TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Missouri Western football team scored on its first four possessions and never looked back on the way to the most points by a Griffon football team since 2011.
 
Missouri Western (3-2) won its first road game of the 2017 season, 65-17 at Northeastern State, Saturday. While the score total was the most since the Griffons put 81 on Lincoln in 2011, it was an impressive bounce-back defensive effort that stuck out Saturday in Oklahoma.
 
DEFENSE REBOUNDS
Missouri Western shut out Northeastern State in the first half and limited the RiverHawks to 293 yards and 15 first downs in the game. The Griffons picked off two Northeastern State passes, recovered three fumbles and had three sacks on the day. It was a group effort with no Griffon totaling more than four tackles. Markel Fluker had four tackles, all solo stops with a sack, three tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. Cale Cornman also had four tackles with a sack and a forced fumble. Cornman also blocked a field goal attempt, the fourth by the Griffons this year. One of the interceptions went for six as Tyrell Robison returned an interception 29 yards, tight-roping the sideline and hurdling a defender into the end zone.
 
DON'T NEED YARDS TO SCORE POINTS
The Griffon offense had a modest 470 yards despite scoring 65 points. The defense and special teams helped set up the Griffons with short fields. Still Missouri Western averaged 6.7 yards per play, rushing for 299 yards and passing for 171. Joshua Caldwell just managed his third-straight 100-yard rushing performance with 101 on the ground and one rushing touchdown.
 
SPREADING THE LOVE
Nine different Griffons registered carries in the game, with five different players scoring rushing touchdowns. Seven different Griffons caught passes, none more than two with Austin Burau and Dijuan Ussery each pulling in receiving touchdowns.

UP NEXT 
Missouri Western hosts Lindenwood (2-3) next Saturday, Oct. 7 for a 1 p.m. kickoff.