By MATT PIKE
Bye Week: Kansas
MoWest earns conference win taking down Fort Hays State
The Missouri Western State University football team earned a 46-29 win over Fort Hays State (2-2, 1-1 MIAA) at Spratt Memorial Stadium.
MoWest opened up the scoring in the first quarter with a four-yard touchdown pass from Isaiah Tate to Crew Myers. Just over two minutes later in the quarter, Hays answered with a 59 yard touchdown pass from Major Cantrell to Keyshawn Dooley. Ayden Robinson-Wayne ran and completed a two point converstion to give the Tigers the lead, but late in the quarter Tate threw a five yard touchdown pass to Victor Taylor Jr, putting the Griffons on top 13-8 at the end of the first quarter after missing the extra point attempt.
Early in the second quarter Cantrell threw another long touchdown pass, 64 yards to Robinson-Wayne, giving Hays the lead back, but after that MoWest took the lead for good starting with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Tate to Taylor Jr., putting the Griffons back into the lead with 10:38 left in the second quarter. MoWest added to their lead before halftime with a 59-yard bomb from Tate to Myers, giving the Griffons a 27-15 lead at the halftime break.
Hays got the ball to start the second half, but on the third play from scrimmage, MoWest's Mayes Doggan snagged an interception and the Griffons converted the turnover into points with another touchdown pass from Tate 34-yards to Peyton Hatfield. The Tigers chipped away midway throught the third Cantrell throwing a 12 yard touchdown pass to Dooley. But in the fourth quarter, after another interception by the Griffons, MoWest extended the lead with a one yard run by Rickie Dunn, going ahead 39-22.
A two yard run from LaAngelo Bell trimmed the Griffons lead to 10 in the final quarter, and with less than two minutes remaining in the game, MoWest put the final points on the board with Tate breaking a school record throwing his sixth touchdown pass 21 yards to Malik Moore. Tate completed 28-of-40 passes for 429 yards with six touchdowns and one interception.
Myers finished with eight catches for 189 yards and two scores. Moore had nine catches for 147 yards. Dunn carried the ball 25 times for 124 yards and a touchdown.
MoWest (2-2, 1-1 MIAA) goes back on the road on Saturday to face No. 12 Emporia State (4-0, 2-0 MIAA). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
Turnovers plague No. 7 Bearcats in upset against Bronchos
Turnovers plagued the No. 7 Northwest Missouri State Bearcat football team as the Central Oklahoma Bronchos took advantage of four turnovers in a 19-14 victory at Chad Richison Stadium in Edmond, Oklahoma.
The Bearcats held a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter, and were held scoreless from there. Northwest scored the first points on a 32 yard touchdown pass from Zechariah Owens to Jaidyn Doss. The Bronchos answered capping a 75 yard drive with a 28 yard touchdown strike between Jett Huff and Makel Paiva. The Bearcats responded with their own 75 yard drive, which were highlighted by runs of 19 and 16 yards by Quincy Torry, before Torry scored from four yards out to put Northwest back on top at the end of the first.
While the Bearcats were held scoreless in the second quarter, defense did hold the Broncos to field goals by Bradley Thao of 46 and 22 yards, with Northwest still holding a 14-13 lead at the halftime break. Thao gave UCO the lead midway through the third quarter with a 27 yard field goal and also hit a 23 yard field goal in the fourth quarter to push the lead to 19-14. The Bearcats had one final possession after UCO missed a 51-yard field goal with 1:10 left, moving from its 34-yard line to the UCO 30 before Mason Shorb's fourth-down pass to Cooper Warren fell incomplete with eight seconds remaining.
Owens was 7-for-14 through the air for 90 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions adding eight rushes for eight yards. Shorb was 6-for-9 for 48 yards. Torry rushed 19 times for 110 yards and a touchdown. Erwin Nash had three catches for 43 yards while Doss had two catches for 39 yards and a touchdown.
Northwest (3-1, 2-1 MIAA) will have another bye week next and will host Central Missouri on October 10th kicking off at 1:30pm from Bearcat Stadium.
