The Griffon News

Although Emporia State University dominated in the first half of last Saturday afternoon’s game, the Western men’s momentum changed in the early stages of the second half when an accidental trick play literally fell together.

Despite the cold and rainy playing conditions the Griffs stepped it up and defeated the Hornets of Emporia State 24-12. Western now carries the record of 7-1 overall, which is the best season record they have had since 1981.

The Griffons are now 6-1 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, while the Hornets fall to 3-5 overall, and 2-4 in the MIAA.

In the beginning

Emporia got on the score board early in the first quarter after blocking Western’s punt, which gave the Hornets a good position on the Griffs’ three yard line. Two plays later the Hornets marched into the end zone for a touchdown, but were unable to connect the twopoint conversion play. The 6-0 score lasted throughout the first half, and half of the third quarter.

Head coach Jerry Partridge feels that his team did out- play Emporia by picking up 441 net yards on 69 plays, verses Emporia’s 255 net yards on 61 plays. However, a series of Western errors let ESU stay on top for the first half.

“We out- played them and we’re better than them,” Partridge said. “Just the way it went early: J.R. Graham has back spasms before the game, the weather kept our crowd away. Everything that could go wrong was going wrong.”

Western gave up the blocked punt and Senior J.R. Graham dropped a pass, which in both cases resulted in ESU possession. Partridge feels that the wind was a factor as well as the wetness.

“We still out gained them by 200 yards and that’s why we won the game,” Partridge said. “We dominated the line of scrimmage.”

The turning point

The shift of possession occurred in the latter part of the third quarter when freshman kicker Dustin Strickler took the field in order to attempt a 27- yard field goal, but little did he know the series of events that would soon follow.

“It was kind of a crazy little play off to the deep right of the end zone,” Strickler said.

Strickler lined up for the kick and fired away, but unfortunately the powerful kick was blocked by Emporia’s junior A.J. Franklin.

In the next few seconds of the game Western proved that talent and luck ran together. Fellow teammate and ball holder, freshman Daniel Eidson, immediately recovered at the ten yard line. Because the ball did not cross the line of scrimmage, Eidson acted upon quarterback instincts and connected a pass to sophomore Gijon Robinson in the end zone for Western’s first touchdown.

Robinson said that he heard the fire call, which tells the players to get ready for a pass, and he saw the opportunity to sneak into the end zone without the ESU defenders noticing.

“I’m back there waving my hand and he throws it to me,” Robinson said. “I just had to remind myself I have to catch this ball no matter.”

Although Eidson’s pass was not a pretty spiral due to the misty weather conditions, it found its way into Robinson’s hands. Eidson played quarterback during his high school years at Camdenton High School in Osage Beach, Mo. Eidson said that on any other sunny day that play would have never taken place, but as things played out his only thoughts were how to get the ball into the end zone.

“I had it in my mind for sure to run it,” Eidson said. “But then I saw Gijon in the back of the end zone just waving to me. So I threw the ugliest ball I have ever thrown in my life and he caught it.”

As for Partridge he saw all too familiar circumstances, and felt the same as he did when he watched senior Jarrett Brooks score the last second touchdown in the previous game.

“I can’t believe this is actually happening,” Partridge said.

Disbelief or not, the Griffs found their momentum after Strickler scored the point after a kick which was made for a leading score of 7-6.

The finishing touches

The Western defenders took charge while the offense watched from the sidelines. With a combination of senior defenders John Matthew Fisher, Ahmad Spry, Brad Kester, Michael Cobbins and junior defender J.R. Graham the Hornets were to limited only one more touch down.

Western ended the third quarter with a Strickler field goal from 34 yards out setting the score at 10-6. The pace picked up in the fourth quarter as well as the scoring.

Senior running back Jeremiah White made his first score of the game at 10:47 in the final quarter on a 5- yard run into the end zone. White did not start the game due to team issues that were undisclosed, but once he got in he was on fire and picked up 111 rushing yards.

After more than seven minutes of play, starting quarterback senior Matt Landess connected a nine-yard pass to Brooks for a touchdown. On both touchdowns Strickler brought in the extra point to set Western further ahead of ESU with a 24-6 lead.

The Hornets made one last drive before the end of the game, and at 1:36 they found their way into Western’s end zone. Regardless of Emporia’s efforts, time ran out leaving Western with another winning notch to add to their record.

Partridge feels that a successful team needs a good combination of luck and talent in order to win games.

“We’re good,” Partridge said. “And when luck happens you win games.”

The Western men will perfect their talent this week in order to face off against the Southwest Baptist Bearcats in Bolivar, Mo., this Saturday at 1:30 p.m.