Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern football team forced two fumbles and added an interception, but the Lions couldn't slow down the Missouri Western offensive attack and fell 51-14 to the Griffons tonight at Fred G. Hughes Stadium inside the Robert W. Plaster Sports Comlex. 

Southern (0-2, 0-2 MIAA) saw sophomore transfer Brayden Scott make his first extended appearance for the Lions as Scott went 15-24 for 159 yards and a touchdown, his first of his career. TJ Fleeton was 9-13 through the air for 95 yards. Scott Lathrop caught eight passes for 54 yards, while Jocqui Davis caught four passes for 90 yards and a score, his first of his career. Jordan Morrison also caught three passes for 52 yards. 

Jay Hadley had 9 rushes for 28 yards, while Ja'Kori Bell had three for 14 and Devin Chafin had six for 14. 

Defensively, Patrick Cheek led the team with nine stops, while Justin Legier and Austin Archey had seven stops each. Romel Hill and Trevor Plafcan both had a forced fumble, while Travel Smith and Brandon Martin recovered a fumble each. Ricky Green had an interception and three stops, while Keith Beverly had two pass break ups. 

Neither team scored on its first two drives, but Western (2-0, 2-0 MIAA) put the ball in the end zone on its third possession as Skyler Windmiller hooked up with Terry Jackson for a 34-yard score through the air. The first quarter ended as the Griffons were driving deep in Southern territory and Windmiller rushed for six yards and a score to make the score 14-0 just after the start of the second quarter. 

The Lions got on the board after the defense forced its first fumble. Kendall Short rushed for no gain and Plafcan forced a fumble that Smith picked up and returned eight yards to the Western four-yard line. The drive stalled, but Brock Renken hit the first of his two field goals in the night, this one a 22-yarder that made the score 14-3. 

The Griffons got a 43-yard touchdown run from Josh Caldwell to make the score 21-3 with 8:05 left in the second quarter and another 22-yard field goal from Renken with 2:13 left in the quarter made the score 21-6. 

The Lions again made something happen as on the ensuing kickoff, Romel Hill forced a fumble that was recovered by Brandon Martin at the Western 19-yard line. Renken attempted his third field goal of the half, this time a 31-yarder, but this one was blocked, giving the Griffons the bacll back on their own 15-yard line. Western wasted little time as Windmiller hit Brock Broughton for a 55-yard touchdown pass to give the Griffons a 28-6 lead at the half. 

The Lions got two more points as Demontra McNealy blocked a punt by the Griffons out of the end zone for a safety to make the score 28-6. Windmiller added his second rushing touchdown of the night to make the score 34-8 at the end of the third. 

The Griffons added another touchdown before southern scored on a 65-yard touchdown pass from Scott to Davis to make the score 41-14 with 10:09 left in the fourth. Western added a field goal and a touchdown run late for the final tallies. 

Southern will be back in action next weekend as the Lions travel to Emporia State to battle the Hornets. Kickoff is slated for 2 pm.