No. 18 Midwestern State comes back to beat No. 15 Missouri Western
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No. 18 Midwestern State comes back to beat No. 15 Missouri Western

  • 17 November 2006
  • 2 min read

WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Midwestern State University junior quarterback Daniel Polk threw two touchdowns passes to junior DelJuan Lee in the last 3:41 to lead the No. 18 Mustangs to a 28-26 come-from-behind victory over No. 15 Missouri Western State University in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Football Championships Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

MSU (10-2) trailed 26-14 with 5:09 to play after forcing Missouri Western (9-3) to punt following a deep interception by the Griffons.

Polk moved the ball up field to the Western 29 when found DelJuan Lee open on a post route for a touchdown with 3:41 to play.

After a failed onside kick attempt that never went 10 yards, the MSU defense held Missouri Western on three straight plays, forcing a punt that went into the endzone for a touchback.

Starting from his own 20 with just 2:49 to play and one timeout, Polk moved the Mustangs, coverting a key third-and-10 with an 11-yard pass to Lee on the sideline in front of the MWSU bench.

In the next set of downs Midwestern faced a fourth-and-four at the MWSU 37, when Polk found Keith Flanagan for 10 yards and a first down.

After getting the ball to the MWSU 48, Polk found Lee on a crossing route at the Griffon 25.

Lee reversed field, and headed for the far pylon.He picked up a block from Mookie Davis and scooted into end zone for the go-ahead score with 31 seconds to play, completing the 48-yard scoring strike.

MWSU got a fair catch on a pop-over kickoff, putting the ball at the Griffon 26.After one quick pass, Midwestern State ended the Missouri Western hopes with three seconds to play as Dezmond Sherrer picked off MWSU quarterback Matt Landess at the MSU 43.

When the day ended Polk was 15-24 passing for 191 yards with two touchdowns and was intercepted twice.He was also the game's leading rusher with 86 yards, to tally 277 yards of total offense.

Lee had six receptions for 124 yards and both TD grabs.

MWSU was paced by the rushing of Jeremiah White who collected 84 yards on 22 carries and Jamison Burns who picked up 83 yards on 10 carries.

Landess hit 9-of-16 passes for 140 yards with a touchdown and the interception.

Midwestern, who entered the game averaging 470 yards of total offense a game, was held to 357 by the Griffons.MWSU chalked up 293 yards of offense.

Midwestern State, the fourth seed in the Southwest Region, advances to face the region's top seed No. 2 Northwest Missouri State next Saturday in Maryville, Mo.

+++ MSU +++