MoWest football’s defense dooms team in high scoring defeat to Augustana to open season

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) - The MoWest football team fell to Augustana in a high scoring defeat, 63-58 to open the season on Thursday night.

It was a game of ups and downs for the Griffons. MoWest's offense looked as good as it has it years, racking up 727 total yards of offense as junior transfer quarterback Isaiah Tate stuffed the stat sheet in the first half.

Tate accounted for 5 total touchdowns in the first half, 4 through the air and 1 on the ground. Tate finished the game 18-of-29 for 420 yards with 4 touchdown passes and no interceptions. He then added 27 yards rushing and a touchdown on the ground.

But the story of the game was MoWest's defense, the Griffons gave up 641 yards of total offense to the Vikings, including 449 passing yards as Augustana played right with MoWest and then pulled away in the second half.

The score was tied 35-35 at the half, but Tate then went down in the second half with some cramping and redshirt junior Skyler Cassel had to come in. Cassel finished 13-of-18 for 215 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception but MoWest still couldn't overcome its defense.

Five different MoWest receivers caught touchdowns, led by 6'5 junior Malik Moore who had 8 catches for 198 yards and 1 touchdown. Sophomore Crew Myers had 8 catches for 126 yards and a touchdown. A pair of freshman, Payton Hatfield and Emmanuel Ellison caught scores, as did redshirt freshman Austin Adair.

Junior running back Rickie Dunn added 45 yards rushing on 8 carries and a touchdown run for MoWest.

"I think there was touchdowns every way you could possibly imagine tonight. I'm really proud of the two quarterbacks that played. I thought Isaiah (Tate) was on fire, he was hot, he zips the ball around. That was really good to see," said head coach Tyler Fenwick. "Malik Moore has dramatically improved from last year as far as being a playmaker. Yes we struggled on defense but there were multiple possessions where we got down close in the red zone and did not score touchdowns. We have to get better at that, we have to get better at pass defense. All phases we have to get better."

MoWest drops to 0-1 and will next open MIAA Conference play played in Warrensburg against Central Missouri on Thursday, September 3rd at 7 pm.