The Missouri Southern football team will play host to Northeastern State this Saturday in the annual Hall of Fame Game. Kickoff from Fred G. Hughes Stadium/Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex is slated for 5 pm.
Game Information
Team Records: MSSU 0-7, 0-7 MIAA | NSU 0-7, 0-7 MIAA
Date: Saturday, October 20, 2018
Kick-Off: 5:00 pm, CT
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Fred G. Hughes Stadium/Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex (7,000)
Series Record: NSU leads 12-9
Coaches: Joe Bettasso (0-4 at MSSU, 10-5 overall) | Rob Robinson (6-43 at NSU, 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: This will be the 23rd meeting in the series between the two schools. Northeastern State leads the series 12-9, but the Lions have won nine of the last 15 games between the two teams. Northeastern State was the Lions' first-ever opponent as a four-year school as NSU downed Southern 45-0 in 1968. The RiverHawks dominated the series early on, winning the first seven games in a row, but it has been mostly Southern over the last nine outings. The Lions are 4-7 in Tahlequah, while holding an 5-5 mark in Joplin with one game being vacated by the Lions in 1997.
The Dish On The RiverHawks: The RiverHawks are 0-7 on the season. NSU averages 61.7 yards per game on the ground and 150 yards per game in the air for 211.7 yards of total offense per game. Cade Yeager leads the passing attack for NSU and is 41-of-93 on the season for 488 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Jake Pruitt is 36-of-85 for 413 yards and two touchdowns, as well as a total of five different players have thrown passes for the RiverHawks this season. Craig Davis and Tre'Von Overstreet lead the rushing attack. Davis has 51 carries for 187 yards and two scores, while Overstreet has 53 carries for 150 yards and no scores. Boo McKnight has a rushing touchdown of his own. Ryheem Brummitt is the top receiver with 27 receptions for 436 yards and three scores. Callen Houston (19 rec., 176 yards) and Isaiah Upshaw (15 rec., 194 yards) have both caught significant passes, but yet to catch a touchdown this season. Defensively, Courtland Clark is the top tackler with 55 stops, four pass break ups, a forced fumble and a recovery. Jean Bazlie has 52 tackles and two tackles for a loss, while J'Quille Washington has 48 stops with two sacks and a quarterback hurry. Ja'len Evans is one of three RiverHawks with a single interception each. NSU will be back in action next week when the RiverHawks play host to Northwest Missouri State inside Doc Wadley Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 2 pm.
A Victory vs. NSU Would: stop a 19-game losing streak for the Lions and would be five wins in the last seven tries over the RiverHawks 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 one team in the coaches top 25 this week. Northwest Missouri is 11th. The Super Region Three, which the Lions are a part of, has three teams in the top ten and has eight 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 Blocked punts allowed, while ranking ninth in fumbles recovered. The team ranks 14th in fewest penalty yards per game and 18th in fewest penalty yards, while ranking 31st in fewest penalties per game and 39th in fewest penalties.
MIAA Team Stats Rankings: This year, the Lions lead the MIAA in fewest penalty yards, fewest penalties, fewest penalties per game, fewest penalty yards per game while also leading the league in blocked punts allowed and fumble recoveries. The team ranks fifth in turnovers gained.
Individual Stats Rankings: Individually, Riley Hawthorn ranks 34th in punting, while Paul Wolff ranks 35th in field goal percentage.
MIAA Individual Stats Rankings: Wolf ranks third in the league in field goal percentage, while Hathorn ranks fourth in punting. Cole Dunbar ranks third in kick returns (punt and kickoff).
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.
Spread The Wealth: A total of 14 different Lions have caught a pass this year for Missouri Southern. Tight end Eric Dedrick, Jr. leads the way with 18 catches for 179 yards.
Recovery In Motion: Southern ranks ninth nationally in fumble recoveries as a total of nine different Lions have one fumble recovery each.
Hall of Fame Game: Former Missouri Southern All-American Colin Bado will be inducted into the Missouri Southern Athletics Hall of Fame this weekend. Bado led all of Division II with 88 receptions in 2006 and finished his career with a school-record 250 receptions, 54 in front of the next highest mark.
Watch Party Headquarters: For those wanting to catch the Lions on the road, but not able to travel, Gusanos in Joplin will host the official road watch party each Saturday. Come by their location at 7th and Duquesne to check out all the action.
Back-To-Back 15: In back-to-back weeks, two separate Lions' defenders posted 15-tackle games. Justin Legier had 15 stops against Fort Hays State, while Alan Glanville had 15 tackles against Central Missouri in his first extended action of the season. Glanville followed that up this past week with 17 stops against Missouri Western.
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.
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 64 and mostly sunny conditions. Precipitation chance is listed at 10% with a North wind of 13 mph.
No comments:
Post a Comment