-7 at halftime on two
Tanner Pettet field goals, including a 51-yarder, and a 40-yard touchdown pass from
TJ LaFaver to DiJuan Ussery. LaFaver, who entered in the first quarter after
Skyler Windmiller was injured after two series, finished 13-20 passing with no interceptions and two touchdowns. He threw for 163 yards and rushed for 81, despite taking three sacks for a total loss of 16 yards. Ussery led the Griffons in receiving yards with 61.
Alek Ferbet had the most catches with five for MWSU and scored one touchdown.
Raphael Spencer rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries.
Yomi Alli led the Griffon defense with 12 total tackles, including three for loss and a quarterback hurry. Bass finished with three tackles, all solo and an interception to go with two pass break-ups. Jordan broke up three passes. Fort Hays outgained MWSU, 479-441 but was just 2-14 on third down in the game. The win improved MWSU to 4-2 on the year and dropped Fort Hays to 4-2. Next week is homecoming at Missouri Western as the Griffons host Washburn at 2 p.m.
It was Hall of Fame Day and Military Appreciation Day at MWSU. During halftime Amy Beverly, Nicole Lindsey-Collier and Eric "EBO" Walker were presented rings as 2015 inductees into the MWSU Athletics Hall of Fame.
