Jones TD
Arianne Boma
Reagan Jones celebrates his TD pass to Ty Harvey during the third quarter at ESU.
12
Missouri Western MWS 2-1 , 2-1
36
Winner Emporia St. ESU 2-1 , 2-1
Missouri Western MWS
2-1 , 2-1
12
Final
36
Emporia St. ESU
2-1 , 2-1
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
MWS Missouri Western 0 6 6 0 12
ESU Emporia St. 9 13 7 7 36

Game Recap: Football | | Derek Zimmerman-Guyer

Early hole in Emporia ends Griffon Football's streak

EMPORIA, Ks. — An unprecedented start to Griffon Football's MIAA showdown with Emporia State sparked a 36-12 loss, ending Missouri Western's five-game winning streak on Saturday at Welch Stadium.

After forcing a three-and-out on defense to begin the game, MWSU (2-1, 2-1 MIAA) was pinned at the four-yard line by a 64-yard punt by Emporia State (2-1, 2-1 MIAA) punter Ross Brunghardt. Following two minimal rushes by Brandon Hall and Reagan Jones, a holding penalty by offensive lineman Evan Clark caused a safety, putting the Griffons behind for the first time all season.

The Griffons and Hornets traded punts until Emporia State drove 95 yards in three-and-a-half minutes, capping the drive on a 30-yard touchdown run by QB Braden Gleason, putting Emporia up 9-0. Emporia scored on its ensuing drive to open the second quarter, this time a seven-yard Gleason pass to receiver Jaylen Varner.

Running back Jared Scott kickstarted the Griffons' offense later in the quarter, rushing for 40 yards on four attempts, including a 21-yard run down to the 10 that put MWSU at the for five-yard line after Scott was hit out of bounds. One play later, Griffon signal caller Reagan Jones called his own number from three yards out for the score. 

On the Hornets' final drive of the second, Gleason topped off a 59-yard drive with TD pass to receiver Cole Schumacker from three yards out. At the half, ESU led MWSU 22-9. 

Following a halftime storm delay that lasted two hours and 40 minutes, the Griffons muffed the kickoff return and started the drive at their own seven-yard line. Hall fumbled the ball on the first play back from scrimmage, giving Emporia a short field to work with. A Gleason run of four yards put Emporia up 29-6.

It took the whole third quarter but the Griffons ended a seven play, 77-yard drive with a 38-yard touchdown strike from Jones to tight end Ty Harvey, cutting the deficit to 29-12. However, the dagger sunk in when Gleason hit Thomas for a 54-yard score after cornerback D.J. Stirgus slipped due to the wet field conditions accumulated earlier when hail and rain soaked Welch Stadium. The Griffons finished with a season-low of 311 yards of offense while giving up a season-high of 443 on defense.

NOTABLES
  • The Hornets only had roughly three more minutes of possession but ran 14 more plays.
  • Harvey's TD grab in the third marks his first catch and score as a Griffon.
  • Griffon punter Evan Williams bombed a season and career-long of 62 yards and also pinned ESU inside the 20 twice. 
  • Through three games, MWSU is yet to attempt a field goal. 
  • Emporia etched its first 100-yard rusher of the season, as Billy Ross, Jr. went for 105 yards on 26 carries.
  • Nine different Griffons caught a pass, but only three receivers caught as many as three balls.
  • MWSU went 1-for-3 in the red zone and 5-for-14 on third down. 
  • This loss snaps MWSU's five-game winning streak dating back to 2021. It also ends a three-game winning streak vs. ESU.
UP NEXT

The Griffons prepare for next Saturday's test against Washburn (2-1, 2-1 MIAA) in a Family Day and Military Appreciation Day bout scheduled for 6 p.m. at Spratt Stadium. The Ichabods come off a close 21-13 loss to D2Football.com's No. 12 Nebrask-Kearney (2-1, 2-1 MIAA). Missouri Western and Washburn fought to a 47-41 final last season that saw the Ichabods come out on top on their home turf in Topeka, Kansas.
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