The Missouri Southern football team will head to Topeka this Saturday as the Lions will take on Washburn University. Kickoff from Yaeger Stadium/Moore Bowl is slated for 1 pm.
Game Information
Team Records: MSSU 0-6, 0-6 MIAA | WU 3-3, 3-3 MIAA
Date: Saturday, October 13, 2018
Kick-Off: 1:00 pm, CT
Location: Topeka, Kan.
Site: Yaeger Stadium/Moore Bowl (7,200)
Series Record: WU leads 24-21-1
Coaches: Joe Bettasso (0-3 at MSSU, 10-4 overall) | Craig Schurig (113-77 at WU, 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.wusports.com.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
Lions on Facebook: Facebook.com/mososports
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @mosofootball
The Series: The Ichabods lead the series between the two teams at 24-21-1. The Lions hold an 11-10-1 mark at Hughes Stadium and a 10-14 mark in Topeka. Southern last defeated the Ichabods in 2014 when the Lions won 42-21 at home. Washburn had won eight in a row before the Lions' win last season.From 1989 to 1997, the Lions won nine games in a row in a stretch that included ten of 11, as well.
The Dish On The Ichabods: The Ichabods are 3-3 on the season with losses to No. 6 Northwest Missouri, No. 17 Fort Hays State and Missouri Western, while winning games against Lindenwood, No. 19 Central Missouri and Northeastern State. Washburn's offense rides squarely on the shoulders of wide receiver James Brania-Hopp. He leads the MIAA in all-purpose yards, receiving yards, receiving yards per game and receptions. He has 36 receptions this year for 636 yards and 17.7 per catch with three scores. Jace Williams and James Letcher, Jr. both have a receiving touchdown each. Throwing those passes for the Ichabods are a pair of quarterbacks. Blake Peterson started the season, but was injured in game one. Mitch Schurig backed up and has played well. Peterson is now back in the fold, as well. Peterson is 43-of-88 on the season for 608 yards and three touchdowns. Schurig, the son of coach Craig Schurig, is 57-of-95 for 822 yards and seven touchdowns. Hunter Browning leads the rushing attack with 59 carries on 277 yards and two touchdowns. Kamani Addison and Curtis Whitten both have two scores on the ground. Defensively, Washburn is led by Austin Tillman with 63 tackles on the year. Tillman ranks third in the MIAA in total tackles, while Derrick McGreevy (60 tackles, 1.5 sacks) ranks second in solo tackles. Tillman has two sacks on the year, while Heath Tucker has two interceptions. The Ichabods, as a team, average 144.3 yards on the ground and 247.5 yards in the air for 391.8 yards per game. Washburn ranks 9th nationally in fourth-down conversion percentage, while ranking 17th in blocked kicks. The Ichabods will be on the road next week at Central Oklahoma.
A Victory vs. Washburn Would: be two in the last five against the Ichabods. It would nearly even the series between the two teams, but would be just the second win in the last 14 games against Wasbhburn. It would stop an 19-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 two teams in the coaches top 25 this week. Northwest Missouri is 13th, while Pittsburg State is 18th. The Super Region Three, which the Lions are a part of, has three teams in the top ten and has nine teams in the top 25. There are 12 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, while ranking 13th in fewest penalty yards per game, 16th in fewest penalty yards, 30th in fewest penalties per game and 39th in fewest penalties. The team ranks 46th in fumbles recovered and 57th in tackles for a loss allowed.
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 kicks and punts allowed. The team ranks third in fumbles recovered and sixth in both tackles for a loss allowed and fourth down defense.
Individual Stats Rankings: Individually, Alex Alvarado, Trevor Plafcan, Richard Jordan Jr. and Lorenzo Credit all rank 66th nationally in fumbles recovered. Riley Hathorn ranks 39th in punting, while Alan Glanville ranks 43rd in solo tackles.
MIAA Individual Stats Rankings: Alvarado, Plafcan, Jordan and Credit rank third in fumble recoveries, while Paul Wolff is fourth in field goal percentage and Cole Dunbar is fourth in kick returns. Hathorn ranks fourth in punting. Alan Glanville is fifth in solo tackles.
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 Missouri Western, connecting on a field goal of 43 yards, while also going 1-for-1 on extra point attempts. It was the first time a Lion had connected on a field goal of 40 yards or more since Brock Renken hit a 48-yarder against UCO last season. This season, Wolff is 5-5 on field goals and 4-4 on extra points.
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 Topeka area on Saturday calls for a high of 58 and mostly cloudy conditions. Precipitation chance is listed at 20% with a South wind of eight mph.
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