ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Griffon football (4-5) scored 21 unanswered points in the second half of a 34-24 loss to Washburn (6-3) on Homecoming, Saturday.
 
Trailing 27-3 at halftime, Missouri Western outscored Washburn 21-7 in the second half to turn what looked to be destined for a walk away win for the Ichabods into a game that came down to the closing minutes.
 
Washburn built a 34-3 lead after taking the second half kickoff, then marching down the field on an eight-play 53-yard drive. After that scoring drive, the Griffon defense forced four straight Washburn punts. Missouri Western got its first touchdown of the game with 6:11 left in the third quarter when Derek Gray Jr. rushed 15 yards for the score on the first play of a drive set up by a 39-yard Brandin Dandridge punt return. Dom Marino ran for a 5-yard score on the Griffons' next drive before Brock Broughton caught and 8-yard pass from Marino with 9:21 left in the game.
 
MISCUES LIMIT OPPORTUNITIES
Washburn's final drive of the game took 8:54 off the clock, an 18-play 62-yard drive that didn't result in any points, but was aided by three Missouri Western penalties and a Washburn fumble that was recovered by the Ichabods. Darrian Bass forced a fumble on the first play of the drive that was recovered by Blake Peterson. Despite a pass interference penalty and a holding call against the Griffons, the defense held Washburn to a field goal attempt with 3:15 left and the Griffons trailing by 10. The field goal was blocked by Nate Iloilo but recovered by Peterson. A facemask call on Sam Webb while he tackled Peterson gave Washburn the ball back. The Ichabods drove to the Missouri Western 1-yard line before turning the ball over on downs with 24 seconds remaining. While the drive was the final dagger, it wasn't the only bad break for the Griffons.
 
Shamar Griffith fumbled the opening kickoff, setting Washburn up at the MWSU 28-yard line. The Ichabods scored five plays later on the first of four-straight scoring drives that gave Washburn an early 24-0 lead. After not finding much offense in the first quarter, Missouri Western's first promising drive in the game came on its first drive of the second quarter. That drive ended in a Dom Marino fumble at the Washburn 30-yard line.
 
Washburn's final drive of the first quarter was extended when punter Perry Schmiedeler picked up a bad snap and rushed 11 yards for a first down. That drive resulted in Washburn's second touchdown of the game. Late in the second quarter, Schmiedeler burned the Griffons again with a 15-yard rush on a fake punt call on a fourth-and-two at the Washburn 46.
 
UP NEXT
Missouri Western will look to snap its three-game skid, Nov. 4 at Emporia State (4-5). The Hornets have lost two in a row after falling 34-7 at Fort Hays State, Saturday.