ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Griffon Football (3-3, 2-2 MIAA) raced out to a 31-7 lead and held on for a 31-21 victory over Nebraska-Kearney (0-6, 0-4 MIAA) on Homecoming at Spratt Stadium Saturday night.
MoWest, who beat UNK at home for the first time since 2016 and for the first time at all since 2023, was firing on all cylinders offensively to start, scoring touchdowns on each of their first four possessions.
MoWest led 28-7 at halftime, and extended that lead with a 17-play, 91-yard drive that spanned over eight minutes and ended with a 21-yard field goal from Latrell Armstrong, making it 31-7 with 4:49 to go in the third.
UNK kept fighting, putting up a touchdown in both the third and fourth quarter. UNK, however, had missed scoring chances throughout the game with two turnovers on downs and an interception in the first half.
The Lopers missed a pair of field goals in the second half as well - one from 56 yards away. The other miss, on a 37-yard attempt, was due to a block by Tedrick Tate Jr. with 2:27 to play.
MoWest got the ball back after that, still up by 10, and a late first down run by Isaiah Tate was enough for the Griffons to run out the remaining time.
Tate completed 20-of-28 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Peyton Hatfield turned in a career night with nine catches for 135 yards and a score. Malik Moore had five catches for 77 yards and a score. Victor Taylor Jr. had two catches for 15 yards and a score as well.
Rickie Dunn notched his second 100-yard game of the season with 101 yards on 25 carries and a touchdown.
Broc Worcester had a team-best 10 tackles. Bryce Coley finished with nine tackles, including seven solo stops and two pass breakups. A'Mon Walker notched his first career collegiate interception.
MoWest is back on the road Saturday, October 17 to face Pittsburg State (1-5, 1-3 MIAA). Kickoff from Carnie-Smith Stadium in Pittsburg, Kansas is set for 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Griffon Sports Network (Varsity Network App, GoGriffons.com/listen) and on the MIAA Network.
