Missouri Southern State University's football team earned its first MIAA win of the season with a 38-14 victory over the Missouri Western State University Griffons on Saturday at Spratt Stadium in St. Joseph.
The Lions (2-6, 1-5) struck first when Asher Huffman booted a 43-yard field goal with 6:48 left in the opening quarter in a drive that featured a 22-yard completion from quarterback Tillman Martin to Isaiah Padello.
MSSU increased its lead to 10-0 at the 13:39 mark of the second period when Jackson Marrs scored on a 1-yard run and Huffman made good on the ensuing PAT.
The Griffons (3-5, 2-4) crept closer with an Isaiah Tate 28-yard pass to Peyton Hatfield and a point-after by Latrell Armstrong with 5:38 left in the half. Western earned its only lead of the game off a Zaidun Edwards' 70-yard pick-six at the 4:07 mark.
Southern regained the lead with 21 seconds left in the half when Narkel LeFlore scored on an 11-yard pass from Martin. Huffman's kick was true and Southern went into the locker room with a 17-14 lead.
The MSSU defense shut down the Griffons in the second half.
Marrs logged his second touchdown of the game with 6:05 left in the third quarter on an 11-yard run. The point-after was good and Southern went up 24-14.
On Western's next possession, Southern's Y'Marius Joshlin forced a fumble on a carry by Western's Jaelon Dixon. Dillon Ramella recovered the fumble, setting the Lions up at the MWSU 18-yard line.
The Lions' lead grew to 31-14 at the 4:33 mark when LeFlore scored his second touchdown on a five-yard run. Huffman was good on the PAT for the fourth time as the Lions enjoyed a 17-point lead heading into the final quarter.
The Lions' final score came when Daimond Cassius scooped up a Griffons' fumble and sprinted 96 yards for a touchdown. That fumble was forced by Lions defensive back Levi Darensbourg. Huffman's point after was good and Southern led 38-14 at the 2:13 mark.
On the Griffons/ next possession, Darensbourg forced and recovered another fumble — this time by Western's Michael Haggerty with 1:51 left in the game. Southern was able to run out the clock and log its first MIAA win of the season.
Martin was 14 for 17 for 184 yards and a touchdown. Allen Mitchel led MSSU rushers with 76 yards on 19 carries. LeFlore finished with 56 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.
Padello caught five passes for 77 yards, Isaiah Green had four passes for 63 yards and LeFlore caught two for 27 yards and a touchdown.
Southern's defense held the Griffons to 62 yards rushing while forcing and recovering four fumbles.
The Lions return to action Saturday when they host rival Pittsburg State University (3-5, 3-3) at noon at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.