Game Information
Team Records: MSSU - 1-3, 1-3 MIAA | UCM - 2-2, 2-2 MIAAA
Date: Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015
Kick-Off: 1:30 p.m., CT
Location: Warresburg, Mo.
Site: Walton Stadium (12,000)
Series Record: Central leads the series 19-15-1
Coaches: Denver Johnson (1-3 at MSSU, 70-69 overall) | Jim Svoboda (93-40 overall, 41-21 at UCM)
Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: FM 99.7 Real American Country - Mike McClure, Play-by-Play, Scott Boudreaux, Color
Video Webcast: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/mssu/
Live Stats: http://sidearmstats.com/ucmo/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.
Jim Svoboda is in his sixth year at the helm of the Mules. He has led the Mules to a 41-21 overall mark, including 34-18 in MIAA play. He has led the Mules to two postseason appearances and UCM had the second most wins in a two-year period during his first two seasons in Warrensburg. Last season, he led the Mules to an 8-4 overall mark and a 7-4 record in MIAA play. The Mules made their third postseason appearance under Svoboda with a berth in the Live United Texarkana Bowl, where UCM beat Southeastern Oklahoma State 48-21. Svoboda has an overall career record of 93-40 in 13 seasons as a collegiate coach.
The Series: Central Missouri holds the all-time series lead against the Lions at 19-15-2. The Lions have an 8-8-1 record at Hughes Stadium against the Mules, while the Lions are just 7-11-1 in Warrensburg. Central has won 14 out of the last 18 meetings. Southern defeated the Mules in 2006 and last season, both games at home. From 1983-1996, the Lions were 7-2 against the Mules.
The Dish On The Mules:
Central Missouri is coming off of a road win at Nebraska-Kearney this past weekend. The Mules opened the season with a win at home over Missouri Western, but dropped back-to-back games against Emporia State and Northwest Missouri. Garrett Fugate leads the offense for the Mules as the quarterback has thrown for 1,130 yards on 78-139 through the air. He has nine touchdowns and two interceptions. Markel Smith and Fugate both have 60 carries on the ground with Smith averaging 4.1 per carry on 248 total yards with one score. Fugate has two scores on the ground. Jaylen Zachery is Fugate's favorite target through the air as he has caught 18 passes for 362 yards, an impressive 20.1 yards per catch. He has three touchdowns. Kyle Echols and Ian Toalson both have ten catches and two scores.
Defensively, Austin Miller leads the team with 31 tackles, including two for a loss and 1.5 sacks. Alex Lackey has 28 stops with 3.0 tackles for a loss, while Teven Teamer has 23 tackles and one sack. Josh powell leads the team with three sacks, while six different players have an interception each. The Mules are averaging 132 yards per game on the ground, while getting just under 300 (294) yards per game in the air. Central has out scored its opponents in every quarter except the fourth with opponents holding a 38-19 advantage on the Mules. Central will be back in action next weekend, traveling to Washburn.
Defensively, Austin Miller leads the team with 31 tackles, including two for a loss and 1.5 sacks. Alex Lackey has 28 stops with 3.0 tackles for a loss, while Teven Teamer has 23 tackles and one sack. Josh powell leads the team with three sacks, while six different players have an interception each. The Mules are averaging 132 yards per game on the ground, while getting just under 300 (294) yards per game in the air. Central has out scored its opponents in every quarter except the fourth with opponents holding a 38-19 advantage on the Mules. Central will be back in action next weekend, traveling to Washburn.
A Victory vs. UCM Would: be the second win in the last three years against the Mules. It would be the first in Warrensburg since 1993.
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 start on the offensive line for the Philadelphia Eagles.
NCAA Stat Leaders: The Lions, lead Division II in both blocked kicks allowed and blocked punts allowed. The team ranks 18th in interceptions, while ranking 26th in fourth down conversion defense. The team ranks 35th in turnovers gained, while ranking 30th and 39th in fewest penalties and fewest penalties per game, respectively. Southern also ranks 47th in both sacks and tackles for a loss.
MIAA Stat Leaders: The Lions lead the MIAA in blocked kicks and blocked punts allowed, while ranking second in fewest sacks allowed. The team ranks third in both fourth down defense and interceptions. Southern ranks fifth in fewest penalties, fewest penalties per game, passes had intercepted, tackles for a loss and turnovers gained.
Individual National Leaders: Ricky Green ranks seventh nationally in interceptions, while Johnquavious McBride and EJ McKenzie rank 38th each. Green ranks 17th nationally in passes defended, while McBride ranks 33rd in fumbles recovered. Stetson Broce ranks 34th in punting, while Kyjuan Tate ranks 47th in total tackles.
MIAA Individual Leaders: Johnquavious McBride ranks third in the MIAA in fumbles recovered, while Ricky Green ranks third in interceptions. McBride and EJ McKenzie rank fifth both in interceptions, while Stetson Broce ranks third in punting. Green ranks sixth in the MIAA in passes defended.
Spread the Wealth: The Lions had eight different players catch a pass in week one and four, while seven caught passes in week two and three. Six different players rushed the ball in week one, while seven got a rush in week two and five in week three and four. In 2014, only ten different players caught a pass all season, while 14 have caught a pass already this year.
Tough League/Region: The MIAA has three teams in the coaches top 25 this week. Northwest Missouri is third, while Pittsburg State is 15th and Emporia State is 23rd. The Super Region Three, which the Lions are a part of, has nine teams in the top 25. There are 15 teams total that are either ranked or receiving votes in the poll from the region.
Two-Minute Drill: TJ Fleeton near perfectly executed the two-minute drill against Washburn. The Lions took the ball at their own 25-yard line with 1:16 left in the game and drove inside the WU ten-yard line, but couldn't complete the drive.
Broce With The Boot: Stetson Broce had a career game this past week against Washburn. The junior had ten punts for 439 yards and an average of 43.9 per kick. He had three over 50 yards, including a 59-yarder and two inside the 50 with one landing at the one-yard line.
Morrison Is Big Time: Jordan Morrison nearly single-handedly got the Lions out of their own side of the field on that final drive against Washburn. The junior caught passes of 10, 9 and 8 yards to put the Lion inside WU territory.
Ricky Green With The Pick: Junior Ricky Green had another interception in the game at Washburn last week. He currently ranks 7th nationally in picks and 3rd in the MIAA in the category. He also ranks 17th nationally in passes defended, while ranking 6th the MIAA.
Interceptions 'R Us: The Lions had three more interceptions at Washburn this past weekend with EJ McKenzie picking up two. He and Ricky Green both have multiple interception games this season. The Lions, as a team, have seven interceptions this year and are on pace to have 20 on the season. That would be the most since the 2007 season when the Lions picked 21 passes.
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.
Defense Have A Game: The Missouri Southern defense came up big against UNK with the Lions' defenders providing five sacks, 12 tackles for a loss, 13 pass break ups and 10 quarterback hurries.
Weather Report: The weather report for the Warrensburg area on Saturday calls for a high of 64 degrees with mostly sunny conditions and a zero percent chance of rain.
Up Next: The Lions will head home and play host to Central Oklahoma at 6 pm next Saturday.
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