Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern football team will head to Maryville this Saturday as the Lions will take on fourth-ranked Northwest Missouri. Kickoff from Bearcat Stadium/Tjeerdsma Field is slated for 1:30 pm
Game Information
Team Records: MSSU - 0-2, 0-2 MIAA | NWMSU 2-0, 2-0 MIAA
Date: Saturday, September 15, 2018
Kick-Off: 1:30 pm, CT
Location: Maryville, Mo.
Site: Bearcat Stadium/Tjeersdma Field (6,500)
Series Record: NWMSU leads 25-4
Coaches: Denver Johnson (3-32 at MSSU, 72-98 overall) | Rich Wright (11-3 at NWMSU/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: http://www.bearcatsports.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
Lions on Facebook: Facebook.com/mososports
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @mosofootball
The Series: Northwest holds a 25-4 record against the Lions. Southern won last in 1994, 34-9 at Hughes Stadium, the only win at home in the series. Southern is 3-12 in Maryville, and 1-13 at home, but haven't beat the Bearcats since 1994. Since 1998, the average margin of victory for Northwest has been 34 points. The Bearcats own the longest current winning streak against the Lions at 23-straight games.
The Dish On Northwest Missouri State: Northwest Missouri is 2-0 and ranked 4th nationally in the latest AFCA Coaches Poll. The Bearcaats have wins against Missouri Western and Washburn to start the season. Northwest is led offensively by quarterback Braden Wright. Wright has 21 carries for 181 yards and three scores on the ground, while he's 39-of-59 in the air for 449 yards and four touchdowns. Isaiah Strayhorn and Josh Caldwell both have 19 carries each, more than 100 yards on the ground and a touchdown apiece, rushing. Shane Bane is the top receiver for the Bearcats with nine receptions for 178 yards, including 19.8 per catch and 1 touchdown. Alec Tatum, the son of former Lions head coach Bart Tatum, has seven catches for 76 yards and 10.9 per catch, while Caldwell has caught six passes out of the backfield for 23 yards and a score. Defensively, the Bearcats are led by Jack Richards with 18 tackles, including 11 solo, a tackle for a loss and three pass break ups. Andy Hessler has 16 tackles, a sack, 7.0 tackles for a loss and a quarterback hurry, while Chance Hall has nine stops and an interception. The Bearcats will be back in action next week, with a trip to Central Oklahoma to take on the Bronchos at 6 pm.
The Dish On Northwest Missouri State: Northwest Missouri is 2-0 and ranked 4th nationally in the latest AFCA Coaches Poll. The Bearcaats have wins against Missouri Western and Washburn to start the season. Northwest is led offensively by quarterback Braden Wright. Wright has 21 carries for 181 yards and three scores on the ground, while he's 39-of-59 in the air for 449 yards and four touchdowns. Isaiah Strayhorn and Josh Caldwell both have 19 carries each, more than 100 yards on the ground and a touchdown apiece, rushing. Shane Bane is the top receiver for the Bearcats with nine receptions for 178 yards, including 19.8 per catch and 1 touchdown. Alec Tatum, the son of former Lions head coach Bart Tatum, has seven catches for 76 yards and 10.9 per catch, while Caldwell has caught six passes out of the backfield for 23 yards and a score. Defensively, the Bearcats are led by Jack Richards with 18 tackles, including 11 solo, a tackle for a loss and three pass break ups. Andy Hessler has 16 tackles, a sack, 7.0 tackles for a loss and a quarterback hurry, while Chance Hall has nine stops and an interception. The Bearcats will be back in action next week, with a trip to Central Oklahoma to take on the Bronchos at 6 pm.
A Victory vs. the Bearcats Would: stop a 23-game losing streak to Northwest Missouri and would be the first win in Maryville since 1991. It would be just the fifth in the series against the Bearcats and would stop a 15-game overall losing streak for MSSU.
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 four teams in the coaches top 25 this week. Northwest Missouri is 4th, while Fort Hays is 17th, Central Missouri is 20th and Pittsburg State is 23rd. The Super Region Three, which the Lions are a part of, has ten teams in the top 25. There are 13 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 rank first as a team in fourth down conversion defense and blocked kicks and punts allowed. The team 25th in passes had intercepted, 29th in fewest penalty yards per game, 31st in fewest penalty yards, 38th in tackles for a loss allowed and 41st for team tackles for a loss
MIAA Team Stats Rankings: This year, the Lions lead the MIAA in fourth down conversion defense and blocked kicks and punts allowed. The team is second in tackles for a loss, third in tackles for a loss allowed and fourth in passes had intercepted, punting, fewest penalty yards per game and fewest penalty yards.
Individual Stats Rankings: Individually, Paul Wolff leads the NCAA in field goal percentage, while Deshon Cowling ranks 13th in solo tackles and 17th in total tackles. Alex Alvarado ranks 8th in fumbles recovered and Caleb Batie ranks 32nd in rushing yards per game.
MIAA Individual Stats Rankings: Wolf leads the MIAA In field goal percentage, while Alvarado leads in fumbles recovered. Cowling is second in solo tackles and total tackles, while Caleb Batie ranks third in rushing yards per game. Shemar Coleman and John Ejizu rank third in kickoff returns and passes defended, respectively, while Riley Hathorn ranks fourth in punting and Cole Dunbar is fourth in receptions per game. Sean Kelly ranks third in completions per game.
Tackle Em Up: In the Lions' opener, Deshon Cowling had a game-high 13 tackles and he followed that up with 12 in game two. Justin Legier had ten tackles in his first game and 11 in week two, while Akel Beard had 11 in week two, as well.
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 against Lindenwood, making field goals of 35 and 37 yards, while also going 1-for-1 on extra point attempts.
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 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 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.
Anniversary Game: This Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of the first-ever football game played by Missouri Southern as a four-year school. That day back in 1968, the Lions played at Northeastern State to open the 1968 season.
Weather Report: The weather report for the Maryville area on Saturday calls for a high of 88 and mostly sunny skies with a 10 percent chance of precipitation.
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