The Missouri Southern football team will finish the regular season with a road trip to Missouri Western this Saturday. Kick off from Spratt Stadium is slated for 11 am.
Game Information
Team Records: MSSU - 1-8, 1-8 MIAA | MWSU - 5-5, 5-5 MIAAA
Date: Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015
Kick-Off: 11:00 a.m., CT
Location: St. Joseph, Mo.
Site: Spratt Memorial Stadium (8,000)
Series Record: MSSU leads the series 13-12-1
Coaches: Denver Johnson (1-9 at MSSU, 70-75 overall) | Jerry Partridge (144-75 overall/at MWSU)
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/missouri/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.
The winningest coach in Missouri Western history, Jerry Partridge holds an 144-75 overall record and has led the Griffons to ten post-season (2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012) appearances, including trips to the NCAA playoffs in three of the last five seasons. Under Partridge, the Griffons were co-champions of the MIAA in 2003 and outright champs in 2012. Partridge began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Missouri Western following his playing days for the Griffons. Partridge was a three-year letter winner for Western from 1981-84 in the defensive secondary. Partridge served as a graduate assistant coach at both the University of Notre Dame and the University of Missouri and was a member of the Notre Dame coaching staff when the Fighting Irish won the 1988 national title by winning the Fiesta Bowl.
The Series: Missouri Southern holds an all-time record of 23-22 against the Griffons, including a 13-11 mark at Fred G. Hughes Stadium and 10-11 in St. Joseph. The Lions have won three of the last six against the Griffons, including a huge fourth-quarter comeback against then 12th ranked Western in 2009 in St. Joseph and another fourth-quarter comeback in 2012 in St. Joseph against then fourth-ranked Western. Southern dominated the series with the Griffons early on, winning the first five meetings in a row, and ten out of the first 13, but the series is split in the last six meetings.
The Dish On The Griffons: The Griffons started the season 4-2 with its only losses coming to ranked opponents, but since then, Western has gone 1-3. The Griffs are led offensively by running back Raphael Spencer. Spencer has 225 carries, for 1,060 yards and six touchdowns. Josh Caldwell has also contributed 526 yards an four scores. Quarterback Skyler Windmiller has thrown for 1,421 yards and six touchdowns, but has 11 interceptions on the season. Dee Toliver has 30 receptions and 667 yards with four scores through the air, while Brandynn Clark has 328 yards for 14.3 per catch and one score. Alex Ferbet has 23 catches and 293 yards, while accounting for two touchdowns through the air. Defensively, Western is led by Yomi Alli, as he has 100 tackles, including 44 solo and 12.5 from behind the line of scrimmage. Jonathan Owen leads the team with three interceptions and he's second with 77 total tackles, while Cody Lindsay has an impressive 14.5 tackles for a loss with 7.5 sacks. The Griffs average 169 yards on the ground per game, while throwing for 209. The team averages 379 yards of total offense, while giving up 345.
A Victory vs. Missouri Western Would: be the fourth in the last seven tries against the Griffons. It would also stop Western from tying the all-time series record. The Lions lead that record 23-22.
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 13th nationally in fourth down defense while ranking 17th and 18th in fewest penalties per game and fewest penalties overall, respectively. Southern ranks 30th in interceptions, while ranking 32nd in forcing turnovers. The team also ranks 32nd and 37th in fewest penalty yards per game an fewest penalty yards overall, respectively. Southern ranks 43rd in tackles for a loss and 44th in defensive touchdowns.
MIAA Stat Leaders: Southern ranks second in fourth down defense, tackles for a loss, fewest penalties overall and fewest penalties per game, while ranking third in fewest penalty yards and fewest penalty yards per game, as well as defensive touchdowns. The Lions rank fourth in forcing turnovers, as well as interceptions.
Individual National Leaders: Ricky Green ranks 24th in passes defended, while ranking 41st in interceptions. Johnquavious McBride ranks 23rd in solo tackles, while ranking 31st in fumbles recovered. Kyjuan Tate ranks 40th in total tackles, while Stetson Broce ranks 43rd in punting.
MIAA Individual Leaders: Green ranks fourth in passes defended, while ranking fifth in interceptions. McBride ranks foiurth in fumbles recovered and sixth in solo tackles, while Terell Crawford and Chad Nolan rank fourth in receptions per game and receiving touchdowns, respectively. TJ Fleetonranks fifth in completions per game, while Broce ranks fifth in punting.
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 three teams in the coaches top 25 this week. Northwest Missouri is 1st, while Emporia State is 19th and Central Missouri is 20th. The Super Region Three, which the Lions are a part of, has seven teams in the top 25. There are eight 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.
Interceptions 'R Us: EJ McKenzie and Ricky Green both have multiple interception games this season. The Lions, as a team, have 14 interceptions this year.
Three Field Goals: Brock Renken became the first Lion since 2010 to have three field goals in a game when Dallas Herndon had three against Missouri Western. He had three versus Lindenwood
Take It To The House: The Lions have returned interceptions for a touchdown in two of the last three games. Martice Buckley took one back for 30 yards against Lindenwood and EJ McKenzie took one back 35 yards against Pitt State. Buckley was the first person since 2012 when Gatlin Ridgway took it to the house against South Dakota Mines.
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.
TJ's Record-Setting Day: Southern quarterback TJ Fleeton set or tied three school records in his game against Fort Hays State last week. Fleeton broke the school records for completions in a game (36), while also breking the record for most passes in a game without an interception (55). He tied the schoool record for most passes attempted (55).
Mr. 300: Fleeton had his second 300-yard game of the season against Fort Hays State. He is only the third quarterback in the last 11 seasons to accomplish multiple 300-yard games in a season. Adam Hinspeter did it in each of the 2006 and 2008 seasons, while Nathan Emmert had six 300-plus yard games in 2004.
100 Is a Fine Number: Will Gregory has four 100-yard rushing games this season. He joins Giresse Forchu (3), Jay McDowell(3), Chris Barnwell (4) and Kellen Cox (5) as MSSU running backs with three or more 100-yard games in a season in the last four seasons.
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 St. Joseph area on Saturday calls for a high of 65 degrees with a zero percent chance of rain and sunny conditions.
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