The Missouri Southern football team will play host to 18th-ranked Fort Hays State this Saturday in an MIAA football contest. Kickoff from Fred G. Hughes Stadium inside the Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex is slated for 6 pm.
Game Information
Team Records: MSSU - 0-3, 0-3 MIAA | FHSU 2-1, 2-1 MIAA
Date: Saturday, September 22, 2018
Kick-Off: 6:00 pm, CT
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Fred G. Hughes Stadium/Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex (7,000)
Series Record: FHSU leads 15-13-1
Coaches: Joe Bettasso (0-0 at MSSU, 10-1 overall) | Chris Brown (49-31 at FHSU/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.mssulions.com.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
Lions on Facebook: Facebook.com/mososports
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @mosofootball
The Series: Fort Hays State leads the all-time series 15-13-1. The Lions have a 6-7 record at Hughes Stadium and are 7-8-1 at Lewis Field in Hays. The two teams renewed their series in 2006 for the first time since 1988, with the Tigers snapping a season-long losing streak with a 10-0 win over Southern. Prior to that, the last time for the two to meet was when both schools were a member of the NAIA Central States Intercollegiate Conference. Southern won that game 21-10. Southern has won nine of the last 15 games against the Tigers, dating back to the 1983 season.
The Dish On The Tigers: The Tigers are 2-1 on the season and come into the game with the Lions ranked 18th nationally in the latest Football Coaches Poll. FHSU is the reigning MIAA Champs. The Tigers are led offensively by quarterback Jacob Mezera who is 68-for-126 with 694 yards and five touchdowns. Charles Tigner is the leading rusher with 49 carries for 208 yards and a touchdown, while DJ Hickman has 56 yards and a score. Through the air, Mezera targets Harley Hazlett the most with 17 receptions for 144 yards and a score. Layne Bieberle has 12 catches for 158 yards and a touchdown, while Matt Wendelberger has 120 yards and nine catches with a score. Defensively Jose Delgado leads the team with 29 tackles, 2.5 for a loss, a quarterback hurry and a forced fumble. Connor Shedeed has 24 tackles and an interception, while Doyin Jibowu has 23 tackles, 4.0 TFL and a sack. Wyatt Parker has 20 tackles with 1.5 sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. As a team, the Tigers are averaging 243 yards per game in the air and 330 in total offense per game. Fort Hays will be back in action next week as the Tigers play host to Central Oklahoma in a 7 pm kickoff on Saturday.
A Victory vs. Fort Hays State Would: stop a 5-game losing streak to Fort Hays State and would stop a 16-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 four teams in the coaches top 25 this week. Northwest Missouri is 4th, while Pittsburg State is 15th, Fort Hays is 18th and Central Missouri is 19th. 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 38th in passes had intercepted and fewest penalty yards per game and 47th in fewest penalty yards.
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 third in fewest penalty yards and fewest penalty yards per game, while ranking fifth in passes had intercepted.
Individual Stats Rankings: Individually, Alex Alvarado and Trevor Plafcan both rank 18th in fumble recoveries, while Shemar Coleman ranks 34th in kickoff returns. Deshon Cowling is 40th in total tackles.
MIAA Individual Stats Rankings: Alvarado and Plafcan rank second in fumble recoveries, while Cowling is fourth in total tackles and interceptions per game. Sean Kelly is fourth in completions per game.
New Interim Head Coach: Lions' defensive coordinator Joe Bettasso has be tabbed as the Interim Head Coach after Denver Johnson stepped down this week.
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 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 Joplin area on Saturday calls for a high of 68 and rainy conditions with a 100 percent chance of precipitation and winds out of the east-northeast at 9 mph.
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