ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Thanks to Brayden Wright and one of the longest plays in Griffon Football history, Missouri Western State slammed the door shut on Fort Hays State 28-7 at home Saturday afternoon at Spratt Stadium.

Missouri Western (3-1, 2-1 MIAA) grabbed an early lead over Fort Hays (2-2, 2-2 MIAA) after capitalizing on an interception by Jaden Brown on the first drive of the game. Seth Cromwell sliced through the Tigers' defense with a 1-yard touchdown to put MWSU up 7-0 with 10:45 left in the first quarter. The Griffons then increased the lead to 14-0 with another score by Cromwell from 2 yards out. 

Caleb Martin hauled in an 8-yard touchdown pass from Armani Edden with 4:12 left in the third quarter to put MWSU up 21-0. After a rebuttal from FHSU early on in the fourth, Wright delivered the dagger with one of the longest interception returns in MWSU history: a 101-yard pick-6 to finish Fort Hays for good and give the Griffons their third straight win.

Wright showed out for the Missouri Western defense, recording three tackles, the 101-yard pick-6 and one forced fumble. Streeter added eight tackles, three tackles for a loss, a career-high three sacks and one recovered fumble. Grant Finley had 0.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks and one recovered fumble in the win.   
           
Brandon Hall totaled 52 yards to lead the Griffons' ground attack in the game, picking up 5.8 yards per carry along the way. Jared Scott also tacked on 42 yards on the ground. Edden's most prolific target in the ballgame was Traveon James, who caught four passes for 36 yards.

The Griffons won the turnover battle in Saturday's game, forcing five turnovers and turning those takeaways into 21 points. Defensively, Missouri Western held up fairly well against the Fort Hays offensive attack, holding the Tigers to 331 total yards. The Griffons hassled the Tigers' passing attack all game long, piling up seven sacks and adding three interceptions.

GAME NOTES

• This is Tyler Fenwick's first win at Spratt Stadium as head coach and his first overall as a Griffon since Nov. 17, 2012.
• Wright's pick-6 is the third in Griffon history to go 100 yards or more.
• The Griffons have beaten FHSU five times in a row.
• Missouri Western's seven-team sacks are tied for the fourth most by a team in program history.
• Streeter's three sacks match a career-high from 2021. His six sacks this season set a new career-high for him in a single season.
• Fort Hays State outgained Missouri Western State 331-237 in the contest.
• Missouri Western won the turnover battle 5-2 after intercepting three passes and recovering two fumbles.
• The Griffons went 1-for-1 on fourth down. 
• Missouri Western gave up just seven points in five Fort Hays trips to the red zone, forcing three red zone turnovers in the contest.
• The Griffons won the time of possession battle 31:49 to 28:11.
• Edden completed 66.7% of his passes on the day, going 16-for-24.
• Jack Dawson led the Tigers' passing attack, completing 27 of his 42 attempts for 257 yards and one touchdown with three interceptions.
• Cale Cormaney was Fort Hays State's leading receiver with 82 yards.

UP NEXT
Missouri Western stays in St. Joseph for a Homecoming matchup with No. 11 Emporia State (4-0, 3-0 MIAA) at 4 p.m. next Saturday at Spratt Stadium. The Hornets defeated Central Oklahoma 38-27 on Saturday in Emporia, Kansas.