Watson vs. UNK
UNK Media Relations
Cody Watson made 2-of-4 field goals in Saturday's win, bouncing back from an 0-for-2 start.
20
Winner Missouri Western MWSU 6-2 , 6-2
17
Neb.-Kearney UNK 2-6 , 2-6
Winner
Missouri Western MWSU
6-2 , 6-2
20
Final
17
Neb.-Kearney UNK
2-6 , 2-6
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
MWSU Missouri Western 7 0 0 13 20
UNK Neb.-Kearney 7 7 3 0 17

Game Recap: Football | | MWSU Media Relations: Mikaela Ness

Griffons defeat Lopers with Watson's walk-off 31-yard field goal

KEARNEY, Neb.  — Hitting his second game-winner of the season, Cody Watson sealed a Missouri Western State victory with a walk-off, 31-yard field goal to win 20-17 over Nebraska Kearney on Saturday afternoon at Ron & Carol Cope. 

The Griffons improved to 6-2 on the year and 5-2 in MIAA play. The Lopers fall to 2-6.

Missouri Western started the game hot by grabbing a 7-0 lead over Nebraska Kearney as Seth Cromwell scored the game's first points on the opening drive with a 2-yard touchdown run. Later on in the second quarter, TJ Davis hit Cole Brown to tie the game up at 7-7. 

With MWSU trailing 14-7 at halftime, Kearney then scored off a Kyle Failing field goal to take the 17-7 lead. The Griffons then put a touchdown on the board to narrow the advantage and make it a 17-14 game thanks to a 14-yard connection between Armani Edden and Jake Berrey.

Missouri Western followed with another Watson field goal with 7:31 left in the fourth quarter to tie it at 17-17. The Griffons then kept the momentum going with a 31-yard field goal from Watson to take a 20-17 lead as time expired.

Cromwell led all Griffons rushers with 100 yards and one touchdown in the contest, picking up 5.3 yards per carry. Edden also added 64 yards on the ground, averaging 7.1 yards per carry. Jonas Bennett pulled in five catches for 50 yards.

Dakari Streeter showed out for the Missouri Western State defense, recording three tackles, three tackles for a loss and two sacks. Anthony Villanueva added six tackles, one TFL and one sack.

Missouri Western's defense held up against Nebraska Kearney's offense, allowing 268 total yards. The Griffons kept Kearney under 150 yards on both the ground and through the air, allowing 149 passing and 119 rushing yards.

GAME NOTES
  • Missouri Western outgained Kearney 379-268, including a 186-119 advantage on the ground.
  • Missouri Western tallied 13 points in the fourth quarter, accounting for 65% of their total score.
  • Missouri Western converted 7-of-14 third downs, while Kearney was successful on 3-of-10.
  • Missouri Western went 1-for-2 on fourth down, converting on 50 percent of attempts.
  • Missouri Western allowed zero points in one Kearney trip to the red zone.
  • The Griffons ended the game on a strong note, scoring 13 unanswered points to close out the contest.
  • Edden completed 66.7% of his passes on the day, going 24-for-36.

UP NEXT
The Griffons return to Spratt Stadium next weekend at 1 p.m. to face Northeastern State (1-6, MIAA 0-6). 

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