Box Score Kearney, Neb. - The 8th-ranked Missouri Western State Griffons ran for 243 yards in the second half, and scored touchdowns on four straight drives, to beat Nebraska-Kearney, 38-14, Saturday night in St. Joseph, Mo.

The Griffons improve to 3-0 (2-0 MIAA) while the Lopers fall to 0-3 (0-3 MIAA).

UNK tied the game at seven early in the second quarter on a 58-yard run by senior Tommy Flanagan (Golden, Colo.). However, Western used a nine play, 87-yard scoring drive to end the first half and go into the locker room up 14-7.

That drive almost ended after one play as senior safety Sam Kuck (Central City) forced a fumble. But, the Griffons recovered the loose ball at its own 20-yard line and, two plays later, converted on 3rd and one.

Western also had a bit of luck a drive earlier as a pass by QB Travis Partdridge was almost picked off at the Griffon 16-yard line. On the play, Kuck and senior ILB Rashard King (Miami Beach, Fla.) got to the ball at the exact same time.

The Griffons first three drives of the second half covered 68, 35 and 75 yards as they moved out to a 35-7 lead. The first drive featured three 3rd down conversions while the last two featured four plays of 10 yards or more.

On the night, MWSU senior running back Michael Hill finished with 160 yards on 24 carries with his back up, Raphael Spencer, carrying the ball eight times for 84 yards. Partridge (6-4, 230 lbs.) had a big second half and finished with 78 yards on seven carries. Overall, Western had 351 rushing yards on 46 totes.

In the air, Partridge went 15 of 26 for 198 yards, four TD's and one INT. He threw passes to seven different players with four catching a TD.

For UNK, Flanagan rushed for 130 yards on 16 carries and also threw a 43-yard TD pass to senior WR O'Neill Chambers (St. Cloud, Fla.) on a halfback pass early in the fourth. Flanagan also led the Lopers in catches with five and averaged 40.0 yards on seven punts.

The Lopers used two QB's in redshirt freshman Aric Kaiser (Broomfield, Colo.) and sophomore Tyler D'Amore (Tucson, Ariz.). They combined to go 13 of 26 for 84 yards and one INT. D'Amore also had a 20-yard run.

Finally on offense, sophomore RB Daniel Rankin (Peoria, Ariz.) had a late 45-yard scamper to finish with 52 rushing yards with Chambers having four catches for 75 yards.

Missouri Western ended with 549 yards on 72 plays (7.6 av.g) while the Lopers amassed 325 yards in 62 plays (5.2 avg).

Defensively, UNK got 11 tackles from Kuck, nine from junior OLB Jack Douglas (Weeping Water) and eight from junior corner Ryan Lendrum (Carlsbad, Calif.).

Senior d-end David Bass paced Western as he recorded 11 tackles, including 1.5 TFL.

UNK hosts three-time national champ NW Missouri State next Saturday at 4:00 p.m. The game caps 2012 Homecoming festivities.