Area college football: Central Missouri, MidAmerica Nazarene among week’s winners
This week’s area college football highlights included a five-touchdown showing — in a variety of ways — from UCM quarterback Donovyn Omolo and a 68-point eruption from one team around the metro.
Here are the highlights from a busy weekend of KC-area football.
Central Missouri 35, Central Oklahoma 34: The Mules (3-2) had a 28-21 lead at halftime, and held on for the one-point win in Edmond, Oklahoma. Both teams entered at 2-2, and the Mules improved to 3-0 in MIAA with the win. Donovyn Omolo had a hand in all five Central Missouri touchdowns, passing for two scores and rushing for two. He also caught a touchdown pass from receiver Marlon Lindsey and finished with 385 total yards. Hogan Wasson finished with 190 receiving yards and a score.
Fort Hays State 28, Missouri Southern 21: Fort Hays State rushed for a season high 254 yards and improved to 4-2 with the win at Joplin, Missouri. Joshua Clark gained 116 of those yards. Tillman Martin completed 28 of 36 passes for 322 yards with two TDs and an interception for Missouri Southern, which is 2-3 on the season.
Pittsburg State 23, Nebraska-Kearney 6: The Gorillas won their fourth straight, this one with a dominant performance by their defense at home. Pitt State held Nebraska-Kearney to 154 total yards, including a stifling 48 yards on the Lopers’ 27 rushing attempts. Safety Jordan Rodgers came through with one of the Gorillas’ four sacks in the game. Each team is 4-2.
Emporia State 50, Missouri Western 14: Emporia State scored four first-quarter touchdowns and never looked back in the victory at St. Joseph. The Hornets improved to 2-3. Missouri Western, meanwhile, fell to 1-4. The Hornets held the Griffons to minus-6 yards rushing for the game. Emporia State quarterback Ben Harris passed for 254 yards with three touchdowns, two of them to Kingsley Bennett. The Hornets’ Aidan Hicks picked off a pass and returned it 45 yards for a TD.
MidAmerica Nazarene 35, Central Methodist 3: Zane Hall had 137 yards of receiving on seven catches, as the Pioneers pushed their record to 5-1. MidAmerica Nazarene converted 8 of 16 third-down attempts.
Indianapolis 63, William Jewell 17: The Cardinals (2-3) lost their third straight game as they were unable to keep up with the Greyhounds in the Great Lakes Valley road game. William Jewell’s Nate Barnett caught four passes for 86 yards, including a 75-yard TD from quarterback Tyler Kubat. Kubat also connected with Yasir Winston on a 79-yard pass play for a touchdown.
Baker 68, William Woods 14: The Wildcats won their second straight, this one in a rout at home in Baldwin City, Kansas, and improved to 2-3. Baker scored 44 points in the second quarter, including a 22-yard interception return for a TD by Zac Kramer. Adrion Seals caught three touchdown passes, all in the second quarter from Baker quarterback Truman Juelsgaard, who completed 17 of 19 passes with three TDs in the game. Juelsgaard also ran for two TDs. Seals finished with 154 yards receiving on six catches.
Benedictine 52, Missouri Baptist 21: Xavier Ugorji ran for 142 yards on 24 carries and scored two touchdowns in the Ravens’ blowout of Missouri Baptist in St. Louis. Benedictine (5-1) totaled 316 yards rushing.
Friends 28, Ottawa 7: The Braves were not able to slow the Friends rushing attack and lost their third straight, this one at home. Ottawa dropped to 2-4. Friends, which ran for 447 yards, improved to 6-0. Ottawa quarterback Luke Edwards connected on 25 of 46 passes for 255 yards with a TD and an interception. He was sacked three times.
Saint Mary 31, Tabor 7: Chace Redmond recovered a fumble and returned it 71 yards for a touchdown that put the Spires up 14-7 near the end of the first half at Tabor in Hillsboro, Kansas. Saint Mary improved to 2-4 with the victory.
Southwest Baptist 50, Lincoln 21: With the loss at home in Jefferson City, the Blue Tigers are 2-3 after starting the season 2-0. Lincoln quarterback Jaylen Thomas passed for 245 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and ran for 73 yards with a TD in Saturday’s loss.
Southwestern 62, Avila 0: Avila dropped to 0-6 with the home loss. Wide receiver Laquanta Crawford had two catches for Avila.