ST. JOSEPH – For the second consecutive week, Griffon Football was shut out in the second half, and lost a halftime lead for the team's fourth-straight loss, 27-14 to No. 9-ranked Emporia State.
 
The Griffons (4-6) allowed 24 unanswered points to the Hornets (9-1) after jumping out to a 14-3 lead. Missouri Western had the ball with 4:41 remaining in the second quarter at its own third and five, but failed to gain a yard before punting to Emporia State. The Hornets answered with an eight-play, 83 yard drive to cut the deficit to four points going into halftime.
 
Neither team scored in the third quarter, with Sean Galey missing a 38-yard field goal attempt on the first play of the fourth quarter. Emporia State answered with a seven-play, 77-yard drive that resulted in a 37-yard touchdown drive that gave the Hornets their first lead of the game, 17-14 with 10:42 remaining in the game. Corey Bertini was picked off on the first play of Missouri Western's ensuing drive which led to a 19-yard touchdown pass to put Emporia State up 24-14. The next Griffon drive was three plays and a punt, leading to the Hornets' final score, a 32-yard field goal.
 
The loss gave Missouri Western a four-game losing streak for the first time since 2008. It also led to the first six-loss regular season for the Griffons since 2004 and snapped a streak of 11-straight winning regular seasons for the Griffons.
 
Missouri Western was limited to 141 yards of offense in the first half, finishing with 322 for the game. The Griffons had 165 yards rushing and 157 through the air. Josh Caldwell finished with 91 yards on 18 carries with one touchdown. Corey Bertinin was 13-27 for 157 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions starting for the injured Skyler Windmiller. Donte Watkins led the Griffon defense with 12 total tackles, nine solo stops.
 
Prior to the game, Travis Anderson, Jorge Belcher, Joey Capul, Cameron Glenn, Daylon Harper, Charlie Sciara, Blake Vandenberg, Matthew Vincent and Mackenzie Wischmann were recognized as part of senior day festivities. The seven active Griffons and two student-assistant coaches will be a part of their final game next Saturday when Missouri Western travels to Northwest Missouri State.