ST. JOSEPH – Griffon Football (2-2) made sure fans didn't have to wait until after the game to see fireworks, Saturday night, racking up a season-high 612 yards of total offense in a 66-16 rout of Northeastern State (0-4).
 
NOTABLES

• Missouri Western rushed for 326 yards and four touchdowns while holding Northeastern State to 54 rushing yards on 40 carries
• It was the first 300-yard rushing game for the team since week 10 of the 2017 season (Emporia State)
• The 612 yards of offense were the most by the team since putting up 612 against Central Oklahoma in week four of the 2017 season
• Missouri Western's 66 points were 23 more than the Griffons had scored through their first three games, total
• After scoring just one first quarter touchdown through their first three games, MWSU exploded for three first quarter scores, leading 21-0 after the first
• Dom Marino's 6-yard touchdown strike to Luke Vang with 6:34 left in the first quarter was the Griffons' first touchdown pass to a player that wasn't a running back this season. Marino added another to Keylan Mack in the first quarter and Steigerwald had three in the second half.
• James Bailey Jr. became the first Griffon rusher to eclipse 100 yards (151) since Shamar Griffith against Emporia State last year
• Northeastern State became the first team to intercept the Griffons this season, picking off a Marino pass in the second quarter
• Missouri Western sacked Northeastern State quarterbacks six times and limited the RiverHawks to just 156 total yards
• Brandin Dandridge's second quarter interception was the third of his career against Northeastern State, one in each of the last three seasons
• Six Griffons either scored or threw the first touchdown of their Griffon career
• Tyler Basch was 2-for-2 on field goals with a long of 44, but was 6-of-9 on point after attempts with two of them blocked

 
OTHER STATS AND LEADERS

• James Bailey Jr. rushed 16 times for 151 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 9.4 yards per carry
• Shamar Griffith also had a pair of rushing touchdowns, the first of his career coming just two minutes into the game. Griffith rushed for 68 yards, averaging 9.7 per rush
• Marino averaged 13.2 yards per carry on five rushes
• Marino finished 13-of-20 for 158 yards, two touchdowns and an interception
• Wyatt Steigerwald was an efficient 4-for-6 for 128 yards and three touchdowns in relief of Marino late in the game
• Keylan Mack led the Griffons with four catches for 67 yards and a score
• Carlos Thompson had his first touchdown as a Griffon, a 74-yard catch and run from Steigerwald in the fourth quarter
• Gannon Cornley also caught his first career TD in the fourth quarter from Steigerwald
• Thompson led the Griffons with 205 all-purpose yards, combining 91 yards receiving with 114 return yards
• Tyler Baska had two of the team's six sacks
• Devan Burrell led the defense with eight total tackles, six of them solo
• Missouri Western was flagged 15 times for 180 yards. Northeastern State was penalized 11 times for 115 yards

 
UP NEXT

• The Griffons stay home for a meeting with Washburn (2-2) on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m.
• Washburn defeated No. 16 Central Missouri, 28-21, Saturday afternoon