MSSU football to open Thursday against Emporia State

(From MSSU Lions Athletics)

The Missouri Southern football team will open up the 2015 season this Thursday night when the Lions play host to Emporia State. Kickoff from Fred G. Hughes Stadium inside the Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex is slated for 7 pm.

Game Information

Team Records: MSSU - 0-0, 0-0 MIAA | ESU - 0-0, 0-0 MIAAA
Date: Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015
Kick-Off: 7:00 p.m., CT
Location: Joplin, Mo. 
Site: Fred G. Hughes Stadium (7,000)
Series Record: Southern leads 22-18
Coaches: Denver Johnson (0-0 at MSSU, 69-66 overall) | Garin Higgins (42-58 at ESU, 93-58 overall)

Media Coverage

MSSU Radio: FM 99.7 Real American Country - Mike McClure, Play-by-Play, Scott Boudreaux, Color
Video Webcast: http://www.mssulions.com/links/hlqdgb
Live Stats: http://sidearmstats.com/mssu/football
Lions on Facebook: Facebook.com/mososports
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @mosofootball

The Coaches:

Denver Johnson was named the 13th head coach in Missouri Southern history on April 1, 2015. He comes to Southern after serving four seasons at the University of Tulsa as the Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator. In his four seasons at Tulsa, four of his offensive linemen earned first-team all-league accolades, including Stetson Burnett (2013), Brian DeShane and Jared Grigg (2012) and Clint Anderson (2011). Tyler Holmes was an honorable mention performer in 2011 and spent the 2012 season with the Minnesota Vikings. Johnson coached an offensive line that helped pave the way for a 1,000-yard rusher in two of his final three seasons at Tulsa. In 2012, Tulsa's offense ranked fourth nationally for fewest sacks allowed, ninth for rushing offense, 21st for fewest tackles for lost yardage allowed and 28th for total offense. Johnson has spent a total of 30 years coaching college football. In the summer of 2012, Johnson was awarded the Merv Johnson Integrity in College Coaching Award by the Jim Thorpe Association. Johnson has been the head coach at two Division I institutions garnering a 69-66 overall record in 12 seasons at Murray State and Illinois State. An All-Missouri Valley Conference offensive lineman as a senior for Tulsa, Johnson was an eighth round draft choice by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1981. He spent two years (1981-82) with the Bucs and three seasons in the USFL, playing two years (1983-84) with the Los Angeles Express and the 1985 season with the Houston Gamblers. Johnson's USFL tenure included playing stints with NFL Hall of Fame quarterbacks Jim Kelly and Steve Young. Johnson earned his bachelor's degree in business management from Tulsa in 1981. He and his wife, Danita Kay, have two daughters: Taylor and Kelsey.

Former Hornet Garin Higgins enters his ninth season at his alma mater and last year led the Hornets to a 9-2 record and the school's first NCAA Playoff appearance since 2003. He has an 89-49 record in 12 years as a head coach after going 38-40 in his first seven seasons at ESU. Prior to ESU, Higgins compiled a 51-9 record (.857) as the head coach at Northwestern Oklahoma State University before becoming the co-offensive coordinator at NCAA Division II member Minnesota State in 2005. He was the offensive coordinator at Northeastern State University in 2006. While at NWOSU, the Rangers qualified for the NAIA playoffs five consecutive seasons, had three national title game appearances and he was named the Central State Football League Coach of the Year five straight years from 2000 through 2004.

The Series: Missouri Southern leads the all-time series with an overall record of 22-18, including an 13-6 mark at home and 9-12 record in Emporia. Emporia has won the last three games in a row, but the Lions have won four of the last seven meetings. Southern dominated the series early when both teams were in the NAIA, winning 12 of the first 15 matchups. In the last six meetings between the two schools, the average margin of victory for either team has been just 9.3 points. However, four out of the six games have been decided by a touchdown or less.

