The Missouri Southern football team will head to Warrensburg this Saturday for an MIAA matchup with Central Missouri. Kickoff from Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field is slated for 1 pm.
Game Information
Team Records: MSSU - 0-4, 0-4 MIAA | UCM 2-2, 2-2 MIAA
Date: Saturday, September 29, 2018
Kick-Off: 1:00 pm, CT
Location: Warrensburg, Mo.
Site: Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field (11,000)
Series Record: UCM leads 22-15-2
Coaches: Joe Bettasso (0-1 at MSSU, 10-2 overall) | Jim Svoboda (67-30 at UCM/119-49 overall)
Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: Fox Sports Joplin 101.3, 101.7 and AM 1560; 88.7 FM KXMS - Mike McClure, Play-by-Play, Scott Boudreaux, Color
Video Webcast: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/mssulions
Live Stats: https://www.ucmathletics.com.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
Lions on Facebook: Facebook.com/mososports
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @mosofootball
The Series: Central Missouri holds the all-time series lead against the Lions at 22-15-2. The Lions have an 8-9-1 record at Hughes Stadium against the Mules, while the Lions are just 7-13-1 in Warrensburg. Central has won 16 out of the last 20 meetings. Southern defeated the Mules in 2006 and 2013, both games at home. From 1983-1996, the Lions were 7-2 against the Mules.
The Dish On The Mules: The Mules are 2-2 on the season. Central started with a loss at No. 5 Fort Hays State, but the Mules rebounded for wins at home over Northeastern State and Missouri Western, before losing last week on the road at Washburn. Central is led by freshman quarterback Jeremy Hunt, playing in place of injured Brook Bolles. Hunt is 56-of-92 for 877 yards and 8 touchdowns through the air. His favorite targets include Shae Watt (17 rec., 301 yards, 2 TD), as well as Kyrion Parker (16 rec., 306 yards, 4 TD). Devante Turner is leading the ground attack with 49 carries for 228 yards and two touchdowns. Koby Wilkerson has 201 yards and two scores, while Dashawn Bates has 110 yards and one touchdown. Defensively, the Mules are led by Dylan Albertson with 29 tackles, including a blocked kick and a pass break up. John Embrey has 26 tackles and 4.5 for a loss with one sack, while Kolesen Crane has a sack and three pass break ups to go with 25 total tackles. Duane Dlayton and Andrew Houston have the lone interceptions on the team. Central averages 524.2 yards per game, while giving up 317. The Mules are averaging 327.2 yards in the air and 197 on the ground each game and have out scored their opponents by a margin of 150-72. The Mules will be back in action next week as Central will be at Central Oklahoma for a 2 pm kickoff from Wantland Stadium.
A Victory vs. Central Missouri Would: be just the sixth in the last 22 meetings with the Mules. It would bring the season series to 22-17-2 in favor of the Mules and would stop a 17-game overall losing streak for MSSU. It would be the first MSSU win for interim head coach Joe Bettasso.
NFL Representation: The Lions will have Brandon Williams as the lone MSSU alum in the NFL this season. Williams has blossomed into one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL and last season became one of the highest-paid, as well, signing a five-year, $54 million contract.
NFL Executive: Former Lion and former NFL wide receiver James Thrash is in his second season serving as the NFL and NFLPA's Appeals Officer. He hears all appeals for the NFL regarding on-field player discipline. Thrash played 12 seasons in the NFL for the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles.
Lions On Radio: The Lions will partner with Fox Sports Joplin this year as Southern can now be heard on three separate FM stations, as well as an AM station. Fox Sports Joplin will air the Lions' games on 101.3 and 101.7 FM, as well as AM 1560. MSSU's KXMS 88.7 will also simulcast the games giving the Lions a larger reach in the four-states than they've ever had.
Tough League/Region: The MIAA has three teams in the coaches top 25 this week. Pittsburg State is 10th, while Northwest Missouri is 17th and Fort Hays State is 18th. The Super Region Three, which the Lions are a part of, has four teams in the top ten and 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.
Lions On TV: Missouri Southern's KGCS will air every Lions home game live this year during the season. They will also re-broadcast the games on Sunday evenings at 7 pm.
Lions On The Web: All of MSSU's football games are carried live online as part of the MIAA Network. Fans can go to www.mssulions.com to view live and on-demand games.
Streaming Options: Fans now have even more options to view the Lions online in their homes and on the road. Not only can you view on your computer, fans can now view The MIAA Network on its over the top apps for either Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Android TV.
NCAA Team Stats Rankings: The Lions lead the NCAA in blocked kicks and punts allowed this year, while ranking 31st in fumbles recovered, 36th in fewest penalty yards per game, 47th in fewest penalty yards and 49th in fewest penalties.
MIAA Team Stats Rankings: This year, the Lions lead the MIAA in fewest penalty yards and fewest penalty yards per game, while also leading the league in blocked kicks and punts allowed. Southern ranks second in fumbles recovered and fourth in fourth down defense.
Individual Stats Rankings: Individually, Alex Alvarado, Trevor Plafcan, Richard Jordan Jr. and Lorenzo Credit all rank 29th nationally in fumbles recovered. Paul Wolff leads the NCAA in field goal percentage, while ranking 36th in field goals per game. Justin Legier is 42nd in total tackles, while Riley Hathorn is 55th in punting.
MIAA Individual Stats Rankings: Alvarado, Plafcan, Jordan and Credit rank second in fumble recoveries, while Wolff is first in field goal percentage and fourth in field goals per game. Legier is fourth in total tackles, while Hathorn ranks sixth in punting.
New Interim Head Coach: Lions' defensive coordinator Joe Bettasso has be tabbed as the Interim Head Coach after Denver Johnson stepped down on September 18.
Run Em Up Batie: Caleb Batie had an impressive first game at Fred G. Hughes Stadium. The sophomore rushed for 151 yards on 19 carries with zero negative yardage against Lindenwood.
A Perfect Leg: Paul Wolff was perfect again against Fort Hays State, making field goals of 39 and 33 yards, while also going 1-for-1 on extra point attempts. This season, Wolff is 4-4 on field goals and 3-3 on extra points.
Special Teams Success: Wolff had a perfect day kicking for the Lions, while Hathorn was no slouch punting the ball. Hathorn averaged 42.8 yards per kick against FHSU and had a long of 60 with two inside the 20.
Tackling a Legacy: Richard Jordan Jr., the son of Lions' Hall of Famer Richard Jordan Sr. is following in his father's footsteps rather nicely. Jordan recorded his first collegiate sack against Lindenwood and followed that up with a pass break up on the ensuing play.
Welcome Back Joe: Former Lion Joe Bettasso has returned to the Green and Gold as the Interim Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator. Bettasso played for Southern from 2002 - 2005 and later was a student assistant coach for the Lions.
Defensive Lineage: Three former Lions' defensive coaches, all whom current Interim Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Joe Bettasso learned under, are all in high-profile positions. Scottie Hazelton (04-05) is the Defensive Coordinator at Wyoming, Brian Ward (2005) is the Defensive Coordinator at Syracuse and Todd Wash (2004) is the Defensive Coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL.
Weather Report: The weather report for the Warrensburg area on Saturday calls for a high of 68 and morning showers. Precipitation chance is listed at 40% with an ESE wind of 9 mph.
No comments:
Post a Comment