Big Third Quarter Carries Griffons Past Tigers
Kobe Cummings and a big third quarter helped shake the rust off.
After a sluggish first half, the junior electrified Spratt Stadium with a 69-yard pick-six to tie the game at 17 just after halftime. That was the first of four touchdowns Missouri Western scored in their third quarter outburst en route to a 38–31 win over Fort Hays State, the first win for Griffon Football since the 2019 Agent Barry Live United Bowl.
The name of the game for both teams was capitalizing on the other team’s mistakes. Whereas Missouri Western fumbled three times in the red zone, they also racked up 24 points off three interceptions and a fumble recovery. While both teams put up points, the circumstances showed that both teams have room for improvement.
“We would’ve take the whole game over,” Head Coach Matt Williamson said. “We left another 28 points on the board.”
The game didn’t get off to the best start, as they gave up a touchdown on the first defensive drive that went 10 plays. However, after a big time throw from QB Anthony Vespo, it was Shen Butler-Lawson Jr. who lined up in the wildcat formation and found the hole to tie the game at seven. After the first interception on the next drive, the Griffons settled for a field goal as Cody Watson split the uprights. From there, the offense would go silent for the remainder of the half.
What killed the Griffons in the first half was that the defense couldn’t get off the field. For the game, Fort Hays had over four more minutes of possession, and we’re 10/18 on third-down conversions. An extended drive was what gave the Tigers the lead back, as it was a 12-play drive right after Watson’s field goal that led to a touchdown. A field goal at the end of the half made it a 17–10 deficit.
Williamson explained that the team was experimenting with zone defense.
“We could not get off the field,” Williamson said. “We were trying some zone stuff that was kind of different than what we usually do. They were taking advantage of that a little bit.”
Cummings believed that was the turning point of the game.
“Immediately,” Cummings said. “We wanted to put them on our heels, and I think we did a decent job.”
Despite the score, the job wasn’t nearly done. A missed tackle gave the Tigers a free touchdown. The next drive, it was another fumble in the red zone by Anthony Vespo that gave Fort Hays the ball again.
One play later, a checkdown to the Tiger running back was bobbled, and in came Brandon Johnson with a big hit to turn the ball over. Dominic Chapa picked the ball up and had the blocking to run it in.
From here, the Griffons took over. A third interception gave Western great field position, which Butler-Lawson Jr. took advantage of to take the lead. After a punt that went to the Griffon 14 yard line, Vespo made a great throw to find Cooper Burton at the 50, who broke a tackle and ran it in from 86 yards out.
That made it 38–24 Griffons, as they scored 28 points in the quarter despite a red zone fumble. The Griffons were able to mostly run out the clock in the fourth quarter, and rang the bell as winner by a 38–31 final, their third straight win against Fort Hays.
The win was very needed, as the Griffons avoid an 0–2 hole.
“I think that fueled them,” Williamson said. “You watched them practice the first two days after that game, it was probably the best two practices we’ve had.”
