(From Missouri Southern Athletics)ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Missouri Southern football delivered a dominant second-half performance Saturday afternoon, scoring 21 unanswered points after halftime to secure a 38-14 road victory over Missouri Western at Craig Field at Spratt Stadium.
The Lions (2-6, 1-5 MIAA) outscored the Griffons (3-5, 2-4 MIAA) 28-0 over the final three quarters after taking a 3-0 lead in the first quarter. Southern finished with 341 yards of total offense, held Missouri Western to 287 yards and forced four fumbles, recovering all four.
Missouri Southern also controlled the clock, holding possession for 36 minutes and 34 seconds while converting five of 13 third-down opportunities.
MSSU is now 2-6 overall in 2026 and 1-5 in MIAA conference play. The Griffons are 3-5 overall and 2-4 in league play.
Narkel LeFlore rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries and added two catches for 27 yards and another score.
Jackson Marrs scored a career-high two rushing touchdowns on four carries.
Tillman Martin completed 14 of 17 passes for 184 yards and a touchdown, connecting with five different receivers. Isaiah Padello led the Lions with five receptions for 77 yards, while Isaiah Green added four catches for 63 yards.
Daimond Casseus returned a fumble recovery 96 yards for a touchdown and added a tackle. It was the first Lions scoop and score since Dylan Wright (26 yards) against Pittsburg State on Oct. 14, 2023.
Asher Huffman's 43-yard field goal at 6:48 gave the Lions the first quarter's only points and a 3-0 lead. Earlier, the defense limited MoWest's opening possession after a holding penalty, with Peyton McKee and Briar McIntirecombining for a tackle for loss before a third-down incompletion forced a punt.
Missouri Southern then put together an 11-play, 51-yard drive, converting third downs on Martin completions to Padello for 22 yards and Julian Jordan for five before Huffman's kick. After another defensive stop, Green's 12-yard punt return helped start the next drive at the MSSU 32, and Martin later found Green for 23 yards to move the Lions to the MWSU 30. The opening quarter ended with Missouri Southern still in possession at the MoWest 25 and ahead 3-0.
Southern answered a Griffons defensive touchdown with an 88-yard drive, capped by Martin's 11-yard touchdown pass to LeFlore with 21 seconds left, and carried a 17-14 lead into halftime. Earlier, MSSU finished its opening possession of the second quarter with Marrs' 1-yard touchdown run and Huffman's extra point for a 10-0 lead.
The MSSU defense added stops in the second quarter, including Kason Messenger's tackle for loss before a MoWest punt and a turnover on downs at the Missouri Southern 40 after Brody Eggleston dropped a runner for a loss earlier in the series. The Griffons responded with a 28-yard touchdown pass and a 70-yard interception return for a touchdown, but the Lions put together the late scoring drive behind completions of 17 and 23 yards to Green and two catches by LeFlore, including the touchdown.
Missouri Southern scored two touchdowns in the third quarter and paired them with two takeaways or stops, moving ahead 31-14 by the end of the quarter.
Earlier, David Bethune's 32-yard kickoff return helped set up field position, and after Mitchell Cory pinned MoWest at its 5 with a 39-yard punt, the defense forced a punt before the Lions answered with a 53-yard drive capped by Marrs' 11-yard fourth-down touchdown run and Huffman's extra point for a 24-14 score.
On the Griffons' next series, Y'Marius Joshlin forced a fumble and Dillon Ramella recovered at the MoWest 18, setting up a short possession that ended with LeFlore's 5-yard touchdown run and another Huffman kick.
MoWest drove into MSSU territory late in the quarter, but Messenger recorded an 11-yard sack and Keylan Mitchell blocked a 45-yard field goal attempt, with Nyjahl Vaughn returning the recovery before a penalty moved the ball back. Southern finished the third quarter with the ball after a 10-yard completion from Martin to Bethune, carrying a 31-14 lead into the final frame.
Missouri Southern's defense supplied the fourth-quarter scoring, as Levi Darensbourg forced a MoWest fumble near the goal line and Casseus returned the recovery 96 yards for a touchdown with 2:13 left before Huffman's kick set the final score at 38-14.
Earlier, the Lions punted on their first two possessions of the quarter, but the defense kept the Griffons off the board on the ensuing drives, including a red-zone stop when Eggleston forced a fumble at the MSSU 8 that Noah Conner recovered at 6:54.
After Southern was pinned deep and went three-and-out, Riley Hammons broke up a pass at the MSSU 1, one play before the scoring turnover. Darensbourg recovered another MoWest fumble at the MWSU 18 with 1:51 remaining, and Martin helped close out the game with kneel-downs after a quarter in which MSSU forced three turnovers despite recording no first downs.
On the ground, Allen Mitchell led Southern with 76 rushing yards on 19 carries. Marrs finished with 18 yards and two touchdowns on four carries.
Defensively, the Lions forced four fumbles and recovered all four. Casseus' 96-yard fumble return for a touchdown capped the defensive effort, while Eggleston recorded six total tackles and a forced fumble.
McIntire added five stops while Conner and Ethan Alticeach added four. Messenger notched two tackles for loss (14 yards) and an 11-yard sack.
Darensbourg forced two fumbles to go with two tackles, a breakup and a fumble recovery.
Southern limited the Griffons to 62 rushing yards and held them scoreless in the second half.
Head coach Atiba Bradley picked up his 20th career victory (20-44) at the helm of MSSU.
The Lions registered their first win over MWSU since Nov. 11, 2023 (47-41 in Joplin, Missouri), and their first victory in St. Joseph since Oct. 13, 2012 (31-30 win).
The Lions return to Fred G. Hughes Stadium on Halloween (Oct. 31) to host Pittsburg State, with kickoff set for noon. Fans are encouraged to wear white, and T-shirts will be distributed at the front gate while supplies last. Missouri Southern will also recognize the 2026 softball team with a championship ring presentation and present letter jackets to its newest Lion letterwinners.
Fall MSSU Athletic tickets are currently on sale online. Fans can also purchase an MIAA Network subscription to support Missouri Southern Athletics and catch all the Lions action this 2026-27 season.
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