WAYNE, Neb. – The Miners dropped their season opener this evening, falling to the Wayne State Wildcats 49-17.
The Miners started the game with the ball, finding good field position early after
Tyler Gioia (Huntington Beach, CA/Edison) broke free for a 19-yard run to the WSC 45 on the third play of the drive. An offensive pass interference penalty on the next play would put the Miners behind the sticks and kill the drive's momentum, leading to a punt on 4th and 11.
A good punt from
Logan Jacobson (Hillsboro, MO/St. Pius X) would put the Wildcats on their own 8 to start their first drive of the day. Shortly after the Wildcats picked up a first down, the Miners committed their second penalty of the day with a late hit out of bounds resulting in a personal foul and setting the home team up at the WSC 37. Two plays later, the Miners would get a big stop on 3rd and 3, with
Joshua Lyles (Sanford, FL/Seminole) and
Paulvin Horton (Raleigh, NC/Garner HS) combining to make the stop.
A touchback set the Miners up at their own 20 for their second drive of the day. The drive started well, with the offense putting together five positive yardage plays in a row before a 12-yard sack on 3rd down put an end to the drive.
With the Miners having to punt from their own 25, the Wildcats were afforded good field position on their next drive, starting at the 50-yard line. After picking up a first down and getting some additional yardage off another Miners penalty, the Wildcats put up the first points of the day on a 21-yard strike from QB Nick Bohn to Kendrick Watkins-Hogue, leading to a 7-0 deficit for S&T.
The Miners got the ball back with 2:48 left in the first, averaging 4 yards per carry on the first six plays of the drive to set up a 4th and 1 as the first quarter came to a close. Coach
Andy Ball elected to go for it on the first play of the 2nd quarter, handing it up the middle to
AJ Harris (Wentzville, MO/Lutheran-St. Charles) for a two-yard pickup and the first down. S&T marched down to the Wayne State 22 before facing another 4th down. They elected to send out special teams this time to attempt a 39-yard field goal, but the attempt missed wide.
The Miner defense forced the Wildcats into a three-and-out, only giving up 8 yards. With the ball at their own 32, the Miners started off their drive with a 15-yard throw from Gioia to
Bryson Burns (Clarksville, TN/Rossview). They would go on to rush for two more first downs in the drive, including one off an 18-yard scramble by Gioia, before a sack on 3rd and 8 pushed the team out of field goal ranged and forced a punt.
A pooch punt out of bounds by Gioia forced the Wildcats into their worst starting field position of the day at their own 3 yardline. The Miners were unable to capitalize on the field position though, as WSC's Latravious Boyd found a gap up the middle on second down and broke away for a 95-yard touchdown.
Now trailing 14-0, the Miners took over possession on their own 18 yardline. The Miners put together their best drive of the half, marching down the field and picking up another 4th-down conversion along the way to setup a 46-yard field to end the half at 14-3.
Wayne State had possession coming out of the locker room, taking a touchback on the kickoff to begin the first drive of the half at the 25. A couple of big runs from the Wildcats got them across the 50 in four plays. Two plays later, an error in coverage by the secondary led to a 29-yard touchdown for the Wildcats as they extended their lead to 21-3.
A three-and-out by the Miners gave WSC the ball back at their own 39. Wayne State's Bohn found WR Trevor Marshall on a chair route for a 47-yard gain on the second play of the drive, setting up an 11-yard rushing touchdown two plays later as the Wildcats pulled further ahead.
The Miners put together a longer drive this time, getting all the way to the WSC38 before having to pooch punt again. DB
David Harris (Maidson, TN/Goodpasture Christian) picked off Bohn on the sixth play of the ensuing drive to give S&T their best starting field position of the day at the WSC45. Three plays later, Gioia threw a pick-six as the Wildcats widened the margin.
S&T found some offensive rhythm late in the game, putting together two 75-yard drives to score a pair of touchdowns on two of their last three drives of the game to make it a 49-17 loss to the Wildcats in the season opener.
Tyler Gioia (Huntington Beach, CA/Edison) threw for 243 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions. He also led the team in rushing with 101 net yards. Newcomer
AJ Harris (Wentzville, MO/Lutheran-St. Charles) took the bulk of the carries out of the backfield, gaining 72 yards on 23 attempts.
Justis Braden (Liberty, MO/Liberty North) led the team in targets with 5, putting up 44 yards and the only receiving touchdown of the day. Wiggins had the most yards of any receiver (68) as well as the longest reception of the day (41 yards).
Defensively,
Carson Prenger (Jefferson City, MO/Blair Oaks) led the team in tackles with 7 (3 solo and 4 combined).
Paulvin Horton (Raleigh, NC/Garner HS) put up a solid stat line, recording 4 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a pass breakup. Meanwhile, Harris recorded the only turnover of the game for the Miner defense.
What's Next
Missouri S&T will remain on the road next week when they travel to Delta State on Sept. 7. The home opener is set for Sep. 14 against Lincoln (Calif.) at AllGood-Bailey Stadium at 6 p.m. Tickets for the 2024 season can be found
here.
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