JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Evan Chohon matched his career high with 18 tackles (11 solo) as Missouri Western closed out the 2021 season with a 45-12 win over Lincoln on Saturday. The senior was credited with 1.5 tackles for loss and had a fumble recovery as well. Reagan Jones led the Griffon offense in a ground-based attack with 136 of MWSU's 411 rushing yards.

Missouri Western scored on its first drive, after the Griffon defense dropped Lincoln back 11 yards courtesy of a C.J. Ravenell sack. Five different Griffons carried the ball on the eight play drive, with Shen Butler-Lawson, Jr., capping the drive with back-to-back rushes of 22 yards and three yards.

Lincoln punted on its next possession, but managed to get on the board as Clayton Winkler pinned the Griffons on their 9-yard line. Jones was sacked in the end zone for a safety.

Ravenell ended the next Lincoln drive with a big sack, as he stripped Desmond Hunter on the 38-yard line, with Chohon on the spot for the recovery. MWSU needed just six plays and 2:48 to convert, as Brison Cobbins raced in from 13 yards out.

The Griffons added another touchdown before halftime, then scored again on their first drive of the second half to take a 27-2 lead. Jones capped off the eight-play, 71-yard drive with a 11-yard run with 11:17 on the clock.

Lincoln mustered a field goal to close within 22, but MWSU scored a pair of touchdowns within the first five minutes of the fourth quarter to put the game well out of reach. A 26-yard romp by Cooper Burton set Jonas Bennett up for a 10-yard scamper for a score, then Sam Webb forced a fumble that Trey Vaval recovered at the 21-yard line. Travon Harris had back-to-back rushes of nine and 12 yards to give Missouri Western a 41-5 lead.

The Griffons close the 2021 season tied for fifth in the MIAA with a 6-5 overall record.