EMPORIA, Kan. - The Missouri Western football team (2-2, 1-2 MIAA) dropped a 30-27 overtime classic to No. 13 Emporia State (4-0, 3-0 MIAA) on Saturday afternoon at Welch Stadium.
 
Emporia State Struck first with 4:21 left in the first quarter, following a 25-yard strike from Gunner Gundy to Trenden Collins. Three minutes later, Emporia kicker Caden Dodson extended their lead to 10-0 with a 25-yard field goal.
 
Following a crucial fourth down stop, senior running back Brandon Hall sparked life into the struggling MWSU offense with a 52-yard rushing score - his third touchdown this season longer than 47 yards. He finished the half with 103 yards, averaging 11.4 yards a carry.
 
On the next Missouri Western drive, quarterback Kody Kirk, who made his season debut Saturday, connected with senior Tyler Carey, who was wide open down the field for an 80-yard touchdown. This put the Griffons in the lead for the first time at13-10.
 
After forcing a punt, Jonas Bennett caught a crucial 26-yard pass, putting Western in the red zone with less than a minute remaining in the half. The Kirk-Carey duo connected again - this time for a 13-yard touchdown with eight seconds left, giving Western a 20-10 lead heading at halftime.
 
The two teams exchanged possessions at the beginning of the second half before Emporia State reduced the deficit with a 33-yard field goal from Dodson. In the early stages of the fourth quarter, the Hornets tied the game with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Gundy to All-American receiver Tyler Kahmann.
 
Bennett gave the Griffons another boost when they were idling offensively, this time on special teams with a 56-yard punt return deep into ESU territory. MWSU took advantage of the field position with a seven-yard touchdown reception from Kirk to Hall with 6:36 left in regulation.
 
Following a two-minute warning, Emporia State quarterback Gunnar Gundy, who set school records in both passing and offensive attempts, scored the equalizer with a 30-yard passing touchdown. The Griffons missed a 55-yard field goal going into the wind as time expired, sending the game into overtime.

In overtime, Missouri Western's defense held Emporia State to a field goal and had a chance to convert on a 4th-and-1. However, the decision to go for it didn't pay off, as Emporia State hung on for a 30-27 victory.

On the 4th-and-1, Kirk rolled out on play action and had Jayden Williams in the end zone on a short lob, but Williams was unable to haul it in, ending the game.
 
Kirk finished 15-38 for 220 yards with three touchdowns and an interception in his Griffon debut. His top target for the afternoon was Carey, who caught five passes for a career-high 112 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Hall increased his conference-leading rushing total with 137 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown. The Kansas City native also contributed 43 receiving yards and a touchdown.
 
Nicc Oliver led the team on defense with 11 tackles (nine solo), and Javerius McGuinn added the second-most with seven (1.0 tackle for loss). Additionally, MWSU finished with five sacks, led by Grant Finley with two.
 
The Griffons will return home next Saturday against Washburn. Kickoff against the Ichabods is slated for a 2:00 p.m. start. The game will be broadcast on the MIAA Network, as well as the Varsity Network App and GoGriffons.com/listen.