Box Score ROLLA, Mo.  --  The Miners defeated William Jewell 49-28 and tied the school record for interception returns in a game with two in the games' three turnover performance by the S&T defense.
 
1st Quarter:
The Miners received the ball first, starting at their own 25. A designed QB keeper on 3rd and 3 led to a career-long 39-yard run for Tyler Gioia (Huntington Beach, CA/Edison), putting the ball down at the Jewell 29. Two players later, Gioia hit CJ Wiggins (Yuma, AZ/Gila Ridge) on a crossing route for a 20-yard touchdown.

Jewell proceeded to march down the field on their first drive of the game, going 64 yards in nine plays, but stalling out at the S&T 22 after a sack by Cameron Sturgell (Lamar, MO/Lamar) on third down. The ensuing 37-yard field goal attempt by Jewell was blocked by John Rasmussen (Arlington, TX/Arlington) with Sturgell scooping up the ball and carrying it a few yards before getting run out of bounds.

A penalty on the tail end of the block field goal would set the Miners up at their own 9 to start their second drive of the day. On the eighth play of the drive, Gioia would hit Wiggins on a deep post for a 54-yard touchdown that would be nullified due to offensive holding, setting up 2nd and 17. A 10-yard rush by Gioia and an 8-yard reception by Wiggins would keep the drive alive, with the Miners succeeding on a fourth down conversion and closing out the quarter with the ball at the Jewell 29.
 
2nd Quarter:
S&T's drive would continue into the second quarter, with the Miners converting on another fourth down before having to settle for a 33-yard field goal attempt that missed right. The Cardinals moved the ball quickly, driving down to the S&T 36 in four plays before a tipped pass led to a 68-yard interception return for a touchdown for Derrick Thomas (Dallas, TX/South Oak Cliff).
 
Jewell would try the run-heavy approach on their next possession, rushing five times before even attempting a throw and having to punt after gaining only one first down. After a good punt by the Cardinals, the Miners started their third drive of the game at their own 16. On a 3rd and 4 early in the drive, Gioia dropped back for a pass and evaded a sack before climbing the pocket and delivering a 43-yard pass to Jarmon in a tight window between two defenders to set the Miners up with first down at the Jewell 19. The Miners went no huddle and scored a touchdown on the ensuing play with Gioia finding Wiggins deep in the middle of the endzone to extend the lead.
 
A pair of short drives for each team would set Jewell up with the ball at their own 20 with just over a minute left in the first half. On the second play of the drive Jewell's Tucker Griffin threw another interception, with another tipped pass getting picked off by Sturgell who returned the ball 22-yards for a touchdown. With S&T up 28-0, the Cardinals elected to run the clock out on their next possession and send the game to halftime.
 
3rd Quarter:
Jewell made a switch at quarterback after Griffin's pair of pick-sixes, putting Jake Shaffer in for the second half. Shaffer led the Cardinals on an 8 play, 64-yard drive that he ended with a 7-yard rushing touchdown to give Jewell their first points of the day.

A quick three-and-out by the Miners gave the Jewell back less than a minute and a half later. On the second play of their drive, Bentley Hart (Brookland, AR/Brookland) broke through the offensive line and forced a fumble on the handoff, leading to a recovery by Peyton Webster (Springfield, IL/Springfield) at the Jewell 25. The Miners would capitalize on the good field position with Gioia scoring a 3-yard rushing touchdown five plays later.

Jewell would answer with another rushing touchdown for Shaffer. A short kickoff by Jewell would start the Miners next drive at the S&T 40. AJ Harris (Wentzville, MO/Lutheran-St. Charles) carried the ball for 20-yards and 39-yards on back-to-back plays, getting tackled at the half yard line on the latter play, which would lead to a rushing touchdown for Gage Hershberger (Mountain Home, AR/Mountain Home) one play later.
 
4th Quarter:
The Cardinals put together another successful between the tail end of the third and the start of the fourth, making it a three-possession game again with 13:45 remaining. The Miners responded quickly though, scoring a 49-yard touchdown on a pass from Gioia to Wiggins that required the latter to make the grab over a defender to secure the catch.
 
Jewell would score on their next drive to bring it back to a three-possession game, but with a little more than 8 minutes left, Coach Andy Ball trusted his backup quarterback Austin Havens (Bixby, OK/Bixby) to lead the offense and burn out the rest of the clock for the rest of the quarter.

What's Next
The Miners return to Allgood-Bailey Stadium next week, with Homecoming game against Lincoln of Missouri on October 26th.

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