No. 5 Ravens shutout St. Ambrose on Family Weekend in Atchison
The No. 5 Benedictine Ravens football team closed out non divisional play with a shutout win on Family Weekend in Atchison, beating the Saint Ambrose University Fighting Bees 34-0, at Larry Wilcox Stadium.
While neither team scored in the first quarter, the Ravens started to pour on the scoring in the second, starting with a 39-yard Kylar Haarhuis field goal. After forcing another punt by the Bees, Benedictine marched down the field again, this time finding the endzone on a 25 yard touchdown pass fromPatrick Heitert to Christian Pitts. The Ravens blocked the next Bees punt, and scored on special teams as Ben Gilliland scooped it up and returned it 35 yards score. Then, after an interception by Isaiah Hasten, Haarhuis hit a 29-yard field goal giving Benedictine a 20-0 lead at the halftime break.
In the third quarter the Ravens added one more touchdodown as Cooper Hajek rushed for a three yard touchdown. In the fourth quarter Joseph Lagfuaina capped the scoring. hauling in an 18-yard pass from Kaden Austin. The Ravens offense totaled 385 yards and the defense held the Bees to 204 total yards.
Heitert was 8-for-18 through the air for 90 yards with a touchdown adding seven rushes for 39 yards. Austin was 4-for-5 for 88 yards with a touchdown. Xiomar Hernandez ran 11 times for 70 yards. Titan Osburn caught three passes for 68 yards while Pitts had two catches for 31 yards and a touchdown and Lagfuaina had two catches for 36 yards and a score.
The Ravens (4-1) begin Heart South Conference play at home game against No. 23 Baker University on Saturday kicking off at 1pm.
No. 19 Tigers fall as No. 24 Bulldogs, Taylor rally in fourth quarter
The No. 19 Missouri Tigers fell as Kamario Taylor threw for 360 yards and three touchdowns and the No. 24 Mississippi State Bulldogs rallied for 31-24 win at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi.
The Bulldogs started out with the lead pulling ahead 14-0 through the first quarter. After Missouri turned the ball over on downs, Taylor conected with Sanfrisco Magee on a long 43 yard touchdown pass. The Tigers missed a field goal on their next drive, and the Bulldogs extended the lead on the ensuing drive with another passing touchdown from Taylor, this time 11 yards to Fluff Bothwell.
Missouri held Mississippi State scoreless until midway through the third quarter from there. Blake Craig cut into the lead to start the scoring for the Tigers in the second quarter with a 35 yard field goal. After an interception by Trajen Greco, Missouri trimmed the Bulldogs lead to four points and trailed 14-10 at the halftime break after Austin Simmons found Donovan Olugbode for a nine yard touchdown pass.
Simmons gave Missouri the lead twice in the third quarter, both times on connections with his former Ole Miss teammate Cayden Lee. After a seven play drive to start the third Simmons threw a 21 yard touchdown pass to Lee, putting Missouri ahead 17-14. The Bulldogs though answered the touchdown with a 28 yard field goal from Kyle Ferris to tie the game. After a five play drive this time, Simmons found Lee again to push the Tigers back into the lead, a 28 yard score, putting Missouri up 24-17 heading into the final quarter.
In the fourth, a four yard run from Bothwell tied the game for the Bulldogs. Late in the quarter, Taylor threw his second touchdown of the night to Magee 24 yards to push Mississippi State ahead 31-24. The Tigers had one final chance to score, with 51 seconds remaining, advancing the ball to the Mississippi State 38 to set up a Hail Mary on the final play. Simmons' pass was broken up in the end zone by cornerback Kelley Jones.
Simmons was 23-for-39 through the air for 295 yards with three touchdowns. Jamal Roberts rushed 26 times for 95 yards while Xai'Shaun Edwards added six rushes for 24 yards. Lee caught 11 passes for 156 yards with two touchdowns and Olugbode had four grabs for 54 yards and a score.
