ST. JOSEPH – Griffon Football suffered its first loss of the season in a grueling, back and forth battle with No. 14 Central Missouri, 38-34 on Saturday night at Spratt Stadium.
 
The Griffons led 34-31 with 8:35 to go in the game off a Josh Caldwell rushing touchdown that capped an eight-play, 99-yard drive. Darrian Bass forced a fumble on the first play of Central Missouri's ensuing drive that was recovered by Cody Lindsay. It set Missouri Western up with the ball on the UCM 34 with 8:20 left, but an incompletion and a sack led to a Skyler Windmiller quick kick that was downed at the UCM two. The Mules answered with a 98-yard touchdown drive that proved to be the game winning score.
 
Missouri Western's ensuing drive stalled and Central Missouri ended up driving to the MWSU 1-yard line with just over a minute to go, but elected to kneel out the remaining time on the clock.
 
Josh Caldwell was four yards short of his career high set in week one with 164 yards rusing. Dijuan Ussery had a career-high 186 yards receiving with one touchdown on six catches. Donte Watkins had his third straight 10-tackle performance with six solo stops and a tackle for loss. James Huskey had eight total tackles with 3.5 for loss. Bass doubled the team's season sack total with two on the night.
 
With the win, Central Missouri improved to 3-0 on the season. Missouri Western fell to 2-1. The Griffons travel to Central Oklahoma next Saturday for a 6 p.m. kickoff.