Beating UCM makes for sweet homecoming at Fort Hays State: area college football

Action-packed small-college football games were once again the rule across and beyond the Kansas City metro Saturday.

Here’s a rundown of highlights from the weekend:

Fort Hays State 31, Central Missouri 21: It turned out to be a great homecoming for Fort Hays State as the Tigers bounced back from a loss by upsetting No. 12 (Div. II) Central Missouri. Quarterback Caleb Heavner completed 24 of 30 passes for 302 yards with 2 touchdowns for the Tigers.

Heavner also ran for 97 yards and a TD on 15 carries, averaging 6.5 yards per rush. Mules quarterback Zach Zebrowski connected on 35 of his 49 passes for 471 yards with 3 TDs. Zach Patterson pulled in 10 of those throwss for 232 yards and a 75-yard TD.

Emporia State 48, Northeastern State 14: Hornets quarterback Gunnar Gundy got his game on in this home blowout. Gundy’s 3 rushing touchdowns put Div. II No. 18-ranked Emporia State up 21-0. He completed 40 of 56 passes for 404 yards and 2 TDs. The Hornets, who outgained Northeastern State 578 yards from scrimmage to 235, improved to 5-1.

Northwest Missouri State 51, Washburn 34: The Bearcats’ Tank Young rushed for 134 yards on 12 carries with 2 TDs in Topeka. Northwest has won four straight after opening the season 0-2. The Ichabods’ Tre Richardson amassed 147 yards on 5 receptions with 2 TDs. Three interceptions by Washburn’s quarterbacks proved costly as the Ichabods (1-4) otherwise matched the Bearcats. Northwest gained 5.96 yards per play to Washburn’s 5.49.

Pittsburg State 31, Missouri Western 20: The Gorillas’ Alex Gaskill intercepted a pass and returned it for a TD that put Div. II No. 10-ranked Pitt State up 24-13 in the third quarter. PSU held on from there, but the Gorillas had to grind this one out. The Griffons’ Jonas Bennett hauled in 6 passes for 115 yards, including a 38-yarder for a TD from Kody Kirk. The Gorillas are 4-1, the Griffons 1-4.

Indianapolis 23, William Jewell 20: The Cardinals dropped their second straight game after a 3-0 start as Indy QB Gavin Sukup threw for 2 TDs in Liberty. For Jewell, Tucker Griffin threw for a TD but also was picked off once and sacked 4 times.

Central Oklahoma 59, Missouri Southern 24: The Bronchos (4-0) scored three TDs in the first quarter, and Missouri Southern (1-4) could not keep up. LaRandion Dowden rushed for 101 yards on 14 carries for the Lions. MSSU’s Luke Sampson threw for 265 yards with 2 TDs and 2 interceptions. He was sacked twice.

Benedictine 56, Culver-Stockton 21: The Ravens scored 5 first-quarter TDs and rolled to victory in Canton, Missouri. One of those scores came on Trey Williams’ 25-yard return of a fumble. Benedictine sacked the quarterback 6 times, with DT Kevin Harris accounting for 2. Ravens QB Jackson Dooley passed for 281 yards with 3 TDs. He also ran one in.

MidAmerica Nazarene 70, William Woods 7: Cameron Finley turned 18 carries into 193 yards and 5 TDs as MNU improved to 5-0 in Fulton, Mo. Pioneers QB Adrian Parsons was 16 of 29 for 186 yards and 3 TDs, plus one rushing.

Lincoln (Mo.) 40, Lincoln (Calif.) 14: In a Lincoln vs. Lincoln homecoming showdown at Jefferson City, the Blue Tigers of Missouri earned their first win of the season. The hosts held the Oaklanders 0 for 12 on third-down conversions and 1 for 5 on fourth down. Jareese Howard rushed for 66 yards with 2 TDs and Donte Moore went 97 yards on a pick-six that put the Blue Tigers up 14-0 in the first quarter.

Baker 26, Missouri Valley 16: The Wildcats were down 16-3 in the second quarter and then took over the game in Baldwin City, Kan. Cameron Porter’s 35-yard pick-six sparked the rally. QB Sam Heggemann ran for 106 of Baker’s 236 rushing yards. Seth Simpson out of Lee’s Summit North kicked 4 field goals for Baker (4-1).

Southwestern 69, Saint Mary 28: At Winfield, Kan., the Spires (1-4) trailed 48-6 by halftime. Southwestern piled up 668 yards of offense, with QB Braden Howell throwing for 6 TDs. St. Mary QB Cesar Vela scored 2 TDs on the ground and one through the air.

Bethany 13, Ottawa 0: All the scoring took place in the first half of this defensive struggle in Bethany, Kan. Ottawa (0-6) managed just 156 yards of offense as Zamarion Spencer (11-yard run) and Malaki Daniels (punt-return TD) scored for the hosts.

Evangel 44, Avila 3: Avila ran in to a juggernaut in undefeated Evangel at NIxa, Mo. Malcom Tatum caught 3 balls for 44 yards for Avila, which dropped to 1-5.