The Missouri Southern football team will play host to Central Oklahoma this Saturday in MIAA football action. Kickoff from Fred G. Hughes Stadium/Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex is slated for 2 pm.
Game Information
Team Records: MSSU 1-7, 1-7 MIAA | UCO 5-3, 5-3 MIAA
Date: Saturday, October 27, 2018
Kick-Off: 2:00 pm, CT
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Fred G. Hughes Stadium/Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex (7,000)
Series Record: UCO leads 4-2
Coaches: Joe Bettasso (1-4 at MSSU, 11-5 overall) | Nick Bobeck (35-40 at UCO, 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 is just the seventh meeting all-time between the two schools. UCO leads the series 4-2, overall. The Lions defeated Central Oklahoma 25-20 in 2012 in Edmond in the season-opener and also won 52-38 in 2014. UCO picked up a triple overtime win in 2014 in a thriller in Edmond, as well as wins in each of the last three seasons.
The Dish On The Bronchos: The Bronchos are 5-3 this season. UCO lost its first two games of the season, but are 5-1 since then with wins over Lindenwood, Northwest Missouri, Central Missouri, Missouri Western and Washburn. The Bronchos have won three in a row. Quarterback Will Collins will be starting just his fourth game of the year, but has done nicely since stepping into the starting role. He has completed 46-of-63 passes for 622 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. Clay McKenzie is the leading rusher with 99 carries for 378 yards and three scores. Chandler Garrett has 64 carries for 249 yards and three touchdowns. Dustin Basks leads the receiving corps with 45 receptions for 594 yards and four scores. Mekail Hall has 20 catches for 310 yards, while L'liott Curry has 17 catches for 266 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, Colton Lindsey leads the wa with 60 tackles and 4.0 for a loss of 12 yards and an interception. O'Shay Harris has 51 stops with two tackles for a loss, while Eli Hooks has a team-high 3.5 sacks. The Bronchos average 120 yards per game on the ground and 226 in the air for a total of 346 per game of total offense. UCO will be back in action next week traveling to Northeastern State for a 2 pm kickoff at Doc Wadley Stadium.
A Victory vs. UCO Would: stop a four-game winning streak the Bronchos have over the Lions. It would get the Lions to within one on the series with the Bronchos (4-3).
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 nine 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 lead the NCAA in blocked punts allowed, while ranking ninth in fumble recoveries, 31st in fewest penalty yards per game, 37th in fewest penalty yards and 48th in tackles for a loss allowed.
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 punts allowed and fumble recoveries. The team ranks second in turnovers gained, fourth in fumbles lost and fifth in tackles for a loss allowed.
Individual Stats Rankings: Individually, Riley Hathorn ranks 41st in punting and Alan Glanville ranks 41st in forced fumbles.
MIAA Individual Stats Rankings: Hathorn ranks fourth in punting, while Cole Dunbar is fourth in kick returns, Paul Wolff is fifth in field goal percentage and Glanville is 6th in forced fumbles.
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.
Defensive Stand: Twice in the final three minutes against Northeastern State, the Lions' defense held strong and forced a turnover on downs. The first time, NSU had driven inside the Southern 2-yard line and the second was with 30 seconds left and allowed the Lions to go into victory formation.
Spread The Wealth: A total of 15 different Lions have caught a pass this year for Missouri Southern. Tight end Eric Dedrick, Jr. leads the way with 19 catches for 184 yards.
Recovery In Motion: Southern ranks ninth nationally in fumble recoveries as a total of ten different Lions have one fumble recovery each.
Run, Sean, Run: Sean Kelly had his longest run from scrimmage in his career as the quarterback nearly broke off a score with a 58-yard run against NSU.
Hall of Fame: On October 20, former Missouri Southern All-American Colin Bado was inducted into the Missouri Southern Athletics Hall of Fame. 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.
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 67 and mostly sunny conditions. Precipitation chance is listed at 10% with a west, northwest wind of 7 mph.
No comments:
Post a Comment