A Victory vs. Emporia Would: be the fifth in the last nine tries against ESU. The Lions have won two out of the last three at home against the Hornets.

NFL Representation: The Lions will have two different starters on NFL rosters to start the season. Brandon Williams is a starter on the defensive line for the Baltimore Ravens, while Allen Barbre will on the offensive line for the Philadelphia Eagles.

2014 NCAA Stat Leaders: In 2014, the Lions ranked 3rd nationally in passing yards per completion, while ranking 11th in rushing yardage. The team ranked 16th in fewest passes intercepted, 19th in time of possession, 29th in fewest sacks allowed, 30th in punt returns, 31st in third down conversions, and 32nd in interceptions.

2014 MIAA Stats Leaders: The Lions led the MIAA in 2014 in rushing offense, fewest passes intercepted, fewest sacks allowed and passing yards per completion. The team ranked second in third down percentage, blocked kicks allowed, red zone offense and team passing efficiency. The Lions ranked third in time of possession and punt returns.

2014 Individual National Rankings: Giresse Forchu ranked 22nd in rushing touchdowns in 2014, while ranking 47th in scoring. Ty'Quan Hayes ranked 21st in punt returns in 2014.

MIAA Individual Rankings: Forchu led the MIAA in rushing touchdowns in 2014 with 15, while ranking third in scoring. Hayes ranked second in punt returns and combined kick returns, while both Martice Buckley and Johnquavious McBride ranked third in fumble recoveries.

Rushing It: The Lions ranked 11th nationally in rushing in 2014 and led the MIAA. The Lions averaged 268.5 yards rushing and had 39 rushing touchdowns.

Multiple Touchdown Games: Giresse Forchu had three rushing touchdowns against Central Missouri. He had four multiple touchdown games in 2014 and finished with 15 rushing scores. ranking fourth all-time in single-season rushing scores.

Spread the Wealth: The Lions had eight different players with rushing touchdowns in 2014, led by Forchu's 16.

First Time For Everything: The Lions' game with Pittsburg State in 2014 saw a few firsts the fans hadn't seen in some time. For the first time in three years, the Lions threw for more yards than they rushed for. The team was also held without a rushing touchdown for the first time since September of 2012 at UCM. The Lions also threw for more than 200 yards for the first time since the opener in 2013. It was also the first time the Lions had been held under 100 yards rushing since the final game of the 2010 season.

Tough League/Region: The MIAA has two teams in the coaches top 25 this week. Northwest Missouri is fifth, while Pittsburg State is seventh. The Super Region Three, which the Lions are a part of, has eight teams in the top 25. There are 14 teams total that are either ranked or receiving votes in the poll from the region.

Pass It Long: The Lions don't throw the ball often in 2014, but when they did it they were effective. Southern had seven pass plays of 50 or more yards in 2014 with a long of 83.

New Position: Ty'Quan Hayes will be the team's opening game starting quarterback in 2015 after serving as the Lions' top return specialist in 2014.

Welcome Back Kenny: Defensive Coordinator Kenny Evans is back in green and gold for MSSU. Evans spent nine seasons on the late John Lantz's staff at Missouri Southern from 1989-97 where he helped guide the program into the ranks of NCAA Division II and help MSSU go 51-35 during that stretch.

Defensive Depth: The Lions return five starters on defense from a season ago. Of the 11 starters on defense, however, ten saw significant time over the previous two seasons for MSSU.

New Quarterback: For the first time since the 2007 season (Nathan Emmert), the Lions will not have the previous season's opening game starting quarterback on its roster (not including graduation). Jay McDowell left the program in the off season.

Weather Report: The weather report for the Joplin area on Thursday calls for a high of 90 degrees with mostly sunny conditions and a zero percent chance of rain.

UP Next: The Lions will head north to take on fifth-ranked Northwest Missouri next Thursday. Kickoff from Bearcat Stadium is slated for 7 pm.