Oct. 9, 2004
Truman Falls At Missouri Western 27-16
The Truman Bulldogs still could not find the win column after a 27-16 loss at Missouri Western on Saturday. Truman falls to 0-7 overall and 0-5 in league play, while Missouri Western improves to 4-3 overall and 3-2 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
The game started out well for the Bulldogs, after a three and out defensive stand, Truman had excellent field position and marched 28 yards to set up a 45 yard field goal by junior kicker Mark Kamphoefner (Defiance, Mo./Washington) , which was his career long.
The Griffons answered back on the next drive going 82 yards in six plays scoring on a 36 pass from Kyle Westerberg to Gijon Robinson. However, Kamphoefner hit a 37-yard field goal on the Bulldogs next possession to end the first quarter trailing, 7-6.
The Bulldogs gained possession again and were marching toward taking the lead but the fumble bug struck the team again. This time, senior tight end A.J. Weber (St. Charles, Mo./Duchesne) was stripped of the football inside the five yard line after a completion. The Griffons went 97 yards in six plays, capped off by a 19-yard run by Nick Richardson to go up 14-6.
Following a Westerberg 15-yard touchdown run, Truman put together a 19 play, 68-yard drive resulting in another Kamphoefner field goal to make the score 21-9 at the half,
Truman took six minutes off the clock to start the second half but failed to score any points after Kamphoefner missed a field goal inside of 30 yards. After trading possessions in the third quarter, the Bulldogs finally found the end zone in the fourth on a sophomore Richard Mason (Mexico, Mo./Mexico) 13-yard touchdown reception on a fourth and five play from senior quarterback Jake Czeschin (Fulton, Mo./Fulton).
On the ensuing drive by the Griffons, they put together a seven play, 67-yard possession with Richardson taking it in from eight yards out to put the game away 27-16.
Czeschin was 30 of 42 for 257 yards and a touchdown, while freshman running back Michael Patnode (Princeton, Minn./Princeton) rushed for 118 yards on 20 carries. Weber caught 10 passes for 92 yards, which were both career highs.
The main problem for Truman was the yellow flag. The Bulldogs had 12 penalties for 102 yards and cost them on several drives when they were inside the redzone. Truman was also one for 14 in third-down conversions on the day, but a perfect four for four on fourth down attempts.
Truman will return home next Saturday as they face Central Missouri State University. Game time is at noon. The game has been designated as "Take A Kid To the Game Day" which will allow children to attend free with a paying adult. The game is also Kirksville Community Appreciation Day, with free admission for a donation of two canned food items.