ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Griffon Football (3-5, 2-4 MIAA) lost 38-14 to Missouri Southern at Spratt Stadium on Saturday in the Rogers Pharmacy Hall of Fame game.
Southern, who scored their first win in St. Joseph since 2012, got off to a 10-0 start in the second quarter, but MoWest hit back with all 14 of their points scored in the second.
Ashton Smith recovered a fumble at the MSSU 46-yard line, which led to a 28-yard touchdown pass from Isaiah Tate to Peyton Hatfield.
About a minute-and-a-half later, Zaidun Edwards caught a tipped pass that was returned 70 yards for a pick six, giving MoWest a 14-10 lead with 4:07 left in the first half.
Southern, however, marched 88 yards on nine plays and scored a TD with just 21 seconds left before halftime, going into the locker room up 17-14.
The tide never turned for MoWest in the second half, as the Griffons were held off the board the rest of the way. MoWest, who had lost only one fumble in the first seven games of the season, fumbled four times in the second half alone on Saturday.
The deadly blow came with 2:32 left in the game. With second-and-goal at the one-yard line, backup quarterback Skyler Cassel tried to hand the ball off to Michael Haggerty, but the exchange went awry, and Southern's Daimond Casseus took it back 96 yards on a fumble recovery for the final score.
Southern outgained MoWest in total offensive yards 341-287, including 157-62 on the ground. The Lions also controlled time of possession 36:34-23:26.
Cassel completed 15-of-22 passes for 122 yards. Tate was 7-of-19 for 103 and a score. Rickie Dunn toted the ball eight times for 29 yards. Malik Moore had five catches for 73 yards.
Ken Pierre-Charles had a career-best 13 tackles. Ashton Smith had a career-best 10 stops to go with a fumble recovery.
MoWest is back on the road this Saturday to face Washburn (5-2-1, 4-2 MIAA). Kickoff from Yager Stadium in Topeka, Kansas is set for 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Griffon Sports Network (Varsity Network App, GoGriffons.com/listen) and available to watch on the MIAA Network.
Washburn won at Fort Hays State Saturday, 31-22.
