Western Continues Storybook Season with Win
By: Justin Sampson
Updated: November 28, 2012
(ARKADELPHIA, Ark.) Not quite as much drama for Missouri Western today as their triple-overtime thriller against Minnesota-Duluth last Saturday.
But the result is the same.
Travis Partridge led the way with 204 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Griffons defeated Henderson State 45-21 for their second playoff win in program history.
Michael Hill was pivotal in another fruitful day on the ground, picking up 129 yards and a score as he surpassed the 2,000-yard mark for the season. Raphael Spencer added another 93 on the ground, the bulk of which came on a 63-yard scoring scamper in the third quarter.
The Reddies got on the board first thanks to bulky back Kevin Nichols as he punched it in from a yard out.
After Hill's 15-yard response, the Griffons tacked on another pair of scores with a Partridge one-yard keeper and a 45-yard field goal by Taylor Anderson.
The Reddies' Harlon Hill Trophy finalist, Kevin Rodgers, put in plenty of work, completing 37 of 65 passes for 412 yards and a touchdown to Israel Valentin late in the final quarter. But he failed to find enough seams in a Griffon defense that pulled down four interceptions on the day.
Partridge found Reggie Jordan for a pair of scores to provide a 31-14 halftime lead that Missouri Western would nurse throughout the second half.
The Griffons will travel to Minnesota State-Mankato next week in the finals of Super Region 3.
But the result is the same.
Travis Partridge led the way with 204 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Griffons defeated Henderson State 45-21 for their second playoff win in program history.
Michael Hill was pivotal in another fruitful day on the ground, picking up 129 yards and a score as he surpassed the 2,000-yard mark for the season. Raphael Spencer added another 93 on the ground, the bulk of which came on a 63-yard scoring scamper in the third quarter.
The Reddies got on the board first thanks to bulky back Kevin Nichols as he punched it in from a yard out.
After Hill's 15-yard response, the Griffons tacked on another pair of scores with a Partridge one-yard keeper and a 45-yard field goal by Taylor Anderson.
The Reddies' Harlon Hill Trophy finalist, Kevin Rodgers, put in plenty of work, completing 37 of 65 passes for 412 yards and a touchdown to Israel Valentin late in the final quarter. But he failed to find enough seams in a Griffon defense that pulled down four interceptions on the day.
Partridge found Reggie Jordan for a pair of scores to provide a 31-14 halftime lead that Missouri Western would nurse throughout the second half.
The Griffons will travel to Minnesota State-Mankato next week in the finals of Super Region 3.
