ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Griffon Football (2-2, 1-1 MIAA) scored a 46-29 win over (RV) Fort Hays State (2-2, 1-1 MIAA) on Saturday night at Spratt Stadium in St. Joseph.
The Griffons scored the first points of the game in the first quarter on a four-yard touchdown pass from Isaiah Tate to Crew Myers, making it 7-0 with 8:34 to go in the period.
Hays answered and in fact led 8-7 after a successful two-point conversion, but MoWest took the lead for good on a 12-yard touchdown pass to Victor Taylor Jr., putting the Griffons ahead 20-15 with 10:44 left in the second quarter.
Taylor finished with two catches for 17 yards - both catches were for TDs.
MoWest added to their lead before halftime with a 59-yard bomb from Tate to Myers, making it 27-15 at halftime.
Hays got the ball to start the second half, but Mayes Doggan snagged an interception on the third play from scrimmage in the third quarter.
MoWest turned that into points eight plays later with a 34-yard touchdown strike to Peyton Hatfield, putting MWSU ahead 33-15 with 10:02 left in the third.
Hays continued to fight back, as the Tigers had the ball down 33-22 to start the fourth quarter. But, the second play of that quarter resulted in an interception by Tedrick Tate, Jr.
The Griffons scored four plays later on a one-yard touchdown rush by Rickie Dunn, leading 39-22 with 12:33 to play.
MoWest hung one more for good measure in the last 1:53 of the game, as Tate broke a school record with his sixth touchdown pass - the last went to Malik Moore from 21 yards out.
Tate completed 28-of-40 passes for 429 yards, 6 TD and one pick. Myers had a career night across the board with eight grabs for 189 yards and two scores. Moore finished with a career-best nine catches for 147 yards. Dunn toted the rock a career-best 25 times for a career-best 124 yards and a TD. Dunn has scored a TD in every game thus far in 2026.
Doggan finished with two INTs, while Byson Vasquez had a season-best nine tackles to lead the defense.
As a team, MoWest finished with 605 total yards on 79 plays, and were an outstanding 11-of-15 on third down. The Griffs also controlled time of possession 38:03 - 21:57.
MoWest goes back on the road on Saturday, October 3 to face No. 12 Emporia State (4-0, 2-0 MIAA). Kickoff from Francis G. Welch Stadium in Emporia, Kansas is set for 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Griffon Sports Network (Varsity Network App, GoGriffons.com/listen) and on the MIAA Network.
Record Book check
Isaiah Tate
- 6 passing TD - new school record by an individual
- 429 passing yards - 3rd most program history
- 28 completions - 4th most program history
- 449 yards total offense - 6th most program history
Crew Myers
- 189 yards receiving - 5th most program history
Malik Moore
- 9 receptions - t-5th program history
Team
- 429 yards passing - 3rd most program history
- 28 completions - 4th most program history
- 6 TD passes - ties team record in a single game
- 605 yards total offense - 8th most program history
