ROLLA, Mo. - Griffon Football (1-2, 0-1 MIAA) got its first win of the 2026 season at Missouri S&T, defeating the Miners in Rolla, 42-30, on Saturday night at Bailey-Allgood Stadium.
The Griffons got off to an emphatic start, picking off S&T quarterback Eli Scott three times in the first half, and four times altogether, scoring points on three of them, including a 29-yard pick six by linebacker Broc Worcester in the first quarter, making it 21-0 in the first 7.5 minutes of the game.
The Griffs kept the pressure on, scoring on the first play of the second quarter when Isaiah Tate connected with Malik Moore on an 18-yard touchdown pass to push the lead to 28-0.
S&T started to rally, making it a 35-10 game at halftime. The Miners (0-2) got the ball to start the second half and scored on that possession. Ultimately, the Miners held the Griffons off the board in the third quarter and made it a 35-23 game with 2:31 left in the third.
MoWest had the ball to start the fourth quarter and survived a wild scoring drive, which included a 42-yard completion to Crew Myers on 3rd-and-15, and a targeting call against Missouri S&T on 3rd-and-22, to keep the Griffons alive.
MoWest ultimately capped the 10-play, 75-yard drive with Isaiah Tate's 12-yard touchdown rush, making it 42-23 with 13:01 to go.
Tate finished 11-of-22 through the air with 158 yards and a score. He rushed for 27 more yards and a score. Rickie Dunn had a solid night with 18 carries for 85 yards and a career-best two touchdowns. Jaelon Dixon had five carries for 48 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
Broc Worcester led the defense with a career-best 13 tackles along with a pick six. Derrick Robinson, Ashton Smith and Byson Vasquez all had INTs as well.
MoWest finished with 316 yards of offense - 158 on the ground and 158 through the air. S&T, who ran 91 snaps on offense, and was on the field for 37:50, rushed for 252 yards and finished with 435 yards of total offense.
MoWest has a bye week this week, and is back home on Saturday, September 26 to battle Fort Hays State (1-1, 0-0 MIAA) on Family Day and Military and First Responders Appreciation Night. Kickoff from Spratt Stadium is set for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Griffon Sports Network (Varsity Network App, GoGriffons.com/listen) and on the MIAA Network.
