Missouri Western breaks losing streak; Bearcats fall to No.13-ranked Central Oklahoma
By Calvin Silvers
It was a full day of college football on Saturday, as the Missouri Western Griffons snapped a three-game losing streak with a second-half resurgence to claim a 38-28 victory over Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri, while the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats fell to undefeated and No.13-ranked Central Oklahoma 48-20 on the road.
The Griffons were highlighted offensively by the dynamic duo of quarterback Branden Berwald and wide receiver Tyler Carey, who connected for three second-half touchdowns. However, it was Central Missouri who struck first with a seven-yard Zach Zebrowski touchdown pass to Jake Zippe for the 7-0 lead. Missouri Western quickly responded with a 49-yard field goal from Cody Watson.
The Griffon defense came to the aid first, forcing two early turnovers, including a pivotal interception by junior Logan Clark. The Griffons clawed back to tie the game at 14-14 before halftime, thanks to a 31-yard field goal by Watson, following another interception by Clark.
The second half saw the momentum shift towards Missouri Western. Berwald opened the half with a stunning 68-yard touchdown pass to Carey, and Watson added his third field goal, giving the Griffons a 10-point lead. The Mules tallied two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but Carey hauled in a 36-yard touchdown and sealed the victory, marking the Griffons’ first win over Central Missouri in Warrensburg since 2013.
Missouri Western outgained their opponents in yardage 512 to 431, with Berwald finishing the day with a career-high 379 passing yards, four touchdowns, and 93 rushing yards. Carey led all receivers with six catches for 178 yards, tying a school record with three touchdown receptions.
Meanwhile, the Bronchos showcased their offensive prowess at home, tallying 530 total yards in their victory over the Bearcats. Central Oklahoma’s impressive performance included a remarkable 451 passing yards against an always stout Northwest defense, with Bronchos’ quarterback Jett Huff throwing for three touchdowns and completing 29 of 40 passes. Terrill Davis stood out in the receiver room with 15 receptions for a game-high 186 yards.
Northwest’s quarterback Chris Ruhnke was the highlight for the day, passing for 309 yards and a touchdown, although he threw two interceptions. Eric Richardson had the best game of his career, securing five catches for a career-high 92 yards and a touchdown.
