The Missouri Southern football team will close out 2018 this weekend as the Lions play host to Pittsburg State in the 2018 Miners Bowl. Kickoff from Fred G. Hughes Stadium inside the Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex is slated for 2 pm.
Game Information
Team Records: MSSU 1-9, 1-9 MIAA | PSU 7-3, 7-3 MIAA
Date: Saturday, November 10, 2018
Kick-Off: 2:00 pm, CT
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Fred G. Hughes Stadium (7,000)
Series Record: PSU leads 40-9-1
Coaches: Joe Bettasso (1-6 at MSSU, 11-7 overall) | Tim Beck (75-30 at PSU, 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: Pittsburg State holds a 40-9-1 advantage in the series and had won 19 in a row before the Lions won 35-21 2013 in Pittsburg. Missouri Southern has won six of 24 meetings in Joplin, but the Lions have won just three times in Pittsburg (3-21-1). The Lions are 6-17 in Joplin. The win in 2013 for MSSU stopped a 19-game winning streak and was the first win in Pittsburg since 1983. The two teams have played each year since 1968 in what is the longest running series for MSSU. The Lions led 5-4-1 after the first 10 meetings. The two teams began competing for the Miners' Bowl Trophy in 1986.
The Dish On The Gorillas: The Gorillas are 7-3 on the season after starting the year 5-0. Pitt has won two of its last three games, with wins over Central Missouri and Missouri Western, but a loss to Washburn last week. John Roderique has been leading a two-quarterback system for the Gorillas. Roderique, the Webb City product, is 84-of-159 this season through the air for 1,019 yards and eight passing touchdowns, while also putting five scores on the ground. Matt Harman has seen action recently and is 23-of-54 for 293 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.Tyler Adkins is the top rusher for the Gorillas with 826 yards and six scores, while Tucker Horak has four touchdowns and 419 yards.Lorenzo West leads the receiving crew for the Gorillas with 49 receptions for 764 yards and four touchdowns. Brenner Clemmons has 23 catches for 286 yards and three scores, while Tyler Adkins has caught ten passes for 83 yards. Defensively, Creighton Sanders leads the team with 59 tackles, while Demetrius Bernard has 55 stops. Cole Morris leads the Gorillas with 7.5 tackles, while Simanu'a Thomas has a team-high 13 tackles for a loss. Jaylon Myers has a team-high five interceptions. Pitt averages 229 yards per game on the ground and 156 in the air with 385 yards of total offense.
A Victory vs. PSU Would: be just the second in the last 25 meetings against the Gorillas and the first win against PSU since 2013.
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 19th, while Fort Hays State is 22nd. The Super Region Three, which the Lions are a part of, has three teams in the top ten and has seven teams in the top 25. There are 11 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 10th in fumbles recovered, 33rd in tackles for a loss allowed, 43rd in blocked kicks allowed and 48th in fewest penalty yards per game.
MIAA Team Stats Rankings: This year, the Lions lead the MIAA in blocked punts allowed and fumbles recovered, while ranking fourth in both fumbles lost and turnovers gained. The team ranks fifth in tackles for a loss allowed, fewest penalty yards and fewest penalty yards per game.
Individual Stats Rankings: Individually, Alan Glanville and Mark Mudd rank 21st nationally in fumbles recovered, while Riley Hathorn ranks 34th in punting and Cole Dunbar ranks 56th in kick returns.
MIAA Individual Stats Rankings: Mudd and Glanville rank third in fumbles recovered, while Glanville ranks third in forced fumbles. Dunbar ranks third in kick returns, while Korenzo Credit ranks fourth in interceptions. Hathorn is fifth in punting, while Dalton James ranks fifth in rushing yards and rushing yards per game.
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 21 catches for 221 yards.
Recovery In Motion: Southern ranks tenth nationally in fumble recoveries as a total of nine different Lions have one fumble recovery each, with Mudd picking up two.
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.
Rushin' 100: For the third time this year, Dalton James has rushed for over 100 yards in a game with his 109 yard performance against UCO.
Stop Em' Glanville: Alan Glanville had his third ten-plus tackle game of the season against UCO. The ten tackle performance against the Bronchos is the third time in a five-game stretch for Glanville with ten-plus stops and he ranks second on the team with 58 tackles this season.
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 50 and plenty of sunshine. Precipitation chance is listed at 0% with a South wind of 11 mph.
No comments:
Post a Comment