ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- For the second consecutive week, Missouri Western walked into the Spratt Stadium locker room trailing at the half. And for the second consecutive week, the Griffons found salvation in a dominant second half performance, winning 38-37 over previously unbeaten Emporia State. Kobe Cummings sealed the win with a crucial tackle on the 1-yard line as as Emporia State attempted a two-point conversion to move the Griffons to 2-1 (2-1 MIAA) on the year.
Missouri Western found itself pinned on the one-yard line after forcing Emporia State to punt on its opening drive. The Griffons were unable to pick up a first down from the long field position, and Billy Ross, Jr., capitalized for the Hornets with a 52-yard punt return for a touchdown.
The Griffons needed just one play to equalize, as Anthony Vespo found Brandon Hall wide open for a 42-yard bomb, but Emporia State closed out the half with three unanswered touchdowns for a 28-7 lead.
Trey Vaval opened the second half with a solid kickoff return, but a holding penalty during the return backed Missouri Western up to its 18. The Griffons managed to shrug off the setback and drive 82 yards for a touchdown. Vespo connected with Traveon James for a 45-yard strike to pull MWSU within two touchdowns with 11:31 to go in the third.
After an ESU interception and field goal with 4:20 to play, Missouri Western answered in a big way as Vespo connected with Cooper Burton for 48 yards up the middle to start a 76-yard drive. James capped the drive, hauling in a 12-yard pass to make it 31-20 after a missed PAT.
MWSU was unable to capitalize on an interception by Cummings with a minute left in the quarter, but the defense answered with a three-and-out stop and Brandon Hall broke through with a 42-yard run to finish an 80-yard scoring drive. Vespo an Hall connected for the two point conversion to close the gap to 31-28.
On the ensuing kickoff, Cody Watson made up for the missed PAT with a high-arching kick to the 1-yard line, allowing the coverage unit to pin Emporia State on its own 10. After a delay of game penalty pushed the Hornets back five yards, the Missouri Western defense swarmed on the low snap as Braden Gleason and Billy Ross, Jr., bobbled the handoff on the goal line. A big hit by C.J. Ravenell pushed Ross two yards deep, where Colby Ross and Isaac Russell wrapped up for a safety.
With the short field position following the free kick, MWSU ground 2:29 off the clock with a five-play drive on the ground capped by a Shen Butler-Lawson, Jr. touchdown. A two-point conversion gave the Griffons a 38-31 lead with just under eight minutes to play.
The teams traded defensive stops before ESU mustered a 75-yard drive to pull within one with 1:58 to go. The Hornets lined up for a two-point conversion trying to seal the win, but MWSU's defense was finally able to crack the Hornets screen pass, as Cummings shrugged off a blocker to tackle Ross high around the shoulders at the one-yard line and stop him short of the goal line.
With the win, Missouri Western moves to 2-1 (2-1 MIAA) on the year and will travel to Topeka, Kan., next Saturday to take on Washburn. Kickoff for the game is set for 1 p.m.