Up next, No. 19 Missouri (3-1, 0-1 SEC) hosts No. 21 Florida (4-0, 2-0 SEC) for Homecoming on Saturday. Kickoff is at 2:30pm. Pregame will air at 1:30pm on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
Wildcats rally falls short in Big 12 opener against Bearcats
The Kansas State Wildcats put together a late rally in their Big 12 opener but fell short to the Cincinnati Bearcats losing 31-26 at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Wildcats held a lead at halftime over the Bearcats. Kansas State built a 10-0 lead early, starting with a 22 yard field goal from Luis Rodriguez in the first quarter, then early in the second quarter Rodney Fields Jr finding the endzone for the third time this season on a 19 yard rushing touchdown. The Bearcats though tied the game behind a 39 yard passing touchdown from JC French IV to Malachi Henry and a 45 yard field goal from Stephen Rusnak.
Late in the quarter, just before halftime, Avery Johnson threw a four yard touchdown pass to Derrick Salley Jr giving Kansas State a 17-10 lead at the halftime break. After the break the Bearcats took their first lead of the game in the third quarter. A five yard touchdown from from Cole Tabb tied the game after Cincinnati recovered a Kansas State fumble on their drive to start the second half. After forcing a punt, the Bearcats took the lead on another rushing score from Tabb, a 30 yard run to put Cincinnati ahead 24-17.
Rodriguez hit a 36 yard field goal in the fourth quarter for Kansas State to cut the Bearcats lead to four, ending a 17 play drive, and on the ensuing drive Cincinnati extended their lead behind Tabb's third rushing score of the day, a 14 yard touchdown. Trailing 31-20, the Wildcats put together a nine play drive that ended with Fields Jr scoring from two yards out, cutting the lead to five, an attempt to trim the deficit to a field goal fell short as Johnson's two point pass try was incomplete.
Kansas State forced a punt, getting the ball back with 45 seconds remaining on the clock. The Wildcats could not get out of their own territory though, starting at their own 20 and ending at their own 20 after a holding penalty moved them back from their own 30 where they had advanced the ball to following the punt.
Johnson was 30-for-50 through the air for 292 yards with a touchdown adding six runs for 38 yards. Fields Jr ran 12 times for 50 yards and two touchdowns and Joe Jackson added 12 carries for 59 yards. Salley Jr had seven catches for 140 yards and a touchdown while Garrett Oakley added seven catches for 80 yards.
Kansas State (3-1, 0-1 Big 12) will have a bye next week and plays again on October 10th hosting current No. 25 Houston. Kickoff time is to be determined.
Colandrea and defense keep Nebraka rolling against Michigan State
Anthony Colandrea passed for 212 yards and two first-half touchdowns helping undefeated Nebraska pull away for a 31-13 win over Michigan State at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.
After both teams traded punts in the first quarter the Spartans took the lead on a field goal capping an 11 play drive, Liam Boyd hitting a 48 yard field goal. Nebraska answered on the ensuing drive with a go ahead touchdown pass from Colandrea, finding Kwazi Gilmer deep for a 44 yard touchdown pass, putting the Cornhuskers ahead 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.
Nebraska extended their lead in the second quarter, following a Spartans punt, a four yard touchdown from Mekhi Nelson giving the Cornhuskers a two score advantage. A 32 yard field goal from Kyle Cunanan extended the Nebraska lead before on the ensuing drive Michigan State cut the lead to a touchdown, scoring a two yard touchdown run by Jaziun Patterson.
The Cornhuskers managed to answer right near the end of the half though, Colandrea throwing a 13 yard touchdown pass to Vincent Genatone. Nebraska took a 24-10 lead into the halftime break. In the third quarter the Spartans scored their final points with another field goal, Boyd knocking it through from 46 yards.
Genatone, whose touchdown catch before halftime was his first career touchdown and first career catch, also scored the final touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter scoring on a one yard run early in the fourth quarter.
Colandrea was 15-for-27 for 212 yards through the air with two touchdowns adding 10 rushes for 66 yards. Nelson ran 15 times for 61 yards and a score. Gilmer had four catches for 101 yards and a touchdown while Quinn Clark had two catches for 34 yards and Luke Lindenmeyer had four catches for 25 yards.
Up next Nebraska (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) hosts Maryland on Saturday. Kickoff is at 3pm and the game will air on FS1.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.