ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- As part of Missouri Western's Homecoming Weekend and Family Day festivities, Schneitter Fireworks was scheduled to provide a post game display following the football game. The Griffons (3-4, 3-4 MIAA) had other ideas, however, and started the fireworks on the field with a 34-point outburst in the third quarter to take a 57-24 win over Northeastern State University (2-5, 2-5 MIAA). Thomas Kopcho tied Greg Zuerlein's program record with five field goals on the night, and Terrence March and Kameron Langford each had a pick six in the third quarter.
The first half moved at a pretty quick pace, with Missouri Western opening the scoring on its second drive of the game. Shen Butler-Lawson, Jr., capped an eight-play, 67-yard drive with a one-yard scamper for a touchdown out of the wildcat set.
March picked up the first of his two interceptions on the night on the ensuing drive, but Missouri Western couldn't capitalize on great field position and was forced to try and pin the Riverhawks deep with a quick-kick by Anthony Vespo on fourth down.
Northeastern State was able to break a pair of big plays to answer, however, with Grant Elerick connecting for 65 yards to Dashawn Williams as the first quarter wound down, then finding Isaac Davis for a 26-yard touchdown strike on the first play of the second quarter.
The Griffons answered immediately, putting together a seven-play, 68-yard drive capped off by a six-yard touchdown pass from Reagan Jones to C.J. Parks, and the closed out the half with three Kopcho field goals, each sparked by an MWSU takeaway. Dakari Streeter's sack and strip led to a 44-yarder from Kopcho with 6:14 left in the half to put the Griffons up 17-7. Kobe Cummings then had an electrifying pair of interceptions, with his 27-yard pick leading to a 33-yard field goal with 57 seconds left in the half. He nearly followed it up with a touchdown return on the next drive, but Kopcho was able to put points on the board for MWSU after Cummings was knocked out of bounds after a 75-yard return.
After a stop by the Griffon defense to start the half, the teams traded scoring punches back and forth, as a Kopcho field goal was answered by a 42-yard FG from Tyler Crawford, then an explosive 99-yard kickoff return by Cooper Burton saw the Riverhawks finish a 58-yard drive with a touchdown pass from Jacob Frazier to Isaiah Davis.
Kopcho's fifth field goal - a 36-yard attempt - sparked a stretch of 24 unanswered points by the Griffons. March had the first of MWSU's interception return touchdowns, hauling in a pass that had been tipped at the line by Isaac Wallace and racing 70 yards for a touchdown with 2:33 left in the quarter. Cummings picked off Frazier on the first play of NSU's next drive and although he was pushed out of bounds after a 41-yard return, the Griffons scored two plays later as Burton found Jones wide open on a reverse pass.
The Riverhawks put in their third quarterback of the game but it made very little difference, as Langford picked off Ben Ward's first pass attempt of the night and rumbled a 26-yard return with 10 seconds left in the third to give Missouri Western a 57-17 lead. Northeastern State was able to assemble a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive as Matt Williamson gave his defensive starters the remainder of the night off, but it was little consolation as MWSU held on for the 33-point win.
The Griffons finished the night with 331 yards of offense, spreading the wealth with five players recording 19 yards or more rushing and four receivers with more than 20 yards. Defensively, MWSU allowed 456 yards of offense - 331 passing - on the night, but made the most of its seven takeaways.
Next up for Missouri Western is the Rogers Pharmacy Hall of Fame Game on Saturday, Oct. 23. Kickoff against Pittsburg state is set for 4 p.m.