MSSU to play host to Lindenwood for Homecoming

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern football team will play host to Lindenwood University this Saturday as the two teams tangle on Homecoming. The game, which will be televised as the MIAA Game of the Week, will kick off at 2:37 pm from Fred G. Hughes Stadium inside the Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex. 

Game Information
Team Records: MSSU - 1-6, 1-6 MIAA | LWU - 2-5, 2-5 MIAAA
Date: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015
Kick-Off: 2:36 p.m., CT
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Fred G. Hughes Stadium (7,000)
Series Record: Series Tied at 1-1
Coaches: Denver Johnson (1-6 at MSSU, 70-72 overall) | Patrick Ross (103-50 overall/89-47 at Lindenwood)

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/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.

Patrick Ross, the winningest football coach in Lindenwood history, is in his 11th season as the head coach of the Lindenwood program in 2014. He is in his 13th season overall as a collegiate head coach. Ross owns a career coaching record of 103-50 (.717), his teams have appeared in the NAIA Football Championship Series six times, and twice he has earned NAIA National Coach of the Year honors. In his first ten years in St. Charles, he has compiled a record of 89-47, won three HAAC championships, advanced to the NAIA national playoffs five times, including a trip to the national championship game in 2009, and played in the 2013 NCAA Division II Mineral Water Bowl. He became the all-time leader in wins at Lindenwood in 2007, and his .717 winning percentage shatters the previous best mark for the program.

The Series: This is the third-ever meeting between the two schools. Lindenwood took the first match-up in 2012, 45-30, while Missouri Southern won 31-17 in 2014. Both games were played in St. Charles. This will be the first game played in Joplin. The two teams were slated to play two years ago for MSSU's Homecoming game, but the event was cancelled after the tragic shooting death of MSSU Offensive Line Coach, Derek Moore.

The Dish On Lindenwood: Lindenwood is coming off its second win of the season as they defeated Nebraska-Kearney 28-10 at home this past weekend. The Lions won in week one on a last-second touchdown against Washburn, then lost five in a row, including games to three ranked opponents. The Lions have utilized two different starting quarterbacks this season, but Mason Bendigo is listed as the starter this week. He has gong 49-58 through the air for 669 yards and four scores. Jesse Scroggins went 66-140 in the air for 695 yards and three scores when he started. On the ground, Lavorrie Johnson had 70 carries for 284 yards, 4.1 per carry and two scores. Calen Campbell has 162 yards on 36 carries with two touchdowns, while Scroggins has just under 100 yards and two scores on the ground. In the air, Greg Coble and Tre' Roby have the only touchdowns for Lindenwood. Coble has 25 receptions for 396 yards and three scores, while Roby has caught 16 passes for 306 yards and four TD's. Defensivley, Lindenwood is led by Connor Harris. Harris leads the MIAA in tackles with 125, while posting 9.0 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks. Bakari Triggs has one of only two interceptions on the team, while Justin Taylor has 26 tackles and four tackles for a loss. The Lions have 13 sacks as a team.Lindenwood averages just 92.9 yards per game on the ground, while giving up more than 100 (194.6) to its opponents. The Lions are averaging 197.9 per game in the air and give up 230, while they average 290.7 of total offense and give up 424.6. The Lions will be back in action next week as they play host to Central Missouri at 1:30 pm. 

A Victory vs. Lindenwood Would: be the second in a row against Lindenwood and would be second out of three total games played between the two schools.

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 rank 24th in fourth down conversion defense, while ranking 30th in blocked kicks allowed. They rank 36th in turnovers gained, while ranking 37th in interceptions and 38th in fumbles recovered. The team ranks 36th in fewest penalties per game, while ranking 45th in fewest penalties overall.

MIAA Stat Leaders: The Lions rank second in both sacks allowed (fewest) and blocked kicks allowed (fewest). The team ranks third in fourth down defense, turnovers gained, and interceptions, while ranking fourth in fumbles recovered, fewest penalties and fewest penalties per game. They rank fifth in tackles for a loss.

Individual National Leaders: Ricky Green ranks 19th in interceptions, while Johnquavious McBride ranks 43rd. Green ranks 30th in passes defended, while Kyjuan Tate is 31st in total tackles. Stetson Broce is 50th in punting.

MIAA Individual Leaders: Green ranks second in interceptions, while McBride is third. Broce is third in punting, while Chad Nolan ranks third in receiving touchdowns. Green ranks sixth in passes defended, while Tate is sixth in total tackles.

Lions On Radio: The Lions can be heard on the air every game live on KBTN 99.7 FM. Mike McClure is back for his third season covering the Lions, while Scott Boudreaux will provide color commentary.

Tough League/Region: The MIAA has two teams in the coaches top 25 this week. Northwest Missouri is third, while Emporia State is 19th. The Super Region Three, which the Lions are a part of, has seven teams in the top 25. There are 12 teams total that are either ranked or receiving votes in the poll from the region.

Lions On TV: Missouri Southern will be on regional and national TV twice this season. The Lions' homecoming game against Lindenwood will be part of the MIAA's TV Game of the Week, while the game at Pittsburg State will be the NCAA Division II Game of the Week, airing on ESPN3.

Lions On The Web: All of MSSU's football games are carried live online as part of the MIAA's streaming contract with Stretch Internet. Fans can view games live by clicking on the link on www.mssulions.com.

You Look Familiar: Lindenwood offensive coordinator Matt Karleskint was on the staff at Missouri Southern from 2005-10, serving as the offensive coordinator at MSSU, as well. His brother Doug, is the men's basketball coach at Central Missouri.

Interceptions 'R Us: EJ McKenzie and Ricky Green both have multiple interception games this season. The Lions, as a team, have nine interceptions this year.

Have A Game Will: Will Gregory had a season-high for rushing this past week as the California native rushed for 142 yards and a score. The 142 yards is the most rushing yards by a single individual in a game this season for the Lions.

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.

MIAA TV Game Of The Week: The MIAA Football Game of the Week will now be carried in Joplin! KGCS will carry each game of the week live on channel 22 over the air and on regional cable TV stations.

Weather Report: The weather report for the Joplin area on Saturday calls for a high of 71 degrees with a 50 percent chance of morning thunderstorms.

Up Next: The Lions will head back on the road next week as Southern heads to Pittsburg State to take on the Gorillas. The game will be broadcast on ESPN 3 as the NCAA Division II Game of the Week.