Richter bell swag
Arianne Boma
Football records first shutout since 2019.
0
Central Oklahoma UCO 0-1 , 0-1
35
Winner Missouri Western MWS 1-0 , 1-0
Central Oklahoma UCO
0-1 , 0-1
0
Final
35
Missouri Western MWS
1-0 , 1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
UCO Central Oklahoma 0 0 0 0 0
MWS Missouri Western 14 0 7 14 35

Game Recap: Football | | Riley Boyd - Video by Zak Brown

Griffons blank Bronchos 35-0 to open 2022 season

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — On a night with many high-flyers for Griffon Football, perhaps none flew higher than Justin Richter's defense, as Missouri Western opened the season with a shutout for the first time since 1979.

Head Coach Matt Williamson thought Richter's defense was so good after Thursday's 35-0 win over Central Oklahoma, he let him ring the victory bell for the team, the first time he has ever allowed a coach to do so. Brandon Hall rushed for a career-high 141 yards as the Griffons won their first season opener since 2016 in dominant style. Quarterback Reagan Jones put in a solid performance, going 20-for-27 for 171 yards and one touchdown. Jones also added 111 yards and two scores on the ground.

The shutout win marks the first home opening shutout since Missouri Western beat Dana College, 44-0, in 1979 — the first-ever game at Spratt Stadium. 

SCORING SUMMARY

The Griffons opened the game by forcing a quick three-and-out. Jones and the offense then marched down the field, capping off a 10 play, 76-yard drive with a four-yard Jones touchdown rush.

Both teams traded punts before the Griffons got the ball back with 2:52 left in the first quarter. A quick three-play drive saw Jones find sophomore Tycen Gray in the end zone, bringing the Griffon lead to two scores. 
 
A scoreless second quarter saw both teams trade punts back and fourth. The Griffon defense was staunch, holding the Bronchos to just 32 total yards in the first half. 

The next Griffon score came halfway through the third quarter. Jones capped a long 13 play, 75-yard drive that lasted just over seven minutes with a two-yard rush to find the end zone for his second rushing touchdown of the night. 

Touchdown number four of the night came from a Brandon Hall 53-yard run that well and truly put the game to bed. The Griffons got a quick stop, and capped off the scoring with a 14-yard Titus McCoy touchdown run. 

GAME NOTES
  • Senior safety Kobe Cummings and senior linebacker Isaac Wallace lead the Griffons with seven tackles each.
  • C.J. Ravenell, Marvin Gant and Grant Finley all got to the quarterback early, with each finding one sack on the night. 
  • Desmond Green had three pass breakups from the secondary.
  • The Griffon defense held the Bronchos to just 157 yards total on the night, with the longest UCO play being a 14-yard pass play from Peyton Thompson to Jaylen Cottrell. 
  • Traveon James lead the Griffons with eight receptions for 77 yards.
  • The Griffons finished with 506 total yards of offense and 27 first downs.
  • The 35-0 final marks the Griffons' first shutout since 2019's 28-0 lockdown of Emporia State during week eight.
  • This is the first season opener MWSU has won in the Williamson era.
NEXT UP

The Griffons make the trip to Hays, Kansas, for a road test against Fort Hays State (0-1). The Tigers lost against No. 2/No. 4 (AFCA/D2Football.com polls) Northwest Missouri, 33-19, in Maryville, Missouri. 
 
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