ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Griffon Football (1-4, 0-3 MIAA) suffered a 50-14 loss to Emporia State on Saturday in the annual Homecoming game at Spratt Stadium.
MoWest, who starts 0-3 in the MIAA for the first time since 2008, threw an interception on the fourth play from scrimmage, which Emporia (2-3, 1-2 MIAA) turned into a touchdown just four plays later.
On the ensuing drive, pinned deep on their own end, MoWest's
Spencer Sprenger's punt was blocked in his own end zone and recovered by Emporia State's Divante Herrig-Brittian, making it 14-0 at the 12:35 mark of the first quarter.
MoWest punted on five consecutive drives in the first half, and ESU scored twice more in the first quarter to make it 28-0 heading into the second.
The Hornets, who scored touchdowns on four of their first six drives, made it 35-0 after a one-yard touchdown run by Camden Crooks with 10:29 left before halftime.
MoWest at last responded, putting together a 19-play, 89-yard drive that lasted over eight minutes, capped off with a six-yard touchdown pass from
Kane Donovan to
Malik Moore, making it 35-7 at halftime.
ESU was limited to just a field goal in the third quarter, but MWSU had only a punt and a pair of turnovers-on-downs in the third, and got no closer. The Hornets also had four sacks in the third quarter alone.
ESU added to their total when Aiden Hicks picked off MoWest quarterback
Kody Kirk and ran it back 40 yards for a pick-six, making it 44-7 with 12:09 to play in the game.
Kirk recovered on the ensuing drive, finding Moore for a 24-yard touchdown, making it 44-14 with 9:11 to play.
Moore grabbed six passes for 62 yards and two scores. Kirk completed 8-of-11 passes for 78 yards and a score to go with the INT.
The Hornets scored a late touchdown with 56 seconds left, but MoWest blocked each of the Hornets' last two point-after tries.
Gyasi Smith caught a team-best seven passes for 65 yards.
Kane Donovan completed 24-of-50 passes for 183 yards with a touchdown and a pick. With the sack yards, MoWest was held to -6 rushing yards on 24 attempts.
Emporia outgained MWSU in total yards 390-255. ESU quarterback Ben Harris completed 21-of-32 for 254 yards and three touchdowns. Kingsley Bennett caught four passes for 58 yards and two scores for the Hornets.
The Hornet defense came up with five total sacks and nine pass breakups.
TreVon Holmes led the MoWest defense with eight total tackles.
MoWest is back on the road this Saturday to face Nebraska-Kearney (4-2, 2-2 MIAA). Kickoff from Ron and Carol Cope Stadium in Kearney, Nebraska is set for 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on the Griffon Sports Network (Varsity Network App, GoGriffons.com/listen).
