TAHLEQUAH, Ok. — After trailing by double-digits in the fourth quarter, a late offensive push capped off by a
D.J. Stirgus interception saw the Griffons take down Northeastern State on Saturday night, 23-16.
The Griffons (3-4, 3-4 MIAA) got the scoring started off in the first quarter with a career-long 43 yard field goal from
Cody Watson. The second quarter was more of the same with Watson putting the Griffons up six with a 17-yard field goal.
Things got dicey in the second half when quarterback
Reagan Jones was sacked in the end zone, resulting in a safety for Northeastern (1-6, 1-6 MIAA), bringing the score to 6-2. The RiverHawks found the end zone three plays later, bringing the score to 9-6 in favor of NSU.
The fourth quarter opened with a RiverHawk touchdown, and the Griffons found themselves in a 16-6 hole —their largest deficit vs. NSU since trailing 17-10 on Sept. 19, 2015, in Tahlequah. Coincidentally enough, MWSU also came back and won that game late in the fourth quarter. A 38-yard Watson field goal brought the Griffons within seven, and two-and-half minutes later, quarterback
Ty Baker scored on a 13-yard run to level the game at 16-16.
After waiting an hour and 15 minutes due to a lightning delay,
Brandon Hall rushed for 26 yards down to the two on the first play back from the break. The Griffons eventually scored the go-ahead touchdown with 2:38 remaining, as
Titus McCoy scored from three yards out. The RiverHawks converted a late fourth down and were driving to tie the game, but Stirgus rose up and picked off a wayward pass to seal the road win for the Griffons.
NOTABLES
- Two Griffons had interceptions, with safety Kobe Cummings joining Stirgus in snagging one on the stat sheet.
- Stirgus' interception is the second of his career and first since Sept. 12, 2019, in a win at Fort Hays State.
- Isaac Wallace led the Griffons with three tackles for loss.
- MWSU finished with two sacks — one from Wallace and one from Garrett Watson.
- Brandon Hall lead the Griffons 58 yards rushing.
- Traveon James finished with 77 yards receiving to lead the Griffons.
- Watson was 3-for-4 on field goals and 2/2 on PATs.
- Baker recorded his first-ever collegiate stats after transferring to MWSU from Missouri State in 2021.
- The Griffon defense held the RiverHawks to just 269 yards of total offense.
- This is just the second time MWSU has played NSU to a one-possession game. The Griffons beat the RiverHawks 24-17 in Tahlequah after trailing 17-10 in the fourth quarter on Sept. 19, 2015.
- The Griffons are 12-0 all-time vs. NSU and have only allowed the RiverHawks to lead four times since they first met in 1994. This 10-point comeback is the largest rally MWSU has put together vs. NSU.
NEXT UP
The Griffons head to Pittsburg, Kansas, to take on the No. 7 Pittsburg State Gorillas (7-0, 7-0 MIAA). Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. The Gorillas recently defeated Lincoln on Saturday in Jefferson City, Missouri, 49-10.
