TEXARKANA, Ark. — Griffon Football fell 43-27 to Southern Arkansas on Saturday afternoon at Razorback Stadium in the Farmers Bank & Trust Live United Bowl.

The Muleriders ended the season 10-2, while the Griffons dropped to 8-4.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Southern Arkansas jumped out to a 6-0 lead, but Missouri Western State responded to tie the game at 6-6 thanks to a 1-yard run by Seth Cromwell with 14:57 left in the second quarter. Southern Arkansas then scored to take a 15-6 lead before Armani Edden put a touchdown on the board with a 5-yard strike to Jake Berrey to narrow the gap and make it a 15-13 game at halftime.

After Southern Arkansas scored to increase its lead to 22-13, MWSU responded with a 39-yard touchdown connection between Edden and Jonas Bennett with 11:09 left in the third quarter lead to cut the deficit to 22-20. Southern Arkansas scored to increase its lead to 29-20 before the Griffons scored again with a 3-yard Cromwell run to narrow the gap and make it a 29-27 game. Western didn't score again in the game and Southern Arkansas added 14 more points to finish off the scoring.

Edden led Missouri Western State's passing attack with 194 yards through the air, tossing two touchdowns and two interceptions. Jared Scott led all Griffons rushers with 94 yards in the contest, picking up 13.4 yards per carry. Brandon Hall also added 54 yards on the ground, averaging 10.8 yards per carry.

Berrey hauled in five catches for 83 yards and one score. Bennett made his presence felt in the passing game, recording five receptions for 78 yards and one touchdown.

Nicc Oliver added three tackles, and Sam Taylor had four tackles in the loss.

Defensively, MWSU held up fairly well against the Southern Arkansas passing attack, holding the Muleriders to 162 yards through the air. In part because of that strong defense, Western receivers outgained their Southern Arkansas counterparts 194-162.

Western's offense took advantage of its trips to the red zone, scoring on three of its three trips, with all of those scores being touchdowns.

• Cromwell tied the program's single-season rushing touchdown record with 18 scores this season, joining Travis Patridge's effort from 20
• Southern Arkansas outgained Missouri Western State 552-372 in the contest.
• Western had their highest-scoring quarter in the third period when they put up 14 points.
• Missouri Western converted 3-of-10 third downs while Southern Arkansas was successful on 5-of-13.
• The Griffons had four players with more than eight tackles in the ballgame led by CJ Ravenell, who had 11.
• Evan Williams punted five times for the Griffons with an average of 46.6 yards per punt.
• Ob Jones led the Muleriders' passing attack, completing 16 of his 23 attempts for 162 yards and one touchdown.
• Jariq Scales led the Southern Arkansas rushing attack with 172 yards and one touchdown.
• Missouri Western is now 8-4 all-time in bowl games and 10-8 in the postseason.